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ESPN’s Kimberley A. Martin reported receiver Mike Evans will return in 2026, which makes him a candidate to play with D.K. Metcalf and the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Washington Commanders are 1 of the few teams who could pull off a massive trade, in terms of finances, to land a superstar at several different positions.
One place it seems like they don’t need help is at wide receiver, where they already have NFL All-Pro wide receiver Terry McLaurin on a 3-year, $97 million contract extension signed before the 2025 season.
While common sense tells us the Commanders shouldn’t go after another wide receiver, that’s hardly held them back from making similarly nonsensical deals in the past.
Remember it was the Commanders, just last offseason, who released $72 million Pro Bowl defensive tackle Jonathan Allen with $90 million defensive tackle Daron Payne also on the roster … only to sign free agent defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw to a 3-year, $45 million contract.
See where we’re headed here?
Bleacher Report’s Brad Gagnon listed the Commanders among the teams who should be willing to make a trade for star Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver D.K. Metcalf this offseason.
Seahawks Won Super Bowl After Metcalf Trade
The Seahawks traded Metcalf to the Steelers before the 2025 season and won the Super Bowl in their 1st year without him. The Steelers signed Metcalf to a 4-year, $132 million contract extension and watched him have the worst season of his career with 69 receptions for 859 yards and 6 touchdowns.
That’s not to mention an embarrassing incident late in the season when Metcalf was suspended for the regular-season finale for an incident with a fan.
“The 28-year-old simply wasn’t enough of a difference-maker in his first year with the Steelers, who appear to be generally headed into somewhat of a rebuild as a franchise,” Gagnon wrote. “A Metcalf trade would save the team $7 million cap space while landing them considerable draft assets … the Patriots and Commanders have the cap space as well as the need for another offensive weapon to get them over the top. And you wonder if the Giants might explore bringing in a veteran talent like that as they look to take their budding offense to the next level in 2026.”
Rumors Previously Tied Metcalf to Commanders
Following the 2024 season, Bleacher Report’s Alex Ballentine suggested a trade to bring Metcalf to the Commanders in exchange for the No. 29 overall pick in the first round of the 2025 NFL draft — a pick the Commanders eventually used on offensive tackle Josh Conerly Jr.
“The Commanders are in the most enviable sweet spot with a dominant rookie quarterback just now starting his rookie contract,” Ballentine wrote on February 3, 2025. “While it seems like they are set for the long-term future it’s amazing how short that window really is. The Commanders could take full advantage by swinging an aggressive trade for DK Metcalf. The Seahawks are in the red when it comes to cap space right now and Metcalf could be the odd man out when it comes to getting an extension in Seattle.”
Metcalf, 6-foot-3 and 229 pounds, has been dominant in the past. He earned NFL All-Pro honors with 1,303 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns in 2020 and is a 2-time Pro Bowler with 3 seasons over, 1,000 yards receiving in his first 6 seasons.
Tony Adame covers the NFL for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Washington Commanders, Dallas Cowboys, Baltimore Ravens, Philadelphia Eagles and Denver Broncos. A veteran sports writer and editor since 2004, his work has been featured at Stadium Talk, Yardbarker, NW Florida Daily News and Pensacola News Journal. More about Tony Adame
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