Before digging into whether the Washington Commanders should go head-first into Tuesday’s NFL trade deadline, a preview of the 2025 depth chart is required.
The NFC East leaders are rolling with an unrattled rookie quarterback and a people-person head coach. There are positive-thinking players in all three phases performing their roles with consistent energy. This sum-is-greater-than-its-parts squad continued its good times in Sunday’s epic Hail Mary victory over the Chicago Bears, turning fans into emotional puddles of joy. And yet, to contend with the proven league heavyweights, the roster needs more.
The Commanders’ record makes the choice simple for some, especially with rookie sensation Jayden Daniels performing at an elite level. At 6-2 entering Sunday’s road game against the New York Giants (2-6), only the reigning Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs (7-0) and NFC-leading Detroit Lions (6-1) sit above Washington in league-wide standings. That’s incredible company to be in for a team viewed as rebuilding by the masses entering the season.
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Still, there are at least quibbles about Washington as a Super Bowl contender. The defense ranking 10th in points allowed (20.9) reflects improvement (and an early soft schedule). Go back and check how the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Cincinnati Bengals and Baltimore Ravens offenses with Pro Bowl-caliber quarterbacks torched the Commanders. Washington’s offense is an efficient powerhouse, but the group lacks a desired number of high-end playmakers.
Successful franchises are honest about their team’s chances in either direction. Washington’s leadership, namely general manager Adam Peters, must make a final determination with unflinching honesty. The Commanders haven’t budged, at least not yet.
Numerous league sources told The Athletic they have heard minimally about Washington this deadline cycle or that the team is attached to any specific names. There’s a willingness by the front office to listen, especially for a cornerback, according to another team’s front-office executive, but there’s little sense that activity is brewing.
Trading one or multiple future high draft picks is likely required to change perceptions, if not move the Commanders closer to that contender tier. But making such a trade comes at a cost. This is Year 1 of a multiyear plan focused on sustained contention rather than chasing immediate gratification. To make a move of significance, the Commanders must trade away future assets, namely draft selections. Washington’s 10 picks in 2025 include four in the top 100. Getting star talent in their prime is always a good choice, but a player with that profile on the trade market is rare.
Otherwise, dealing away picks — and the four- to five-year rookie cost-controlled contract for short-term fixes — goes against that long-term thinking. Washington’s free agent-heavy roster means numerous spots will need backfilling. Of course, the Commanders haven’t finished with a winning record since 2016 and are the only NFL team this century yet to finish a season with 11 or more wins. Those are some nice boxes to check.
Here’s a look at the 2025 depth chart factoring in free agents, with projected starters in italics. Practice squad players are omitted since the team has no protected rights.
Offense
Quarterback —Jayden Daniels
Running back — Brian Robinson Jr., Austin Ekeler (TBD)
Wide receiver — Terry McLaurin, Luke McCaffrey
Tight end — Ben Sinnott, Colson Yankoff
Offensive line — Nick Allegretti, Tyler Biadasz, Sam Cosmi, Andrew Wylie (TBD), Brandon Coleman, Chris Paul
Notable free agents – Zach Ertz, TE; Marcus Mariota, QB; Olamide Zaccheaus, WR; Noah Brown, WR; John Bates, TE; Cornelius Lucas, OT
Forecast — That’s seven starters for 2025 on the books, and nine if we count Ekeler and Coleman. Ekeler’s dual-threat skill set has provided good value this season, but his 2025 cap hit ($5.1 million) and base salary ($3 million) will rise significantly. He also turns 30 before next season, a number that scares some teams away from running backs and might have Ekeler wanting more financial security beyond 2025.
The promising Coleman has to move beyond the timeshare setup with Lucas, a 2025 free agent. Until that happens, we cannot definitively claim that the 2024 third-round pick is the 2025 left tackle starter, even if it’s a logical conclusion. At right tackle, Wylie’s $10.4 million cap hit isn’t a realistic number to keep, and the Commanders would save $7.75 million ($2.67 million dead cap) if he’s released.
McCaffrey and Sinnott could fill wide receiver and tight end vacancies if they’re ready for more significant roles in their second campaigns. Depth at both spots and quarterback is required.
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Defense
End — Dorance Armstrong, Javontae Jean-Baptiste
Tackle — Daron Payne, Jonathan Allen (TBD), Johnny Newton, Phidarian Mathis, Norell Pollard
Linebacker — Frankie Luvu, Jordan Magee, Dominique Hampton
Cornerback — Mike Sainristil, Emmanuel Forbes Jr.
