The Commanders need to think about making bold moves before the NFL trade deadline to fix major roster issues
The Washington Commanders' season is over, and franchise quarterback Jayden Daniels suffered a very controversial severe arm injury in a blowout loss to the Seattle Seahawks.
There have been many questionable decisions by the coaching staff and the front office, and it's time to gut the team from top to bottom again. The approach this offseason after reaching the NFC Championship was a complete failure, and now general manager Adam Peters needs to get to work and fix it.
The NFL trade deadline is November 4th at 4 p.m. ET, and the Commanders need to discuss making major changes right now.
Commanders need to think about trading Daron Payne
The Commanders don't have a ton of assets to trade, but defensive tackle Daron Payne would absolutely be a valuable trade piece. Payne has been playing at a high level this season and could be a player to help push a playoff team like the Buffalo Bills, who need defensive tackle help. He's only under contract for 2025 and 2026, and the defense needs to be gutted. There's no way they would extend Payne and keep him in their long-term plans, so trade him now while his stock is high.
Unload every corner possible
The defense needs to be reset with a new coaching staff that can come in and build the defense they want with their own players. The Commanders have a couple of corners in Noah Igbinoghene and Jonathan Jones that can be traded for a day 3 pick or a pick swap at least. Corners are the most needed players at the trade deadline, and they should have no problem getting a pick for one of those two. Igbinoghene was a name teams checked on before the season, and the 25-year-old has been inactive for the last two weeks.
Commanders can trade an offensive lineman
The Commanders also have multiple options on the offensive line to trade with Brandon Coleman and Andrew Wylie, and there will be a major need out there for the position, just like cornerback is. Peters invested a lot of draft capital on the line after a trade for Laremy Tunsil and drafting Josh Conerly Jr. in the first round, and it's time to collect what picks you can. The line was a huge disappointment against the Seattle Seahawks, and it's time to collect a pick where you can.
Should the Commanders trade Terry McLaurin?
Unfortunately, Terry McLaurin's contract is not tradeable at all for the Commanders, or I would say to trade him too. Yes, the Commanders are at that kind of rock bottom right now. They need to get younger, and McLaurin's 2025 season after getting his new contract has been as bad as possible. McLaurin has missed the majority of the season with a quad injury and has only 203 yards and one touchdown.
He comes with a dead cap hit of almost $30 million in 2026, and it's not worth it unless they get an insane trade offer, which won't happen. 2026 is likely his last year in Washington, with an option out of his contract in 2027. A conversation needs to be made about Deebo Samuel as well, who showed he can still play. The team might not re-sign him this offseason and might as well trade him for a pick, too, with teams looking for wide receiver help.
The Commanders don't have a second or a fourth round pick, and the roster needs more draft picks. A total of six draft picks, with only two inside the top-100, doesn't sit well with fixing the roster. At this rate, however, the Commanders could be looking at a top-5 pick. The Commanders need a fire sale, where no one other than Daniels is safe.
VIKINGS SIGN FORMER SAINTS RB IN SURPRISING MOVE
The Minnesota Vikings are adding depth to the running back room as the NFL cutdown day is a week away.
The Vikings agreed to terms on Aug. 18 with Xazavian Valladay, who was cut by the New Orleans Saints in June, Mike Garafaolo of NFL Media reported.
Valladay participated in the Saints and New York Jets practice squads last season. He was with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2023, but was signed as an undrafted rookie by the Houston Texans and released 10 days later. His only regular-season action was on special teams in one game with the Jets in 2023.
The Vikings Have Five Other Running Backs on the Roster
The Vikings are led at running back by Aaron Jones Sr., who in his first season with Minnesota, had 1,138 rushing yards. Jones had dealt with injuries in recent years. The team also traded for Jordan Mason from the San Francisco 49ers in March. Mason is expected to be Jones’ backup.
GettyMINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – AUGUST 09: Aaron Jones Sr. #33 of the Minnesota Vikings looks on after the NFL Preseason 2025 game between Houston Texans and Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium on August 09, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings defeated the Texans 20-10. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
Minnesota also has Ty Chandler, Zavier Scott and Tre Stewart on the preseason roster. Scott rushed for 28 yards and added three catches for 44 yards in the Vikings 12-20 preseason loss to the New England Patriots on Aug. 16. He and Chandler, who rushed for 12 yards, are competing for the No. 3 spot.
The Vikings finish the preseason on Aug. 22 at the Tennessee Titans. Valladay is expected to get some touches and could be signed to the team’s practice squad. The NFL cutdown day is Aug. 26.
Xazavian Valladay Was a Star in College at Wyoming and Arizona State
Valladay, a 27-year-old from Matteson, Illinois, is an ultra-athletic running back and was a star in college at Wyoming and Arizona State. While at Wyoming, Valladay rushed for 3,281 yards and 19 touchdowns in four years. He finished his college career at Arizona State, where he rushed for 1,192 yards and 16 touchdowns in his lone season.
Valladay established himself as one of the top backs in the Mountain West, earning first-team All-Conference honors in 2019 and 2020. He was named to the Associated Press All-Bowl Team following a 204-yard and one-touchdown effort in the Arizona Bowl. He finished his tenure at Wyoming as an All-Mountain West selection for three straight years and the owner of the second-most rushing yards in Wyoming history.
While a grad student for Arizona State, Valladay was named to the Doak Walker Award watch list after leading the Sun Devils with 1,481 all-purpose yards and leading the Pac-12 conference in touchdowns.
Scouts had Valladay as a sleeper draft pick coming out of college. According to Pro Football Network, he has a gift for receiving as a running back. Scouts compared his measurables to former NFL running backs Reggie Bush and Tevin Coleman.
He was snubbed from attending the NFL Combine, but put on a show at Arizona State Pro Day, with a 40-inch vertical, 22 reps on the bench press, and running the 40-yard dash in 4.43 seconds.
