The Washington Commanders have almost completely overhauled the roster since new general manager Adam Peters and head coach Dan Quinn took over.
While the biggest question remains which quarterback Washington will select with the No. 2 overall pick in the NFL Draft later this month, there are a few other question marks on offense that will need to be addressed.
At running back, the team appears to be in good shape, with Brian Robinson Jr. as the rugged every-down back and the arrival of Austin Ekler as a change-of-pace option who can also serve as a trustworthy receiver for the young quarterback who comes to DC.
The Washington Commanders will most likely choose a young tight end to learn from Zach Ertz, who was brought in because of his experience with new offensive coach Kliff Kingsbury. Peters has made a few changes to improve one of the NFL’s worst offensive lines in 2023, but Washington will continue to utilize the draft to fill holes up front, notably at tackle.Last season, Washington’s wide receiver group appeared to be solid on paper. Terry McLaurin, Curtis Samuel, and Jahan Dotson felt like they could be a nightmare for opposing defenses, but former offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy struggled to find ways to get the ball to McLaurin on a consistent basis. The former Ohio State wideout is regarded as a top ten NFL receiver and has succeeded in Washington despite inconsistency at the quarterback position.
After a strong rookie season, Dotson appeared to be on track for a breakout season, but he fell behind in the new scheme.
Samuel had his greatest season in Washington, but the organization parted ways with him during the offseason. With McLaurin and Dotson as short, speedy receivers who can beat defenders over the top, Washington lacks a jack-of-all-trades, bigger-bodied wideout who can line up at any WR position and complement McLaurin’s skill set.
A recent Bleacher Report trade idea answers that problem by bringing Washington and the San Francisco 49ers together, with whom Peters is well-versed after serving as the roster’s architect under John Lynch for several years.Washington Commanders land Brandon Aiyuk in a blockbuster trade.
There will be additional deals as we get closer to the 2024 NFL draft, and one of the names suggested is Brandon Aiyuk of the San Francisco 49ers. Aiyuk has over 1,000 receiving yards each of the last two years, but he is entering the option year of his rookie contract, and extension talks with the Niners are “not close” to reaching an agreement, according to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo.
San Francisco may not have the wherewithal to pay Aiyuk more than $20 million per year. There are already too many high-paid offensive players on the roster, and quarterback Brock Purdy is set for a massive raise when he becomes eligible for a new contract next season.
San Francisco is reportedly seeking a first-round pick and wide receiver Zay Jones from the Jacksonville Jaguars in exchange for Aiyuk. Potential suitors require both draft money and cap room to grant Aiyuk an extension.
The Washington Commanders have the cap flexibility to make a play for Brandon Aiyuk, and here is how Bleacher Report envisions a hypothetical deal going down.
In many ways, the Commanders resemble the New England Patriots in the National Football Conference. The 2023 season in Washington, like the one for the Patriots, was a disaster. The Commanders, like the Patriots, have a high draft pick that they will almost surely use to select their future quarterback. Like the Patriots, Washington has a need at wide receiver.
Washington Commanders trade Jahan Dotson and a draft pick for Brandon Aiyuk.
According to Bleacher Report, the Commanders would deal Dotson and two draft picks for Aiyuk and a sixth-round pick.
Commanders acquire WR Brandon Aiyuk, 2024 Round 6 pick (No. 211).
49ers acquire: 2024 Round 2 pick (No. 36), 2024 Round 3 pick (No. 67), WR Jahan Dotson.
That need is less evident since the Washington Commanders have Terry McLaurin, a proven high-end wideout. However, Curtis Samuel left the organization in free agency, while Jahan Dotson, a 2022 first-round pick, has failed to meet expectations in his first two NFL seasons.
Still, Commanders head coach Dan Quinn told reporters that he feels the team has the majority of the elements in place to enable the young quarterback they plan to choose succeed.
“I think the whole thing at any position you wanna make sure are you surrounded,” he remarked. “Do you have balance? Any quarterback’s biggest buddy is the ability to hand it off, because that’s where good play throws come from. If you have a good run game and a strong defense that can get the ball back, any quarterback we want will be able to sustain a balanced offense. [We can make] huge play passes with it. I wouldn’t say it’s particularly specific to our scenario. That is exactly who we want to be all the time.
Aiyuk would be a huge step toward building around that quarterback. An Aiyuk/McLaurin partnership would most likely be among the league’s top ten duos at the position. Cap space is not an issue; no team in the NFC has more than the Washington Commanders.
While the second overall pick is a lofty order, the Commanders have four Day 2 picks to work with. The 49ers might also include Dotson, who is on a rookie contract for at least two more seasons, to sweeten the deal and mitigate the disappointment of not receiving a first-round pick.
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