Will the Washington Commanders be buyers or sellers at the NFL trade deadline? Or will Washington stand pat? The NFL trade deadline is November 10, so Washington has two games to decide whether to add help or trade away veterans for future draft picks.
At 1-4-1, it seems obvious: the Commanders should be selling off multiple veterans to add as many draft picks as they can. But Washington is in a unique position. It plays in the NFC East. The current first-place team is the New York Giants, who are 3-2-1. The Commanders are only two games behind them and a half-game behind Dallas and Philadelphia for second place. No one in this year's NFC East is a world beater. So, could general manager Adam Peters wait to see if Washington can contend, or go
ahead and start moving players soon?
Matt Verdereme of Sports Illustrated recently ranked 15 veterans who could be on the move. He ranked two Commanders: wide receiver Stefon Diggs and defensive tackle Daron Payne.
Here’s what Verdereme said about Diggs, whom he ranked No. 7.
Diggs will turn 33 next month and is on a one-year deal. In other words, there’s no reason to waste time on the Commanders, who appear destined for a below-.500 season. Through five games, Diggs has caught 18 passes for 170 yards, making him a worthwhile target for a contender looking to add a veteran pass catcher with postseason experience.
He named the Chiefs and Ravens as potential fits. Diggs is happy to be playing for the Commanders. He's playing well, too, leading the team with four touchdown passes already and could see his role increase further with Terry McLaurin out for the season.
Washington would like to retain Diggs, but these are the types of moves that forward-thinking teams make.
Verderame ranked Payne No. 10.
Slated to hit free agency after this season, Payne is a fascinating player to watch. At 29, he hasn’t had more than four sacks or 11 quarterback hits since 2022, the lone time he was a Pro Bowler. Still, he’s an impact player on the inside who commands double teams, logging at least 61% of the snaps every year of his career. If Washington makes Payne available, expect a market to develop.
He named the 49ers and Lions as potential fits for Payne. Other teams make sense, too.
Payne almost never misses time. That's a positive. He's also a solid pass rusher, but not as strong against the run as you'd hope. It doesn't sound like the Commanders want to give him another long-term deal. They've had their chances. If that's the case, whether you're in contention or not, it's time to move him. This one is a no-brainer.
The Commanders could be one of the more fascincating teams to watch over the next couple of weeks ahead of the trade deadline.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Two Commanders who could be moved at the NFL trade deadline
