Last season, the Washington Commanders rode rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels' talent to the NFC Championship Game. Now, they're hoping to ride his contract to a Super Bowl.
Nothing better explains their aggressive move to acquire Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil from the Houston Texans for multiple draft picks at the start of the NFL's legal negotiating window Monday. The veteran still has two remaining years on a three-year, $75 million deal that will soon require an extension. But Washington's window to win its first title since the 1991 season is officially open, and they are trying to take advantage.
The trade is the second big move the franchise has made this offseason. On March 1, they traded a fifth-round pick for receiver Deebo Samuel, and his $17.5 million cap hit, to provide an upgraded weapon for Daniels. Back in October, they traded two draft picks for cornerback Marshon Lattimore.
For Tunsil, they sent two picks in 2025 (in the third and seventh rounds) and two in 2026 (in the second and fourth rounds) -- solid draft capital from an organization that has said it wants to build through the draft, though it helps that they had nine selections a year ago to pair with five picks (for now) next month. At one point, according to team sources, they had interest in Cincinnati defensive end Trey Hendrickson. But that, too, would cost more picks and even more cap space. Although they can always maneuver in the draft to acquire more picks, those picks would be used as assets to acquire proven talent, which is what Washington did in landing Tunsil.
Trading for Tunsil also helps Washington better protect its most valuable asset: Daniels. While Tunsil commits a lot of penalties -- a league-high 17 last season, including 12 false starts -- he is a five-time Pro Bowl tackle, including being selected in each of the past three seasons. Tunsil moves well and is long -- both good traits for a tackle -- and, as one defensive coach who faced Houston this year said, "When he's healthy and right, he's as good as there is in the league."
He can help as a run blocker, and his addition allows Brandon Coleman, another easy mover who started 15 games at left tackle last season, to move to guard or right tackle. This gives Washington the pieces to have a strong offensive line core for next few seasons -- something the Eagles have enjoyed recently. Tunsil will turn 31 in August. So, it's not far-fetched to think he could play five or six more years.
The move could represent a slight change in philosophy for general manager Adam Peters. Peters, a former assistant GM with San Francisco, has repeatedly said he wants to build through the draft. As a result, losing the draft picks to acquire Tunsil and Samuel could potentially rob the Commanders of a chance to build a strong young core of young talent. They have -- for now -- only 10 combined picks in the next two drafts.
When Peters was in San Francisco, the 49ers drafted 28 players in their first three seasons, hitting on a number of them, including tight end George Kittle, linebacker Fred Warner, defensive end Nick Bosa, linebacker Dre Greenlaw and Samuel. They also went 10-22 in their first two years while those players developed. Daniels has changed the pace of growth in Washington, which has invested in veterans such as linebacker Bobby Wagner and tight end Zach Ertz -- players who, in their mid-30s, can't wait around for more young players to develop. At least four players from last year's draft class are expected to start this season -- Daniels, Coleman, corner Mike Sainristil and defensive tackle Jer'Zhan Newton -- while a handful of others will play key roles.
Peters has said repeatedly the 2024 class will set the foundation for Washington's future. Just like those early picks did in San Francisco. Not every pick will work out, nor will every draft class. In Tunsil, Washington just landed a sure thing.
"There's always going to be trade-offs if you do something like that [trade picks for veterans]," Peters said at the combine last month.
The players, of course, like this approach. Ertz wanted to return to Washington largely because of Daniels. At 24, Daniels remains the No. 1 reason for long-term optimism. But he knows Daniels, and the other rookie starters last year, are not available every draft.
"Oftentimes they do take a few years to develop," Ertz said, "so for a guy that wants to win now, just like everyone else in this building, sometimes it is a little bit of a shortcut to get a proven commodity -- a couple of those guys that are really, really, really good football players and that help our team immediately. There is no guessing or projection."
There could be second guessing if it doesn't work and Washington changes from a "win now" mentality to needing to build a stronger, more youthful core.
Washington's building process is not done. The Commanders need more talent and youth on defense, particularly along the line. But this team felt it had unfinished business after last season. They're taking advantage of a rare player in Daniels, whose talent, they are hoping, will help keep them competitive long term and whose contract can help them do it in the short term as well.
At this time two years ago, they were looking for a new owner. Last year they were looking for a quarterback. Now it's clear they're looking for anything that can help them get the biggest prize: A Lombardi Trophy.
