With the NFL trade deadline just 24 hours away, teams across the league have a choice at hand. Sell and build capital for the future or buy talent in hopes a move or two could elevate the current 53-man roster into a potential Super Bowl window.
For the Commanders, a 7-2 start has put general manager Adam Peters in an interesting spot. It’s year one of their retooling, yet QB Jayden Daniels looks like an MVP candidate and they’ve run over much of their schedule through nine weeks. Their timeline has been inherently accelerated, putting Peters in a position he potentially thought he wouldn’t be in for another few campaigns.
While Washington looks every bit like a force in the NFC, there are still holes on the roster. Again, this was year one of Peters laying his foundation, but his ability to put together a highly successful group, while also trimming the fat of the organization (see Jamin Davis), has been nothing short of remarkable.
With help needed at corner and wideout, specifically, here are a few options Washington could explore as the deadline nears.
Marshon Lattimore, CB, New Orleans Saints
If Peters wants to make a splash, then Lattimore is his guy. One of the hotter names on the trade block, Lattimore would immediately (and by far) become Washington’s top perimeter corner. It would also allow Benjamin St-Juste to slide into the CB2 role and rookie Mikey Sainristil to go back to his home at nickel.
The move makes sense as far as talent acquisition, but if Peters doesn’t believe Lattimore fits what they want to do from a character, leadership, and buy-in perspective, Peters won’t pull the trigger. It’s not a slight toward Lattimore in any capacity, it’s just how Peters operates. Prior regimes focused on splash, not fit… Peters is much to the contrary where an addition has to make sense from a variety of angles.
Adam Thielen, WR, Carolina Panthers
Thielen’s health remains a question, but per multiple conversations over the last few days, his camp wants him on a contending roster. For Washington, he’d provide a veteran skill set that, despite his current age of 34, can still play (1,014 yards in 2023). Thielen would complement the current skill sets behind Terry McLaurin well, whether his role emerged as a top-three target or as a parallel piece to Noah Brown, Luke McCaffrey, Olamide Zaccheus, and Dyami Brown. Competition never hurts, and it wouldn’t break the bank to acquire Thielen’s services.
Marco Wilson, CB, New England Patriots
You were probably expecting Jonathan Jones’ name here, but it’s Wilson who could be on the move in New England. If head coach Jerod Mayo values Jones’ leadership as much as it’s been portrayed, shipping him off would be an eye-opener. Instead, the Commanders could look to add Wilson, a former fourth-rounder of Arizona back in 2021.
Another player that wouldn’t break the bank for Peters, Wilson is a talented perimeter athlete who would be allowed to compete immediately for snaps. This would be a vastly different addition than the likes of Lattimore in that Wilson would likely compete right away for the CB2 job alongside Noah Igbinoghene. But, he would add depth and talent while being a cheap addition in regards to capital going the other way.
Wilson is still just 25 years old with 2,454 NFL snaps under his belt. It hasn’t all been perfect for Wilson so far in his NFL career, but a change of scenery into a budding, youth-infused culture could bring the best out of his game.
