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Washington Commanders News & Rumors

Commanders Gauging CB Emmanuel Forbes’ Trade Value

November 4th, 2024 at 7:07pm CST by Sam Robinson

Adam Peters‘ Commanders regime cut ties with a handful of 2023 draft choices brought in by Ron Rivera and Co. This included bailing on third-round center Ricky Stromberg‘s rookie deal a year in. Weeks later, the top pick from last year’s Commanders draft may not be on steady ground.

Washington is certainly not a seller this year, separating the current team’s setup from the situation that led Montez Sweat and Chase Young out the door on deadline day last year. But the team is exploring help at wide receiver and cornerback. The latter area may also be a spot where a subtraction comes.

The Commanders are gauging Emmanuel Forbes‘ value on the market, per veteran NFL reporter Josina Anderson. Forbes has not justified his draft slot — No. 16 overall — despite coming to the nation’s capital after elite turnover numbers in college. Forbes has started one game this season and played in five, seeing later-round prospects work in front of him.

Drafted one spot in front of Christian Gonzalez last year, Forbes has played just 37% of the Commanders’ defensive snaps this season. The team drafted the slender prospect to work in Rivera and Jack Del Rio‘s scheme, and while a thumb injury slowed him early this season, the Mississippi State alum only played 50% of Washington’s defensive snaps as a rookie. The Commanders have used Forbes as a starter in just seven games since drafting him midway through the first round. Pro Football Focus has assigned Forbes an abysmal 37.6 coverage grade this season.

Benjamin St-Juste and second-round rookie Mike Sainristil are ahead of Forbes, with multiyear Chargers starter Michael Davis also added this offseason. Noah Igbinoghene, a former Cowboys low-end trade pickup, has also started five games and logged a 67% snap share as primarily a slot defender. After not contributing much to the Dolphins’ cause despite being a former first-round pick, Igbinoghene was among the cadre of Cowboys to follow Dan Quinn to Washington. He has slid Sainristil to the boundary, cutting off a Forbes path back to the lineup.

Forbes finished his college career with six pick-sixes but checked in at 166 pounds. The previous Commanders regime liked Gonzalez as well but preferred Forbes to the eventual Patriots CB1. Forbes intercepted a staggering 14 passes in just three seasons at Mississippi State, but thus far, he has not translated into a reliable pro corner. Forbes is under contract through 2026 and would add some dead money to Washington’s payroll if traded before Tuesday afternoon’s deadline.

It would cost the Commanders more than $12MM in dead cap, which would be spread between this year and next, to unload Forbes, who has more than $5MM in guaranteed salary due from 2025-26. That would also be an issue for an acquiring team, though with Forbes just 23, it would also not surprise to see a team that liked him coming out of the draft to take a flier. Of course, the Commanders would likely not fetch anything beyond a Day 3 pick at this juncture. Whether the team moves on may depend on if it acquires another corner before the deadline.

Commanders Eyeing Trade For WR, CB?

November 3rd, 2024 at 8:39am CST by Rory Parks

Keyed by a stellar rookie-year performance from quarterback Jayden Daniels, the Commanders are acing their rebuilding project and find themselves in position to make a deep playoff run. In order to achieve that goal, Washington is considering making a move or two in advance of Tuesday’s trade deadline.

On October 30, Ben Standig of The Athletic (subscription required) published a piece noting that, while the Commanders’ defense is performing well in terms of points allowed per game (20.9, which ranks 11th in the league), that number is boosted by a generally soft schedule. Standig pointed out that the unit has struggled against quality passers, and he also wrote that, outside of WR Terry McLaurin and Daniels, the offense could use more top-flight playmakers.

It therefore stands to reason that the Commanders would pursue a trade for a pass-catcher and/or a defensive back to address the weak spots on their roster. However, Standig reported that there was minimal buzz in that regard as of the time his piece was published. After all, 2024 is the first year of a multiyear plan, and GM Adam Peters is not going to trade away high-end draft capital if he does not believe his club is a true contender at this point. 

