Dan Quinn’s status as head coach of the Washington Commanders is suddenly on shaking ground, in part, because of his inability to construct a tough defense, a problem rooted in the unit’s ability to generate a strong pass rush.
It’s going to take something bold to solve the problem, and solutions don’t get much bolder than trading for a former No. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft. That’s the potential scenario outlined by ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, who believes Jacksonville Jaguars edge Travon Walker is among the rush ends “who might want a trade due to inactivity on a contract extension with their current team.”
Fowler states Walker, “Giants’ Kayvon Thibodeaux and Jets‘ Jermaine Johnson are among players on expiring rookie deals who could be 2027 free agents.”
All of those are intriguing candidates, but Walker has the highest upside. Particularly from how his natural versatility can fit Quinn’s hybrid-front schemes.
Making a deal happen would be a good way for general manager Adam Peters to correct an obvious mistake from last offseason.
Travon Walker Trade Would Fix Commanders Mistake
Fowler admitted “it was shocking to me when they didn’t aggressively address pass rusher last offseason. As a result, their sack leader is Dorance Armstrong — who tore his ACL in Week 7 — with 5.5.”
That feeling is likely shared by most, if not all, Commanders fans. It was already obvious the team lacked bluechip pass-rushers, even before Armstrong suffered injury.
The same problem was evident last season, but Peters and Quinn chose to persist with unheralded incumbents and veteran retreads. Their only meaningful acquisition on the edges was future Hall of Famer Von Miller.
He’s stayed loyal to coaches, but 36-year-old Miller has been far from dominant during his 14th year in the NFL. Instead, Washington’s most consistent pass-rusher has been Jacob Martin, a journeyman who played on six different teams without ever logging more than four sacks in a single season before this year.
Rolling into the season with an uninspiring group of edge-rushers always looked like a gamble and it’s backfired for the Commanders. Quinn needs better talent if he’s going to fix a defense he now has full responsibility for designing and calling.
Former Top Pick Still Has Potential
Walker has rarely lived up to the billing as the first player taken in the 2022 NFL draft, but the ex-Georgia star still has potential. That potential is best summed up by his first pro sack, gained at Washington’s expense just over three years ago.
Walker can be explosive off the edge, and he put together back-to-back seasons with double-digit sacks in 2023 and ’24. A knee injury has restricted Walker this season, causing him to miss two games and helping limit the 24-year-old to just 2.5 sacks.
His numbers are modest, but Walker still has upside in the right scheme. He’s a force against the run, something the Commanders could use after allowing 4.7 yards per carry this season.
Walker is also flexible enough to play as a standup outside linebacker, put his hand in the dirt as a traditional defensive end, and even slide inside to D-tackle. His roving skill-set should appeal to Quinn, who likes to mix 3-4 looks with 4-3 principles.
Swinging a trade for Walker would rate as a minor coup for the Commanders in an offseason coach and GM have to get right. Particularly for a defense left bereft of elite playmakers for too long.
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