Fresh off making a shocking run to the conference championship, the Washington Commanders have been hard at work upgrading their roster. In a recent mock trade, they make a huge splash to firmly cement themselves as a threat to contend in the NFC.
Ahead of training camp, the Commanders are one of a handful of teams dealing with a player holding out for a new deal. While they try to rectify things with wide receiver Terry McLaurin, the Pittsburgh Steelers find themselves in a similar situation. Heading into the final year of his contract, star linebacker TJ Watt is in search of a long-term commitment before the 2025 campaign gets underway.
As this standoff between Watt and the Steelers continues, speculation continues to arise of Pittsburgh moving on from the former Defensive Player of the Year. Though this outcome is rather unlikely, Bleacher Report's Brent Sobleski put together a handful of trade packages for the star linebacker. In one scenario, the Commanders part with a first, second, and third-round pick to land Watt in Washington.
"The Washington Commanders are in the position any team wants to be in if it's going to make a splash move to improve its roster," Sobleski wrote. "They have a franchise quarterback in place under a rookie contract. Jayden Daniels isn't going to see top-of-the-market money for another five years. This point is exactly when the Commanders need to go all-in and capitalize on that financial advantage. The fact that Washington lacks a true-blue pass-rusher makes a potential move for Watt even more of a necessity."
Led by an emerging superstar in Jayden Daniels, the Commanders have the pieces in place to shine on the offensive end. However, if they were able to land a player the caliber of Watt, it would instantly put them in the conversation of Super Bowl contenders this season. His presence would immediately raise the Commanders' floor on defense, and help some address some of the team's glaring weak points.
While acquiring Watt would be a huge addition for the Commanders, they should prioritize dealing with their in-house situations first. McLaurin is a foundational piece to the organization and will be a driving force of their success in 2025. Knowing this, Washington needs to work out a deal with the star wideout so he'll rejoin his teammates in training camp and beyond.
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