According to Standig, there was not a sense that much trade activity was brewing in the Washington front office. He did concede that Peters is willing to consider a deal, especially for a cornerback, and his colleague at The Athletic, Dianna Russini, is more bullish on the odds of Washington pulling off a trade. Per Russini, the Commanders are actively seeking a corner (subscription required), though neither she nor Standig offer any specific names.

The Commanders’ top boundary corners, Benjamin St-Juste and Mike Sainristil, have yielded quarterback ratings of 111.6 and 126.6, respectively, while Pro Football Focus has assigned 2023 first-rounder Emmanuel Forbes an abysmal 37.6 coverage grade. Slot defender Noah Igbinoghene has also struggled.

Wide receivers have largely dominated trade conversations both during the offseason and into the regular season, and Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports reports that the Commanders are among the teams “poking around” the WR market. McLaurin and tight end Zach Ertz have received the most targets from Daniels, and while players like Noah Brown, Dyami Brown, Olamide Zaccheaus, and rookie Luke McCaffrey have had their moments, an addition to the top of the depth chart would be a welcome development.

Along with Daniels’ level of play and Washington’s strong start to the season, the club’s fans have another reason to celebrate. As ESPN’s Adam Schefter writes, players on other teams have either privately stated or have told their agents that they want to be dealt to the Commanders. Whether Peters makes a big swing in the next couple of days remains to be seen, but the Josh Harris ownership group, along with Peters and head coach Dan Quinn, have reversed the league-wide perception of their outfit in short order.

Minor NFL Transactions: 11/2/24

November 2nd, 2024 at 7:30pm CST by Ely Allen

Today’s minor NFL moves including standard gameday practice squad elevations for Sunday’s slate of games:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears

Cincinnati Bengals

Cleveland Browns

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Jacksonville Jaguars

Kansas City Chiefs

Los Angeles Rams

Miami Dolphins

New Orleans Saints

Philadelphia Eagles

Tennessee Titans

Washington Commanders

Extra Points: 18-Game Schedule, International Slate, Goalposts, Commanders

October 31st, 2024 at 11:17am CST by Sam Robinson

Thrown around as a talking point before the 17-game schedule took effect, the prospect of two bye weeks is back on the table thanks to the early negotiations for an 18-game slate. Roger Goodell said recently the prospect of a two-bye season will be in play if another regular-season expansion comes to fruition.

“A lot of that depends on — can we continue to make the game safer, can we continue to modify the way we conduct the offseason as well as the training camp and as well as the season, so that these guys feel comfortable being able to play that period of time,” Goodell said of an expansion to 18 games, something that has become a trending topic in 2024.

It is believed TV networks nixed a double-bye setup for the 17-game season, as the league’s 1993 effort — the only two-bye season to date — provided what the NFL’s broadcast partners viewed as a diluted schedule. For the NFLPA to back a move to 18 during a CBA that prevents the schedule from expanding again, it is likely the NFL and its TV partners will need to give in on the second bye week. Should that be one of the league’s concessions to the union in the ongoing push for 18 games, a schedule that would start one week earlier and run through Presidents Day weekend would be on tap.

Here is the latest from around the NFL:

