Commanders weigh trade for Brian Robinson Jr

The Commanders are considering a trade of Brian Robinson Jr as part of a broader backfield assessment.

Commanders weigh trade for running back Brian Robinson Jr

The Commanders are shopping running back Brian Robinson Jr., according to Jordan Schultz. The team lists Robinson as the starter on its depth chart, but has Austin Ekeler, Jeremy McNichols and Chris Rodriguez Jr. behind him. Robinson, a third-round pick in 2022, started 13 of the 14 games he played last season. He had 187 carries for a career-best 799 yards and a career-best eight touchdowns, adding 20 catches for 159 yards. In his three seasons, Robinson has 635 touches for 2,916 yards and 20 touchdowns. He is entering the final year of his contract scheduled to make $3.406 million in base salary.

The move to shop him signals the team may be exploring flexibility over loyalty and could reflect cap considerations or a search for depth in a crowded backfield. While he remains listed as the starter, the presence of multiple backups suggests the organization is open to options if a deal improves value or future flexibility.

Roster strategy is shifting toward multi backfield use rather than a single bell cow. The Commanders may be testing the market to see if they can secure draft capital or a more favorable short-term financial outlook without sacrificing current production. If a trade materializes, it could prompt other teams to reassess how they balance youth, cost and payoff in backfield contracts. Yet any move risks unsettled players and a potential hit to on-field chemistry, especially if Robinson remains productive on a reduced role elsewhere.

Across the league, teams are weighing how much to invest in mid-round backs who can provide change-of-pace impact and pass protection. Washington appears to be weighing that calculus against the binding realities of a three-year, multi-front NFL cycle, where a team's value comes from depth as much as star power.

Highlights

The backfield story is far from closed and the next move will reveal the franchise’s balance between cost and capability.