NFL Draft: 3 Teams Commanders Can Trade Back With

After trading back in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft, the Washington Commanders may be willing to do the same on Thursday.

The Washington Commanders traded back five spots in the 2022 NFL draft and landed Penn State wide receiver Jahan Dotson at No. 16.

Could a similar move be in the cards for Washington on Thursday?

Here are three teams that could look to trade up with the Commanders at No. 16 on draft day ...

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Few teams have as big of a question mark at quarterback as the Buccaneers.

Baker Mayfield is on his third team since the beginning of the 2022 season, and Kyle Trask has yet to play a meaningful snap in the NFL in his two years as a pro.

If Tennessee’s Hendon Hooker or Kentucky’s Will Levis were to fall to the middle of the first round, Tampa Bay should be blowing up teams’ phones in an attempt to land move up from No. 19 and land its quarterback of the future. Washington could land an extra third or fourth-round pick while only moving back three spots if they were to trade back with the Bucs.

With Washington’s willingness to trade back and Tampa Bay’s need at the NFL’s most important position, the two teams could be a match on Thursday night.

Minnesota Vikings

While the Vikings have a current answer at quarterback in Kirk Cousins, things become bleak beyond 2023.

In Cousins’ contract, 2024 and 2025 are voidable years, and he’s much closer to the end of his career than he is to the beginning.

Hooker and Levis may be near the top of Minnesota’s draft board if they fall outside of the top 10. At No. 23, moving up seven spots to trade with Washington is more than feasible.

Moving back to No. 23 could land Washington a second or third-round pick while also giving them a chance to potentially have their choice of the top tight ends still available.

Buffalo Bills

With the No. 27 pick, Buffalo would have to give up a pretty penny to move up 11 spots, but few teams find themselves in its position.

After getting bounced in the AFC divisional round back-to-back years, the Bills need a difference-maker on either side of the ball. Should someone like Texas running back Bijan Robinson start to slide near the No. 20 pick, the Bills shouldn’t hesitate to land the consensus best player at his position.

What makes the Commanders one of the better trade partners for Buffalo is the Detroit Lions at No. 18 and Los Angeles Chargers at No. 21. Both teams could use a running back and would be hard-pressed to pass up on a talent like Robinson.

As Washington, moving back 11 spots could easily land them a second-round pick, a mid-round pick in the 2023 draft and an early pick in the 2024 draft. While Washington should have the urgency to win now, an opportunity to land a package like that could be too good to pass up. 

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