  • As Goodell previously mentioned a move to 16 international games per season could commence at some point, the veteran commissioner noted he wants to push the slate from five to eight international contests “quickly.” The NFL will play a game in Madrid next season, and Dublin, Rio de Janeiro and Abu Dhabi have come up as potential international hosts. Ditto Sweden, France and Australia. The league currently features an eight-game max as far as international outings go; it is safe to expect that number to rise in the coming years, especially if the NFL’s push for an 18-game season is successful.
  • Fifteen of the top 17 most accurate field goal kickers in NFL history have played during the 2020s, with Mike Vanderjagt and Nate Kaeding the only outliers. The league is seeing 60-yard field goal makes occur at greater rates, with 50-plus-yarders becoming routine for many. As a result, an interesting conversation could take place. A competition committee discussion (via The Associated Press’ Rob Maaddi) is expected to take place during the 2025 offseason. The posts presently sit 18 feet, 6 inches apart and 10 feet off the ground. Altering those dimensions would be a radical change, though the NFL showed a willingness to explore special teams adjustments via its dynamic kickoff trial run. That said, veteran NFL exec Troy Vincent does not expect (via the Washington Post’s Mark Maske) an immediate change.
  • While Josh Harris‘ Commanders sale price was believed to be $6.05 billion, Maske and Post colleague Nicki Jhabvala indicate the actual number will likely come in at $5.85 billion. That is still an American sports-record number, breaking Rob Walton‘s Broncos purchase ($4.65 billion) from 2022. A $200MM deferred payment exists in Harris’ agreement, one based on revenue markers Maske and Jhabvala indicate the franchise is unlikely to hit. Harris’ group needed to bring in more than a dozen investors to buy the team, and the current owners feared Amazon founder (and Post owner) Jeff Bezos would indeed swoop in with an offer the Harris-led group could not match. Bezos bowing out of the running, not submitting an official bid for rival Dan Snyder‘s franchise, cleared the way for Harris’ purchase.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/29/24

October 29th, 2024 at 8:13pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

Here are the most recent practice squad transactions from around the NFL:

Arizona Cardinals

Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears

Indianapolis Colts

Los Angeles Chargers

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

Philadelphia Eagles

Pittsburgh Steelers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

Washington Commanders

The Vikings cut Gaskin from their active roster on Tuesday, but as a vested veteran, he did not need to pass through waivers before re-signing to Minnesota’s practice squad. Gaskin played in the Vikings’ first five games this season, but has not appeared since October 6. His familiarity with the offense could lead to activations from the practice squad if Minnesota needs running back depth.

Herndon will join the Saints after playing in Jacksonville for six seasons, with 83 total appearances and 34 starts for the Jaguars since 2018. The veteran cornerback only started five games over the last two years, but played in 15 games for almost 900 snaps as a rotational member of the Jaguars’ secondary. His experience could lead to quick elevations from the practice squad once he learns the Saints’ defense.

The Commander signed the 30-year-old Hart to give them more depth at offensive tackle. The veteran has 67 starts and 98 total appearances over his eight-year career, though he hasn’t played in the NFL since a 2022 stint with the Bills.

2024 NFL Cap Space, By Team

October 27th, 2024 at 7:11pm CST by Adam La Rose

With the trade deadline nearing, more player movement can be expected during the coming days. Of course, a key factor in any deals will be the financial situation for contenders aiming to bolster their rosters for the second half of the campaign.

Courtesy of Over the Cap, here is an updated look at each teams’ cap space:

  1. San Francisco 49ers: $54.13MM
  2. Cleveland Browns: $45.16MM
  3. New England Patriots: $36.61MM
  4. Las Vegas Raiders: $34.59MM
  5. Detroit Lions: $27.53MM
  6. Washington Commanders: $23.44MM
  7. Dallas Cowboys: $20.75MM
  8. Arizona Cardinals: $19.44MM
  9. Tennessee Titans: $18.26MM
  10. Jacksonville Jaguars: $17.12MM
  11. Green Bay Packers: $13.96MM
  12. Indianapolis Colts: $11.11MM
  13. Philadelphia Eagles: $10.36MM
  14. Minnesota Vikings: $9.48MM
  15. Cincinnati Bengals: $8.98MM
  16. Pittsburgh Steelers: $8.93MM
  17. Seattle Seahawks: $8.19MM
  18. Atlanta Falcons: $8.16MM
  19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: $7.83MM
  20. Los Angeles Chargers: $7.72MM
  21. Chicago Bears: $6.14MM
  22. Houston Texans: $6.01MM
  23. New York Jets: $5.1MM
  24. Miami Dolphins: $5.02MM
  25. Baltimore Ravens: $4.36MM
  26. Buffalo Bills: $2.37MM
  27. Kansas City Chiefs: $2.35MM
  28. New Orleans Saints: $2.15MM
  29. Los Angeles Rams: $1.91MM
  30. Denver Broncos: $1.77MM
  31. New York Giants: $1.51MM
  32. Carolina Panthers: $1.12MM

