With the trade deadline approaching soon, there has been speculation that the Washington Commanders could be buyers despite their 1-4-1 start to the season. In a recent article from ESPN, they list the Commanders as potential suitors for six players, including two running backs.
The first running back is Jonathan Taylor, who is currently with the Indianapolis Colts. Washington played against Taylor back in Week 4 in London. He had 95 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns in that game. Taylor has been a Pro-Bowler each of the past two seasons and had one of the best seasons in NFL history for a back in 2021 when he led the league in rushing attempts (332), rushing yards (1,811), rushing touchdowns (18) and yards per game (106.5). He was an All-Pro
that season and was second in Offensive Player of the Year voting.
Since their loss to the Minnesota Vikings, Indianapolis has traded away two of their top players and there is speculation Taylor could be the next player the Colts decide to unload as they look to acquire draft picks to start rebuilding. ESPN gives Taylor a 30 percent chance of being traded and listed the Commanders as the second-highest suitor, behind the Seattle Seahawks.
Alternatively, the Commanders could pursue Tony Pollard, who just had a breakout game against the Cleveland Browns with 129 rushing yards and three touchdowns. Pollard does not have as high a ceiling as Taylor, but is nonetheless a consistent running back with 1,000-yard seasons in the past four years.
Pollard does not have as good a chance of being traded as Taylor, estimated at just 15 percent by ESPN. The main reason is that he is a top weapon for the Tennessee Titans’ offense and they do not want to take playmakers away from their developing quarterback, Cam Ward.
Washington’s chances of trading for a running back are low—really low.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: ESPN names two RBs Commanders could target before trade deadline
