The Washington Commanders have fallen short of completing a trade for a franchise passer for a second straight offseason.
In on Matthew Stafford before he was dealt to the Rams in 2021, the Commanders reportedly just swung big on Russell Wilson only to lose him to the Denver Broncos, who made an offer the Seahawks couldn't refuse.
Only days ago, Ian Rapoport reported the Commanders made a "strong offer" to Seattle for Wilson but talks ultimately "didn't go anywhere."
On Tuesday, the Denver Broncos shot for the moon and landed Wilson, leaving Washington to go back to the drawing board.
According to reporting from Albert Breer and Nicki Jhabvala, Washington offered Seattle "high picks" spread out across 2022, 2023 and 2024. Both also report that it became clear the Seahawks preferred to trade Wilson out of the AFC. If that's truly the case, it may not have mattered what Washington was willing to offer.
John Keim says Washington offered multiple first-round picks and asked the Seahawks if they also wanted a player in return, but Seattle never bothered to counter. Reading the tea leaves, it's quite possible Seattle never considered Washington a serious trade partner, considering the Seahawks ultimately made a deal with Denver for multiple players when the Commanders were only asking if a player should be included.
Regardless, it seems — at least in terms of draft pick compensation — that Denver may have had Washington trumped by at least one high pick by virtue of the two firsts and two seconds it ultimately traded for Wilson.
A source tells Kevin Sheehan, however, that may not actually be the case.
Indeed, the Commanders did offer three high picks for Wilson. To put it more clearly, they offered Seattle three first-round picks, Grant Paulsen reports.
As far as the rest of Denver's trade package, namely the player compensation of defensive lineman Shelby Harris, tight end Noah Fant and QB Drew Lock, that would be more difficult to sort out as to who offered more, as Washington's unlikely to reveal who it was willing to offer.
Again, it may not have mattered.
This article will be updated as more information becomes available.
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