Just like last year, the 49ers find themselves with considerable cap space to work with. The team has several reasons to roll over as many funds as possible into the offseason, however, with Brock Purdy eligible for an extension and the likes of Charvarius Ward, Deommodore Lenoir and Talanoa Hufanga on track for free agency. Major investments including a commitment beyond 2024 would thus come as a surprise.

San Francisco is among the teams to watch regarding an addition, and major injuries on both sides of the ball could lead to a stop-gap solution being targeted. The 49ers may also be open to moving away players before the deadline, though, with Ward being named as potential candidate to be dealt. Sitting at 3-4, the team’s bid to return to the Super Bowl has not gone as planned to date, but a notable midseason addition could certainly change things.

Having lost Aidan Hutchinson until at least the Super Bowl, the Lions have an obvious need along the edge. Replacing his production with any one addition will not be feasible, but bringing in at least a rotational option would not come as a surprise. Indeed, Detroit has been involved in the edge market with respect to showing interest in some of the veterans who could be on the move.

That list no longer includes Haason Reddick, but the Lions have also been connected to Za’Darius Smith. The Browns have already moved Amari Cooper, so it would come as little surprise if the team were to deal away the three-time Pro Bowler in a move which would allow him to return to the NFC North. Smith certainly seems to be open to a trade, and Detroit would easily be able to absorb the remainder of his $1.2MM 2024 salary.

While Smith could be on the move, fellow Cleveland edge rusher Myles Garrett is (understandably) seen as untouchable. That is also the case for Raiders start Maxx Crosby, with owner Mark Davis making it clear a trade will not be considered before or after the deadline. Even though the Titans have been active already on the trade front, they too will not entertain a deal involving two-time Pro Bowl defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons. While talks have taken place related to Cooper Kupp, the Rams do not expect to move on from the former Super Bowl MVP.

The receiver position remains one to watch even with Davante Adams (Jets), Cooper (Bills) and DeAndre Hopkins (Chiefs) already joining new teams. As the Panthers consider selling off pending free agents, Diontae Johnson could be available for a mid-round pick. In the case of the Jaguars, Christian Kirk is still a candidate to be dealt (although he is not a pending free agent). Teams like the Steelers and Chargers have yet to add a pass-catcher, but they have shown interest and could pull off a move in the coming days.

Commanders Expected To Start Jayden Daniels In Week 8

October 27th, 2024 at 8:26am CST by Sam Robinson

Jayden Daniels did not make it too far into the Commanders’ Week 7 game. Although the team routed the Panthers in that matchup behind backup Marcus Mariota, as Daniels’ effort to reenter the game proved unsuccessful, the resurgent NFC East team does not look ready to give its newfound franchise QB more time off.

While it is not yet certain Daniels suits up in Week 8 against the Bears despite his rib injury, ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter notes all signs point to that taking place. Daniels missed two practices this week and only logged a limited session Friday.

It would be understandable for a Washington team — one that has certainly struggled to find a long-term quarterback over the past few decades — to be cautious with its dual-threat dynamo, but Daniels is trending toward returning. The Commanders initially viewed their prized prospect as suffering a minor injury, so it would not come as a shock if he returned without missing a start. Still, with Daniels’ skillset featuring extensive run-game work, it will be interesting to see if the Commanders show caution with their play-calling should he return today.

Daniels, who left the Carolina matchup in the first quarter, will be tested in pregame warmups. The odds appear on the side of him returning Mariota to the bench, which would be an interesting turn of events due to the 2023 Heisman winner’s play style and his status as the Commanders’ long-sought-after franchise quarterback.

