Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn
Getty
Head coach Dan Quinn of the Washington Commanders looks on before a preseason game against the New England Patriots at Commanders Field on August 25, 2024 in Landover, Maryland.
The Washington Commanders have emerged as the NFL draft darlings for sought after and hyped-up running back Jeremiyah Love of Notre Dame, but passing on his enormous talent in exchange for several assets might be the more prudent course.
Washington spent big to improve its defense, particularly its edge-rush, over the first two weeks of free agency. However, the team’s additions to the skill positions on offense have been underwhelming in the eyes of the majority of analysts and drawn subsequent criticism.
In a vacuum, that argues for the Commanders to spend the No. 7 overall pick on a possible generational talent like Love and pair him with a healthy Jayden Daniels at QB, allowing the two to lead the franchise through the remainder of this decade and well into the next, assuming everything goes as planned.
But Daniel Jeremiyah of NFL Network contrived a blockbuster trade proposal at the outset of free agency, in which the Commanders drop 11 spots, from pick No. 7 to No. 18, via a trade with the Minnesota Vikings and pick up three Day 2 picks across the next two drafts in return.
Vikings Primed for NFL Draft Day Trade for Jeremiyah Love
Jeremiyah Love
GettyNotre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love.
Minnesota needs running back help, looks like a prime suitor/landing spot for Love and holds four picks in the top 100 next month: Nos. 18, 49, 82 and 97.
“I would not be surprised if one of those top-100 picks is used on a RB,” Ben Goessling of the Star Tribune said during an interview with KFAN1003 on Monday, March 23 per the VikingzFanPage X account.
Given Goessling’s report, Jeremiah’s trade pitch is worth revisiting less than one month out from draft night.
Washington … they do not have a second-round pick, they do not have a fourth-round pick, they only have six picks overall.
I think there’s a way Minnesota could get from 18 to 7 without even parting with next year’s [first-round pick]. They have two [third-rounders] this year, could be a second-round pick next year. If I told you next year the Minnesota Vikings have Kyler Murray at quarterback, Jeremiyah Love at running back, Jordan Addison and Justin Jefferson, would you sign up to watch that offense?
Commanders Need to Get Younger, Cheaper Across Roster
Terry McLaurin
GettyWashington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin.
In all likelihood, the Vikings would need to surrender both third-rounders this year and a second-round pick in 2027 as well as the No. 18 pick in a swap to get the Commanders to even consider a deal.
But that kind of offer should command Washington’s attention, no pun intended, given that they pick just twice in the top 146 selections in next month’s draft and entered the 2025 campaign with the oldest roster in the league.
Not only do those age issues increase the likelihood of injuries and precipitous declines among players at crucial positions, a lack of rookie contracts also makes an older team more expensive and top heavy with talent — rendering injury problems involving quality players, like the ones wide receiver Terry McLaurin battled last season, that much more damaging to a team’s win/loss outcomes.