Adam Peters has been aggressive in the trade market this offseason. An intriguing development around the league burst the door open for another bombshell acquisition in a position of need.
The Commanders are leaving no stone unturned to improve. Peters knows their Super Bowl window has arrived sooner than expected and maximizing Jayden Daniels' rookie contract is the team's biggest objective. He's reacting to the fast-moving situation accordingly.
Peters turned to his old employers first, striking a deal with the San Francisco 49ers for wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. Considering this cost Washington nothing more than a fifth-round selection, it's a low-risk move with incredible promise attached if the versatile weapon takes on a new challenge effectively.
That wasn't all. The Commanders allocated significant draft resources to acquire prolific left tackle Laremy Tunsil from the Houston Texans. He remains one of the league's most productive blindside protectors. Giving Daniels a franchise-caliber edge protector is only going to help his cause.
This depleted the team's draft assets and added significant dollars to Washington's salary cap in 2025. But make no mistake, Peters won't hesitate to make further moves if he believes it can help the Commanders get over the hump.
Commanders would benefit greatly from Trey Hendrickson's presence on the edge
Rumors remain rampant about the Commanders potentially exploring the possibility of trading for Trey Hendrickson. The Cincinnati Bengals defensive end had his trade request granted as the AFC North club transitions their investments to the offensive side of the football. A major update involving Tee Higgins and Ja'Marr Chase improves the chances of the All-Pro pass-rusher's departure.
Higgins got the lucrative extension he was looking for after being placed on the franchise tag once again this offseason. Chase got a deal that makes him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history. That makes quarterback Joe Burrow happy after he publically pressured the franchise to reach this conclusion during the offseason. However, retaining Hendrickson might be more difficult.
They are not giving up without a fight in that regard. Especially considering they have even more money in the short term to get something worked out.
The Bengals are reportedly looking for a first-round pick to part ways with Hendrickson. Nobody is going to pay that despite his outstanding credentials. But if this development sees them become more willing to drop the price, Peters could throw his hat into the ring.
Washington only has five draft picks in 2025 after acquiring Samuel and Tunsil. The Commanders won't get a better player with their second-round pick, but Hendrickson would be a lot more expensive contractually.
The former third-round pick has one more year remaining on his deal. Hendrickson is looking to get paid on what could be the last major contract he receives. The player showed no signs of slowing down last season en route to 17.5 sacks. For a team desperately needing to enhance their ability to generate pressure on opposing quarterbacks, he'd be a massive help.
Any team that acquires Hendrickson would probably need to extend him immediately. The Commanders have $105.5 million in available salary cap space in 2026 with just 27 players under contract. It would be difficult to keep everyone happy, but not impossible by any stretch of the imagination.
It would be surprising if the Commanders could bring Hendrickson into the building. But the Bengals' whopping deals for Higgins and Chase add an extra level of intrigue that's for sure.
