June 2, 2026, 4:05 a.m. ET
June 1 is always a big day across the NFL. On Monday, it was the biggest June 1 in league history. The Cleveland Browns traded future Hall of Fame pass rusher Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams for Jared Verse and a first-round pick.
Later on Monday, in a move that’s long been in the making, the Philadelphia Eagles traded wide receiver A.J. Brown to the New England Patriots for a first and fifth-round pick.
The moves we usually see on June 1 are teams releasing veterans to spread their dead cap hit over two years.
How do these moves impact the Washington Commanders? Well, Brown’s trade directly impacts Washington. The Eagles are a hated rival, and Brown has had some terrific games against the Commanders. That’s great news for Washington.
What about Garrett? Washington does not play Cleveland in 2026, which means the Commanders will not see Garrett next season. However, Washington does face the Rams when Los Angeles comes to town in Week 9. So, the Commanders go from not facing the NFL’s best defensive player to having to deal with him.
Expert NFL picks: Exclusive betting insights only at USA TODAY.
That may not be as bad as you think, though. Remember, the Commanders have five-time Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil. Tunsil and Garrett have faced off several times in the past, with Tunsil winning most of those battles.
While other NFC teams are understandably nervous about Garrett now being in the conference, the Commanders have to like their chances against the superstar pass rusher.
With the trade, the Rams went from being one of the NFL’s top Super Bowl contenders next season to perhaps the Super Bowl favorite.