The killer mistake Commanders must avoid at 2026 NFL trade deadline
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The Washington Commanders have endured their share of injuries at the wide receiver position. And they especially miss Terry McLaurin. However, here is the killer mistake the Commanders must avoid at the 2026 NFL trade deadline.
It is true that the Commanders still have a chance in the poor NFC East. They are three games behind the Giants, who are in first place with a record of 5-2-1. The Commanders are 2-5-1, and with nine more games on both teams’ schedules — including this week’s head-to-head meeting — it’s not impossible that the Commanders could catch the Giants.
Except for the fact that Dan Quinn is still the Commanders’ head coach. So let’s approach the trade deadline with common sense at the forefront.
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Commanders must avoid trading for a wide receiver
Sure, it would be nice if the Commanders had something better than the aging Stefon Diggs, the uninspiring rookie Antonio Williams, the unable-to-stay-on-the-field Treylon Burks, and a bunch of other guys who are marginal NFL quality, at best.
But the Commanders can’t give up anything from the 2027 NFL Draft. They currently have the No. 7 overall pick. And they have a full boat of picks after that. The Commanders need to focus on getting a wide receiver in the first round. Then they can concentrate on safety, cornerback, edge rusher, and the offensive line.
It’s simply not wise for the Commanders to think about trying to get into the playoffs for the 2026 season. And here’s the biggest reason why: They simply could not compete even if they got there.
The Commanders have an inferior team to the 49ers, Seahawks, Rams, Vikings, Packers, Lions, and Bears. With their currently constructed roster, they could not beat any of those teams in the postseason.
Commanders don’t have enough puzzle pieces
General manager Adam Peters and Quinn have turned out to be a bad combination. Peters put together a flawed roster, and Quinn can’t coach his way out of it. At least Quinn understands the failure, according to Sports Illustrated.
“We have not nailed our complementary football,” Quinn said. “And I’ll keep saying it until we do. We’re halfway through the season, and that all has to click.
“Seen too much of it where it’s part of it, not the whole thing. And so that’s what we’re going to continue to just practice. And that has to get right. It just has to. Too far along to not have it all working together. All right, let’s get rolling.”
What is the Commanders’ biggest problem?
It’s Daniels’ contract. The days of his rookie contract are dwindling. Time after time, the Commanders have failed to surround Daniels with offensive talent.
Yes, the defense has gotten better. The defense was the reason the Commanders stayed in the game with the Rams. But just think if the Commanders had a big-time receiver for Daniels to target throughout the game against the Rams. If they had that, they likely would have scored more than 13 points. And a win would have been well within reach.
But that’s another reason they can’t reach for a patch fix. They can’t solve the issue by trading for a guy like Brandon Aiyuk. That was a fine target back in the summer when the Commanders still had a chance to put together a winning season.
But adding Aiyuk doesn’t move the needle for the future. The only place that comes from is the draft. If the Commanders could somehow position themselves to get Jeremiah Smith, that’s the franchise-changing difference maker.
But there’s little chance they can beat the putrid Chargers or Titans to that No. 1 spot in the draft. And the Jets, Eagles, and Dolphins are also in the way. So unless they made a trade up for draft, they’re going to have to find a difference maker among Cam Coleman (Texas), Charlie Becker (Indiana), or maybe KJ Duff (Rutgers).
The good news for the Commanders is they don’t need a total rebuild. They don’t have to draft a quarterback and wait a couple of years for him to develop. That is, if Daniels can stay healthy. And that’s something he has not been able to prove over the last two years.
But the Commanders need to go into the draft seeking a big-time wide receiver, and hope Daniels can stay upright. They aren’t all that far removed from his magical rookie season in 2024.
Related: Commanders’ Dan Quinn gives optimistic Treylon Burks injury update after missing Rams game