The Washington Commanders got off to a 2-0 start this season, but they have since dropped three straight (including a disastrous 37-3 loss to the Buffalo Bills in Week 3) to fall to below .500.
Let’s be honest: the Commanders are going to have a difficult time seriously contending for a division crown in an NFC East that includes the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys, but with there being three Wild Card spots, perhaps Washington could sneak into the playoffs. Does it seem likely? No, but stranger things have happened.
If the Commanders want to legitimately contend for a postseason berth, they are almost certainly going to have to make some moves between now and the Oct. 31 NFL trade deadline.
Here are a couple of names Washington should pursue.
Zach Ertz, Arizona Cardinals
A few years ago, it looked like the Commanders had found their tight end of the future in Logan Thomas. In his first season with the club in 2020, Thomas hauled in 72 receptions for 670 yards and six touchdowns.
However, since then, injuries and lackluster performance in general have been the story for Thomas, who played in just six games in 2021 and did not even come close to replicating his 2020 production in 14 contests last season.
Quarterback Sam Howell could definitely use a better tight end in the aerial attack, and that’s where Zach Ertz comes in.
The Cardinals are sitting at 1-3 and are going nowhere fast, and with Ertz being 32 years old, he probably isn’t going to be a piece the club builds with long term (even though his contract doesn’t expire until after next season).
Ertz may no longer be the same elite tight end he was during his Philadelphia Eagles days, but he is still more than serviceable and would represent an upgrade over Thomas. Plus, he probably wouldn’t cost Washington very much in a trade package.
Brian Burns, Carolina Panthers
Okay so here’s the thing: the Commanders seem intent on letting Chase Young walk via free agency this offseason, as they declined his fifth-year option and rumors have persisted about the club potentially moving him ahead of the trade deadline.
Young has been a relative disappointment since being drafted second overall in 2020, so Washington may want to head in a different direction.
How about Brian Burns?
The Panthers were unable to reach a long-term agreement with the edge rusher prior to the season, as Burns was apparently asking for $26-28 million annually, a price Carolina was unwilling to pay. With the Panthers being 0-4, they could very well make Burns available over the next several weeks, and the Commanders may be a good landing spot.
Washington is set to have ample cap space this coming spring, so if it does trade for Burns, it would be able to re-sign him if it so desires.
Burns has developed into one of the top edge rushers in football, and he could comprise a great replacement for Young. He is just one year older than Young, and he has been much healthier and considerably more productive since entering the league in 2019.
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