Safety — Quan Martin, Percy Butler, Jeremy Reaves, Tyler Owens
Notable free agents — Bobby Wagner, LB; Benjamin St-Juste, CB; Clelin Ferrell, DE; Dante Fowler Jr., DE; Jeremy Chinn, S
Forecast — There’s less projected continuity defensively with five returning starters, a figure determined whether Allen or Newton line up next to Payne.
Drafting Newton in the second round screamed best-player-available mentality, but that selection might turn out to be a need since Allen could have played his final game for Washington. Allen’s $23 million cap charge in 2025 wasn’t viable even before his season-ending pectoral injury.
Wagner, a 10-time All-Pro, remains a tackling machine and team leader. Replacing those aspects won’t be simple if he doesn’t return. Based on current forecasts, Washington arguably would need two to three defensive ends and cornerbacks. Perhaps Butler becomes an internal option if Chinn moves on.
Special teams
Long snapper — Tyler Ott
2025 assets
The 10 draft selections are in the first (one), second (one), third (two), fourth (one), sixth (two) and seventh (three) rounds. Moving any of those five late-rounders straight up or part of a trade swap for a depth addition would not affect next year’s rebuilding beyond having fewer assets to include in trades.
According to Over the Cap, Washington has $100.9 million in projected effective salary-cap space. That does not include additional savings if Allen, Wylie and Ekeler are not retained. The cap space is third most, but it also indicates the number of expiring contracts.
Overall, Washington may need 11 new starters on offense and defense, along with high-rotation replacements. The team’s most tenured player, punter Tress Way, and kicker Austin Seibert, the NFL’s highest-scoring kicker through Week 8, are also 2025 free agents. Ample picks and cap space will go toward addressing those holes and upgrading the talent.
As for trading players for future assets, this surprising surge and Allen’s injury mean there are no logical names to move.
2025 needs
Cornerback — Credit defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr., defensive pass-game coordinator Jason Simmons and defensive backs coach Tommy Donatell for helping maximize the available corners on the roster. That’s meant playing Sainristil out of position on the outside and using St-Juste as a de facto CB1. Slot corner Noah Igbinoghene rounds out the rotation. At a minimum, Washington needs depth.
Offensive tackle — There is some uncertainty at left tackle/offensive tackle depth following Lucas’ ankle injury against the Bears. Coleman, the other half of the left tackle timeshare, sat out the Bears game. Trent Scott isn’t a viable solution. Veteran tackle Bobby Hart signed to the practice squad on Tuesday.
Wide receiver — Washington has explored the marketplace, showing interest in Marquez Valdes-Scantling before he signed with the New Orleans Saints.
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2024 deadline potential targets
Should the Commanders make a move — the locker room ecosystem must be considered with all these positive vibes in the air — here are some names that make positional or cost sense:
Mike Williams, WR, Jets
The case for the 6-foot-4 Williams is that he offers another red zone threat, is playing on an expiring contract (one year, $10 million) and spent his first four NFL seasons under then-head coach Anthony Lynn with the Los Angeles Chargers. Lynn is now a member of Washington’s offensive staff. League sources see New York trading Williams now that the Jets have acquired Davante Adams. Pittsburgh, Washington’s Week 10 opponent, is a potential landing spot for Williams.
Greg Newsome II, CB, Browns
Washington would have to see significant potential with the 2021 first-round pick in its scheme to acquire his fully guaranteed fifth-year rookie contract salary of $13.4 million. The 6-foot Newsome is talented — Cleveland picked up that fifth-year option — but has only two interceptions in 49 games. The Commanders received an up-close look in the 34-13 romp over Cleveland in Week 5. The Browns, now 2-6, already traded away wide receiver Amari Cooper.
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Tre’Davious White, CB, Rams
The Rams announced on Monday that White, 29, and his agent could seek a trade after the ex-Buffalo Bill was inactive for a third consecutive game. Injuries limited White to 21 games since his second Pro Bowl selection in 2020. The 2025 free agent has played nearly every snap in four starts, which isn’t ideal for his body. This call hinges on whether Washington’s coaches think they can help White fit into their scheme.
League sources also consider Carolina Panthers defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, Browns defensive end Za’Darius Smith, New England Patriots cornerback Jonathan Jones, Panthers wide receiver Adam Thielen and Bears running back Khalil Herbert trade deadline targets.
Bonus — Free-agent activity league-wide likely warms up after the deadline. Jerry Jacobs is available. Assistant general manager Lance Newmark knows the ex-Detroit Lion with 29 starts over three seasons. Is former Arizona Cardinals offensive tackle from the Kliff Kingsbury era, D.J. Humphries, healthy?
(Photo of Adam Peters: Greg Fiume / Getty Images)
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