The former LSU and Arizona State starter has made tremendous progress early in his NFL career. He enters Week 8 ranked behind only Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson in QBR. Daniels leads the NFL in completion percentage (75.6), buoyed by his 21-for-23 showing in Cincinnati, and has managed this connect rate while averaging 8.4 yards per attempt. Washington has seen a few first-round QB investments (Jason Campbell, Robert Griffin III, Dwayne Haskins) fail to pan out over the past 20 years, but Daniels has the look of a player who could become the team’s longest-tenured QB1 since at least Joe Theismann.

Mariota resides as decent Daniels insurance, however, having completed 18 of 23 passes for 205 yards and two touchdowns against Carolina on Sunday. Washington’s other Heisman-winning passer has not made a start since the 2022 season with the Falcons, one that ended with a Mariota knee surgery and a strange departure from the team upon being benched for Desmond Ridder. The Commanders gave Mariota, the Eagles’ 2023 backup, a one-year deal worth $6MM in March.

Daniels, 24, returning would mean a faceoff against No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams. This development would certainly please CBS execs, as the NFL moved the game to the late-afternoon window recently. The Commanders lead the NFC East at 5-2 and are seeking their first division title since 2020.

Minor NFL Transactions: 10/23/24

October 23rd, 2024 at 7:33pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s minor moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Baltimore Ravens

Chicago Bears

Dallas Cowboys

Green Bay Packers

  • Signed: LS Matt Orzech
  • Waived: DL Jonathan Ford

New York Jets

San Francisco 49ers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Washington Commanders

The Bears should soon be getting some offensive reinforcement. Most notably, lineman Larry Borom returned to practice today after missing the first chunk of the season with an ankle injury. The former fifth-round pick has been a reliable swing OT for the Bears over the past three years, starting 23 of his 39 appearances. The team will also welcome back Travis Homer, who has been sidelined since Week 3 with a finger injury. The veteran RB may have a tough time cracking the rotation upon his return with D’Andre Swift, Roschon Johnson, and Khalil Herbert currently leading the depth chart. The Bears will have 21 days to activate either of the two players to the 53-man roster.

Jordan Phillips was back at Cowboys practice today after landing on IR in mid-September. The defensive lineman’s injury wasn’t ever made particularly clear; the Cowboys claimed the player was favoring his previously repaired wrist, although the player later hinted that he was forced to the sideline because of conditioning. After more than a month on the shelf, the veteran will now get another look. The Cowboys acquired Phillips from the Giants back in August, and the veteran only got into about one fourth of his team’s defensive snaps before landing on IR. Phillips appeared in 26 games for the Bills between 2022 and 2023, collecting 35 tackles and four sacks.

QB Rumors: Falcons, Daniels, Rams, Titans

October 23rd, 2024 at 3:00pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Falcons‘ offseason quarterback plan drew considerable scrutiny, and evaluators are skeptical the team will carry it out. Kirk Cousins, who sits third in the NFL with 1,830 passing yards (highlighted by a 500-yard showing against the Buccaneers), is entrenched as Atlanta’s starting QB presently. Though, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler notes some around the league do not believe the Falcons will sit No. 8 overall pick Michael Penix Jr. for two seasons like they have planned to do. A Penix push toward a 2025 starting job would stand to bring forth Cousins trade rumors.

While nothing concrete has emerged on the Cousins front, this is not the first time execs have predicted a 2025 Falcons QB trade. Some in May predicted the long-rumored Cousins-Kyle Shanahan reunion would commence — if the 49ers become squeamish on a Brock Purdy megadeal. The Falcons have Cousins signed through 2027, though they have a clear out in 2026 — after $90MM of his $100MM guarantee will have been paid out. Penix, however, is already 24. Sitting the southpaw prospect until his age-26 season would not be optimal for the Falcons. Cousins’ 2025 money is fully guaranteed, which will be challenging for a trade. But if Penix’s development moves this situation toward a potential 2025 controversy, expect another offseason of Cousins rumors.

