There were so many things that had to go wrong for the Washington Commanders in 2025 for them to end up with a 5-12 record one season after going 12-5 in 2024 that it’s impossible to point to just one thing as what needs to be fixed for 2026.
But on defense, we can definitely say the most critical thing missing right now is the lack of an elite pass rusher, which the Commanders might be able to fix this offseason with a trade.
Bleacher Report’s Alex Ballentine thinks the Commanders could be the perfect trade partner for the Las Vegas Raiders in a deal for disgruntled NFL All-Pro edge rusher Maxx Crosby.
In Ballentine’s scenario, the Commanders give up their 2026 first round pick (No. 7 overall), 2027 first round pick and 2026 fifth round pick (No. 145 overall) for Crosby, which is probably one first round pick too many.
If the Commanders can scale that back to just the 2026 first round pick and perhaps bump the 2027 pick up to a third rounder, it might be palatable for both sides.
The Raiders already own the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 draft, which they will almost certainly use on Heisman Trophy winner and University of Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza.
“It’s going to take a contender who can afford to absorb Crosby’s contract while enticing the Raiders with picks,” Ballentine wrote on Tuesday, January 12. “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 potentially add a quarterback at No. 1 and a foundational defensive prospect at No. 7.”
Crosby Has Played for Perennial Losers in Vegas
Crosby, 6-foot-5 and 255 pounds, was a fourth round pick in the 2019 NFL draft and is a 2-time NFL All-Pro and 5-time Pro Bowler with 69.5 sacks in his first 7 seasons. He also just signed a 3-year, $106.5 million contract extension in March 2025.
While Crosby’s stature among the NFL’s very best players has only grown in 7 seasons, it’s even more remarkable because he’s done it playing on such terrible teams.
In Crosby’s 7 seasons, the Raiders have had a winning record and made the playoffs just once, when they went 10-7 and lost in the AFC Wild Card Round in 2021.
Las Vegas is 7-27 over the last 2 seasons and after head coach Pete Carroll was fired after just one season, they will have their fifth head coach in 8 years in 2026.
Commanders Completely Failed at Edge Rusher
The Commanders made the brilliant move of drafting an offensive tackle in the first round of the 2025 NFL draft when they needed an edge rusher then doubled down by dropping a 3-year, $45 million free agent contract on defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw instead of going after an edge rusher in free agency.
Mind you, the Commanders already have one defensive tackle on a 4-year, $90 million contract with Daron Payne and drafted a defensive tackle in the second round in 2024 with Jer’Zhan Newton. None of it makes sense.
Blockbuster Trade Pitch Brings Commanders $106 Million All-Pro