Since new general manager Adam Peters and head coach Dan Quinn took over, the Washington Commanders have completely overhauled the roster. The biggest question remains which quarterback Washington will select with the No. 2 overall pick in the NFL Draft later this month. However, there are some other offensive question marks that must 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 utilise 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 defences, 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.
Dotson felt poised for a breakout season after a noteworthy rookie campaign, but took a step back in the new offense.
Samuel had his best season in Washington, but the team decided to part ways with him in the offseason. With McLaurin and Dotson as small, speedsters who can beat defenses over the top, Washington is lacking a jack-of-all trades bigger bodied wideout who can line up from all the WR positions and compliment McLaurin’s skillset.
A recent trade proposal from Bleacher Report solves that problem via a trade between Washington and the San Francisco 49ers, who Peters has plenty of familiarity with as he’s been the architect behind that roster under John Lynch for the last several years.
Washington Commanders Land Brandon Aiyuk In Blockbuster Trade
There will be more trades as we move closer to and into the 2024 NFL draft—and one of the names that has been mentioned is Brandon Aiyuk of the San Francisco 49ers. Aiyuk has topped 1,000 receiving yards each of the past two years, but he’s heading into the option year of his rookie contract, and extension talks with the Niners are “not close” to any kind of agreement, per NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo.
San Francisco may not have the resources to pay Aiyuk over $20 million a year. There are too many high-priced offensive players already on the roster, and quarterback Brock Purdy is due for a gargantuan raise when he’s eligible for a new contract next season.
Trading for Aiyuk won’t come cheaply—San Francisco reportedly wanted a first-round pick and wideout Zay Jones from the Jacksonville Jaguars for Aiyuk. Potential suitors need both draft capital to spare and the cap space to give Aiyuk an extension.
The Washington Commanders have the cap space necessary to make a move for Brandon Aiyuk, and here’s how Bleacher Report sees a potential trade going down.
In many respects, the Commanders are the NFC equivalent of the New England Patriots. Like the Patriots, the 2023 season was a disaster in D.C. Like the Patriots, the Commanders have a high draft pick that will all but certainly be used to select their quarterback of the future. And like the Pats, wide receiver is an area of need in Washington.