Here is the latest from the QB ranks:

  • Jayden Daniels did not practice Wednesday, moving Marcus Mariota closer to making his first start since 2022. The rib injury the Commanders QB sustained is not considered serious, per NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport, but it would also not surprise — given the way Daniels winced after trying to return in Week 7 — if Washington exercised caution with the player who has a great chance of being the team’s first long-term QB1 in decades. Mariota played effectively against the Panthers but has not made a start since his controversial Falcons exit in December 2022.
  • The Titans have not seen their Will Levis development project produce notable strides. Crippling turnovers have played a key role in Tennessee’s 1-5 start, and Levis is now leading with a shoulder injury. Among qualified options, the 2023 second-rounder ranks ahead of only Deshaun Watson in QBR. As such, SI.com’s Albert Breer guesses the franchise will go into 2025 with an objective to find a new quarterback. It is still early, but at this rate, Tennessee giving Levis a third year to prove he can be a locked-in starter would be a reach. Ran Carthon‘s club would be an interesting destination, given the resources allocated to upgrading the offensive talent level around Levis this offseason.
  • Ditto the Rams, who have Matthew Stafford on a year-to-year arrangement. The Rams have not dangled Stafford in trades this year, separating the 16th-year veteran from Cooper Kupp, but they also did not authorize significant guarantee upgrades — like the QB sought — beyond 2024. As a result, Breer adds the team should be considered in play to draft Stafford’s heir apparent next year. Los Angeles is running out of time to land a successor who would develop behind Stafford, who is signed through 2026. Adding assets to help with that potential mission could be on the team’s mind now, as a Kupp trade would go toward that haul. The Rams and Chiefs discussed Kupp, but L.A.’s asking price — a second-rounder — may be steep for a player who has battled injuries in each of the seasons since his transcendent 2021.
  • Aaron Rodgers does not appear in jeopardy of missing Week 8, but the Jets quarterback is now on the team’s injury report with three maladies. The 40-year-old starter is battling hamstring, knee and ankle maladies. Rodgers’ hamstring “flared up” against the Steelers, ESPN.com’s Rich Cimini tweets.

Minor NFL Transactions: 10/22/24

October 22nd, 2024 at 8:26pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

Here are today’s minor moves from around the NFL:

Baltimore Ravens

Carolina Panthers

Detroit Lions

Houston Texans

Kansas City Chiefs

Los Angeles Chargers

Los Angeles Rams

Minnesota Vikings

New York Giants

Pittsburgh Steelers

Washington Commanders

The Ravens finally activated Maulet to the 53-man roster at the very end of his 21-day return window. The veteran slot cornerback underwent arthroscopic knee surgery during the preseason, but dealt with a minor hamstring injury upon his return to practice. To make room, Baltimore waived Ross, a special teams starter, likely hoping to add him back to the practice squad if he clears waivers. Maulet’s return could not be coming at a better time for a Ravens pass defense that was already struggling before starting cornerback Marlon Humphrey left Monday night’s victory over the Buccaneers with an injury.

 

The Panthers signed Gill off the Lions’ practice squad and Harris off the Dolphins’ practice squad to fortify their defense on Tuesday. They also released Haynes and waived Wooten and Smith as part of an overhaul of their weak front seven.

 

The Giants signed Watts from their practice squad to strengthen the interior of their defensive line while waiving Basham, a former Bills second-round pick who arrived in New York via trade in August 2023. Giants general manager Joe Schoen was the assistant GM in Buffalo when Basham was drafted, while Giants head coach Brian Daboll was the Bills’ offensive coordinator. Schoen traded a sixth-round pick in exchange for Basham and a seventh-rounder from the Bills just before the 2023 regular season, but Basham did not record a single sack in 13 games as a Giant.

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