Commanders predicted to make massive trade for $106 million defender

Jarrett Bailey

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Commanders predicted to make massive trade for $106 million defender image

The Washington Commanders are entering a make-or-break season. After going 12-5 and reaching the NFC Championship Game in 2024 under new head coach Dan Quinn and rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, Washington regressed to winning just five games in 2025 in large part due to injuries to their offensive stars.

This drop-off led to Washington moving on from both offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury and defensive coordinator Joe Whitt, with obvious pressure on Quinn to succeed in 2025, or he may face the same fate. A good way to get the Commanders back to playing deep into January is to acquire a superstar defender, which is what Alex Ballentine of Bleacher Report predicts will happen in the form of a trade for Las Vegas Raiders star Maxx Crosby.

"A team like the Bears might want to repeat history, but it's going to take a contender who can afford to absorb Crosby's contract while enticing the Raiders with picks," Ballentine writes. "The Commanders fit the bill. They have around $89.8 million in cap space and the potential to have a huge bounce-back season with a healthy Jayden Daniels next season. Washington's struggles this season gives them the advantage of a top-10 pick to offer to Vegas. Dan Quinn would get the marquee pass-rusher he needs to improve the Commanders defense and the Raiders would be able to potent."

Crosby is one of the league's top edge rushers, topping 10 sacks in three of the last four seasons, including a 14.5 sack season in 2023. The Commanders' pass rush was one of the worst in the NFL in 2025, ranking 24th in pressure rate. Crosby would give them the alpha edge rusher they've lacked over the last two seasons, and could help Washington get back to the postseason.

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