There was a big trade on Tuesday. Actually, there were two, as the Indianapolis Colts
shipped a pair of former first-round picks to the NFC West. The Colts sent eight-time Pro Bowl guard Quenton Nelson to the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks for two draft picks. Later, Indianapolis traded three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle DeForest Buckner back to the San Francisco 49ers, where he played his first four NFL seasons.While adding veterans, especially those on expiring contracts, to a 1-4-1 team doesn’t make much sense for the Commanders, Nelson could still have helped. The 30-year-old Nelson remains the NFL’s top guard, and he’s missed just four games in his nine-year career. Nelson also plays left guard, which is a question mark
for Washington. Could you imagine an offensive line with Nelson and Cosmi at guard, and Laremy Tunsil (when healthy) at left tackle? It’s a nice thought, but it was never a reality. Nelson wanted to land with a contender and may not have signed an extension.
But Nelson’s trade did lead to another interesting transaction. After acquiring Nelson, the Seahawks released a 2024 third-round pick: guard Christian Haynes. The 6-foot-3, 317-pound Haynes played collegiately at Connecticut before going No. 81 overall in 2024. Haynes is a native of nearby Bowie, Maryland. Could Washington be a potential landing spot for Haynes?
Haynes appeared in 16 games as a rookie, but did not start. Last season, he began the year on injured reserve before returning to play in eight games. Haynes appeared in seven games for Seattle this season, including five starts at right guard for the injured Anthony Bradford.
Here’s NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein’s draft profile on Haynes in 2024:
Four-year starter and team captain who is sturdy at the point of attack. Haynes plays with football intelligence and sees every snap as a mandate to move opponents and finish blocks. His draft slotting could be affected by a lack of length and being limited to one position, but his determined playing style counters those factors. He’s not overly rangy but wipes out targets on pulling blocks and is capable in space, and in pass protection. The hand usage can get sloppy, allowing opponents to slip away from him, and he has a tendency to do too much grabbing. All things considered, he might outplay his draft slotting and become a solid NFL starter.
While Haynes’ NFL career may not have started the way he wanted, he’s only 26. If you’re a team like the Commanders with offensive line issues, Haynes would be a smart waiver claim. What could it hurt? And even if Washington claims Haynes and he doesn’t develop into a starter, he's quality depth for the rest of this season and next.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Former Seahawks' 3rd-round pick would make sense for Commanders
