Commanders look like trade destination, championship contender as NFL pivots to offseason

The green and white confetti has settled on the Philadelphia Eagles’ Super Bowl win. But while Super Bowl MVP Jalen Hurts celebrated at Walt Disney World and the Eagles planned a parade, 31 other teams have already shifted focus to the 2025 season.

The Washington Commanders count themselves among a hungry group of teams looking to improve this offseason. After falling one game short of the Super Bowl amid an unlikely playoff run, the Commanders are an attractive destination in the trade and free agency markets.

As analysts look ahead to the 2025 season, they have high expectations for a Washington squad that took the league by storm. A year ago, the franchise elicited shrugs around the league when it announced Quinn as its new coach while preparing for a rebuild. 

In its “way too early” power rankings that month, ESPN pegged the Commanders as the second-worst team in the league. This year, ESPN has Washington ranked sixth heading into another offseason. Pro Football Network agreed, slotting the Burgundy and Gold into the seventh spot.

“Washington nailed the 2024 offseason by hiring general manager Adam Peters, coach Dan Quinn and drafting quarterback Jayden Daniels,” the ESPN ranking noted. “The foundation has been set for many years thanks to this trio.”

That base, especially the dynamic Daniels, has turned Washington into an smart trade and free-agent destination for the first time in a generation. 

When Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett stole headlines last week requesting a trade from the woeful franchise that drafted him. Analysts quickly tied the former Defensive Player of the Year to the Commanders, who need an edge rusher and have the cap space to pay Garrett. 

“I’ve thought about the squads that could use a guy like me. I think the Commanders are amongst them,” Garrett told Sports Illustrated. “I think they need a pass rusher; I think that’s something they dearly missed in the playoffs and some of their big games. I feel like I could fill that role.”

Garrett isn’t the only star the experts see making a jump to Washington. In the past week, wide receivers Deebo Samuel of the San Francisco 49ers and Cooper Kupp of the Los Angeles Rams were added to the trade market. 

Washington quickly became a favorite to acquire one or both players at sportsbooks. 

“Terry McLaurin is a great talent at receiver. Washington needs more than that for this offense to keep evolving,” NFL.com’s Jeffri Chadiha said. “The Commanders are projected to have a ton of cap space, so they can handle Kupp’s contract.”

As they enter the 2025 offseason, Washington is expected to have $78 million in cap space. That’s more than enough money to accommodate Kupp’s $30 million cap hit, Garrett’s $20 million deal or Samuel’s $16 million signing bonus and salary.

With Daniels on a supremely team-friendly rookie contract through the 2028 season, Peters and the Commanders also have the flexibility to sign new playmakers to extensions or restructured contracts. 

But there’s no guarantee that Washington will opt for a splashy move this spring. The roster includes more than two dozen pending free agents, including contributors like linebacker Bobby Wagner and tight end Zach Ertz. 

The blowout loss to the Eagles in the NFC championship game also exposed holes around the roster. The offensive line could be bolstered and the secondary was porous throughout the season. 

Peters, in his postseason availability, said his front office hadn’t locked into any particular areas of need just yet. 

“We’re 0-0, and every single day we’re just going to have to try to get better. And I know it’s a boring answer,” Peters said last month. “We’re going to look at every single day as getting better each day and doing what’s best for the team and trying to get back up.”

Now in his second offseason with the team, Washington’s general manager didn’t specify whether that would include a focus on retaining players, adding new free agents or working the trade market. 

But with Daniels under center and an NFC championship run fresh in the public’s mind, the Commanders will likely top the wishlists of free agents and tradeable players for the first time in a generation.