The Commanders have already shown they’re willing to shuffle pieces, and Mike Sainristil’s role is a good place to start looking. He didn’t log a defensive snap in Washington’s 27-10 win over the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday night, and that makes him a logical name for Adam Peters to shop if another team sees value in him.
Washington sits at 2-4-1, and the roster has clear pressure points before the November 10 trade deadline at 4 p.m. Eastern.
Interior offensive line help is on the table. So is defensive tackle help.
Running back could enter the conversation too, depending on how Jeremy McNichols’ midfoot injury develops after additional scans. Daron Payne’s foot injury, along with uncertainty around Javon Kinlaw and Jer’Zhan Newton, has thinned out the defensive front.
That’s the backdrop for any deal Peters considers.
Sainristil is the kind of player a team can dangle because he still has value. Washington used him in the secondary rotation, but against Philadelphia the cornerback snaps went mostly to Amik Robertson, Trey Amos, and Rasul Douglas.
Dan Quinn also praised Nick Cross’ work at nickel on Monday. Sainristil is under contract through 2027, and his scheduled base salary is about $1.85 million next season.
That gives Washington a real reason to see whether another club would pay for an experienced defensive back with team control left.
One possible fit is Jackson Powers-Johnson. The Raiders have been rotating him with Caleb Rogers at right guard, and he has already played center and left guard.
He’s on his rookie deal through 2027, which means Washington could get longer-term value if he wins a job inside. The wrinkle is that Las Vegas already has Taron Johnson, so Sainristil would need to be viewed as a piece worth targeting.
If the return is a player Washington wouldn’t be able to get on the field, the Commanders may be better off keeping the secondary depth.
Dyami Brown is another player who could draw interest elsewhere. He played 15 offensive snaps against the Eagles, which was 25%, and he finished behind Antonio Williams, Treylon Burks, and Stefon Diggs in the receiver usage.
His contract ends after this season, so he fits the profile of a short-term speed addition for a team looking for help at wideout. Washington has to be cautious, though.
Terry McLaurin is out for the year, and Burks was dealing with a foot injury last week. Brown’s role is smaller, but that can change quickly if more injuries hit.
Kendre Miller is one name that could come up in that kind of discussion. The Athletic’s Jonathan Jones reported that New Orleans could move him.
Miller has 159 rushing yards on 57 carries, a 2.8-yard average, and his contract also expires after this season. Brown would give the Saints another receiving option, but there doesn’t appear to be much reason for Washington to make that swap.
Unless the staff sees a very specific role Miller can fill better than the backs already on hand, the receiver depth looks more valuable.
The toughest decision would involve Dorance Armstrong. He played 40 defensive snaps against Philadelphia, or 58%, and turned in seven tackles, a sack, a forced fumble, and a tackle for loss.
That’s real production, and moving him would mean taking a key piece out of a front that finally delivered a strong game. His contract is scheduled to void in 2027, which at least gives Peters a reason to listen, but Armstrong doesn’t look expendable.
If Washington were to entertain that kind of move, Christian Barmore is the name that could make sense. Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer reported that the Patriots defensive tackle could be available after playing 41.9% of New England’s defensive snaps behind Milton Williams and Cory Durden.
The Patriots list Dre’Mont Jones and Elijah Ponder as their edge starters, which is why Peters could ask whether Armstrong would interest them. Barmore’s contract would also be a major factor, since he’s under contract through 2028 with scheduled base salaries of $18 million in 2027 and $19 million in 2028, before other payments.
That’s the kind of deal Washington would only make if the upgrade inside is obvious and immediate. Peters should know exactly what the incoming player is supposed to do before pulling the trigger. The Commanders need help now, but any trade has to justify the depth or production they give up to get it.
In Other News...
Commanders Got Burned By Another Late Call In A Huge Spot
A promising defensive stand turned into another frustrating sequence for Washington on Sunday night when cornerback Trey Amos appeared to come up with an interception, only for the play to be erased by a roughing-the-passer flag on linebacker KLavon Chaisson. Instead of flipping possession, the penalty kept Philadelphia on the field and let the Eagles continue the drive in a game where every late snap carried extra weight.
Chaisson did not hide from the moment afterward, acknowledging the penalty and voicing frustration with some of the officiating decisions throughout the night. For Washington, it was the kind of costly break that can linger well beyond one drive, especially when a defense thinks it has finally forced the turnover it needed. [Read more 🡒]
Trey Amos Is Giving Commanders Fans A Reason To Believe In This Secondary
Trey Amos has started to look like one of the more encouraging pieces in Washingtons young secondary. The 2025 second-round pick returned from injury in Week 6 and has quickly settled back in as a steady presence, flashing the kind of coverage skills the Commanders hoped to see when they drafted him. In Sunday nights win over Philadelphia, Amos was again part of a defensive effort that gave Washington fans a little more reason to trust what this back end might become.
The bigger takeaway is not just that Amos has been active around the ball, but that he has helped limit what opposing receivers can do when targeted. Multiple pass deflections and a knack for staying in phase have made him stand out during a stretch when the Commanders are looking for defensive stability to take hold. For a team trying to build something lasting on that side of the ball, Amos is already making the case that he can be part of the answer. [Read more 🡒]
Sonny Styles Is Already Rewarding Washingtons Biggest Draft Gamble
Seven games into his NFL career, Sonny Styles already looks like the kind of rookie linebacker Washington can build around. The Commanders have seen enough to feel good about their decision to make him a centerpiece of the defense, and the early returns have matched the buzz that followed him into the league. His athleticism, feel for the position and ability to affect plays have stood out enough that he is already drawing praise as more than just a promising young defender.
The latest reminder came in a prime-time setting against Philadelphia, where Styles once again showed why Washington was willing to make such a bold draft move. For a team trying to raise the ceiling of its defense, the encouraging part is not just what he has done so far, but how quickly he has started to look comfortable in a demanding role. The bigger question now is how far that growth can go, and how soon he can turn a hot start into something even more lasting. [Read more 🡒]