Commanders GM Martin Mayhew 'Prefers' to Trade Back?

The Washington Commanders traded back twice in last year's draft and selected some key pieces towards building the future.

Jeremy Brener | Apr 26, 2023

In this story:

Washington Commanders

The Washington Commanders sit right in the middle of the first round of the NFL Draft with the No. 16 pick, giving them equal opportunity to trade up or down.

However, general manager Martin Mayhew has a preference for what he wants to do.

"When you're trading back, you're acquiring more picks and it's been my experience to just having more volume and having more picks gives you more opportunities to hit, especially if you're scouting well in those mid late rounds ... I really prefer to move back most of the time,” Mayhew said.

Mayhew's comments don't mean that the Commanders won't trade up, nor do they mean the team will definitely trade down. If the player Washington wants is on the board at No. 16, it makes the most sense for the Commanders to select him without risking a trade.

Looking back to a year ago, when the team traded for wide receiver Jahan Dotson to move into the No. 16 pick, he was Washington's guy from the jump. The Commanders held the No. 11 pick and knew they could get better value for Dotson by trading back five picks. By trading back, not only did the Commanders get the player they truly wanted in the first round, but they also got an additional third-round pick in the deal, where they took running back Brian Robinson Jr.

On top of that, the Commanders received an additional fourth-round pick, which they flipped along with a sixth-round pick in another trade back for a pair of fifth-round picks ... quarterback Sam Howell and tight end Cole Turner.

By trading back twice in the draft last year, the Commanders may have just built the core of their new offense. Maybe a trade back this year could help fortify the Commanders future even more.

Follow Jeremy Brener on Twitter

Want the latest in breaking news and insider information on the Washington Commanders? Click Here.

Follow Commander Country on Twitter.

Want even more Washington Commanders news? Check out the Si.com team page here.

Published Apr 26, 2023

JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.