Washington Commanders general manager Adam Peters has made it clear his team will build through the NFL draft. The GMs who favor a draft-and-develop model also prefer more picks. The best way to obtain more picks is by trading back.
The Commanders hold the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft. With three quarterbacks expected to go in the first three picks, Washington’s pick is extremely valuable.
The problem with moving back this year is the Commanders also need a quarterback. There are other avenues for Washington to explore finding a quarterback, such as pursuing the franchise’s old quarterback, Kirk Cousins, in free agency. The Commanders could attempt to move back just a few spots and select Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy.
However, in his latest column for ESPN, discussing the latest buzz around the NFL at the 2024 NFL combine, Jeremy Fowler said that yes, Washington has received substantial interest in the No. 2 overall pick, but he doesn’t see the Commanders moving the pick.
Washington has received trade inquiries from teams on the No. 2 pick. While they might not be hard, actionable offers, the interest in moving up is there. Among teams that could be on the QB radar are the Giants (No. 6), Falcons (No. 8), Vikings (No. 11) and Raiders (No. 13). That said, I would be surprised if Washington moved off the pick.
The combine is where GMs discuss everything. They discuss the parameters of what it would take it move up one spot, 10 spots, move back, etc. The talks are mostly preliminary, but they do often begin in Indianapolis.
With a new regime and a rare opportunity to select a franchise quarterback at No. 2, it does appear unlikely the Commanders would move back.
