The Brian Robinson Jr. saga in Washington took another turn on Wednesday after the fourth-year running back was excused from practice, according to head coach Dan Quinn. His absence comes amid swirling rumors that the Commanders could trade the former third-round pick out of Alabama.
“Brian’s been excused from the practice today, and we hope to have some resolution on that soon,” Quinn told reporters on Wednesday.
By the sounds of it, Robinson Jr.’s days in Washington are numbered and a trade could be finalized at any moment.
With the start of the 2025 NFL regular season just two weeks away, we’ll look at a few teams that could trade for the Commanders running back and where the best fit might be among his top landing spots.
Kansas City Chiefs
Former seventh-round pick Isiah Pacheco is the unquestioned lead back in Kansas City heading into Week 1 but there are question marks behind him. Pacheco only played in seven games last season, finishing with 83 carries for 310 yards (3.7 yards per carry).
Production aside, the 26-year-old has also been injury prone in his short stint as an NFL starter, missing 13 games over the past two seasons combined. Veteran Kareem Hunt led the team in rushing last year but hasn’t averaged over 4.0 yards per carry since the 2021 season.
Offseason signing Elijah Mitchell is expected to be cut after failing to impress during training camp and preseason action. Another seventh-round rookie, Brashard Smith, has been emerging but Robinson Jr. would be a major upgrade and a valuable insurance policy for a team that wants to get back to the Super Bowl this season.
Cleveland Browns
Jerome Ford appears to be slotted into the RB1 role in Cleveland for now. The 25-year-old had a productive campaign last season, rushing for 565 yards and three touchdowns while averaging 5.3 yards per carry, but he’s probably better suited as a change-of-pace back.
Second-round pick Quinshon Judkins was widely expected to take over the starting running back role in Cleveland, but remains without a deal. Despite evading criminal charges, the rookie could still be subject to an NFL investigation, which could delay the start of his pro career.
Robinson Jr. could become a good stop-gap running back in Cleveland behind a strong offensive line. A deal might be a good fit for both sides, giving veteran Joe Flacco and the Browns’ young QBs a reliable running game while allowing Robinson Jr. to rebuild his value in a contract year.
New Orleans Saints
Alvin Kamara is the starter in New Orleans but he’s suddenly on the wrong side of 30 and hasn’t played a full season since his rookie campaign in 2017. The Saints’ RB depth chart is very thin with two young, unproven running backs behind him in Kendre Miller and Devin Neal as primary backups.
Robinson Jr. could be a perfect complement to Kamara, who is most dangerous as a receiver and in space along the edges. The former Alabama product could take some early down work away from the veteran, grinding for tough yards between the tackles while contributing as a goal-line back and in short yardage situations.
With major question marks at QB entering the season, the Saints would benefit from a reliable ground game and leaning on Kamara to rack up 228 rushing attempts again doesn’t seem like a good idea for either party.
Dallas Cowboys
Javonte Williams looks like he’s going to earn the starting running back job in Week 1 but the Cowboys are still searching for a long-term answer in the backfield since releasing Ezekiel Elliott walk in 2022.
Miles Sanders could be cut and Jaydon Blue might be better suited as a third-down back, especially early in his career. That could open up the door for a trade for Robinson Jr., who could add some physicality to the Cowboys’ uptempo offense.
That said, a trade with the division-rival Commanders seems like a longshot, especially since Washington could be battling Dallas for an NFC Wild Card spot late in the season.
Best Fit For Brian Robinson Jr., If Traded: NO Saints
The best fit for Robinson Jr. might be in New Orleans, where the Saints will need to run the ball effectively to remain competitive. Robinson Jr. could prove to be a valuable commodity as part of a 1-2 punch alongside Alvin Kamara, who can still deliver big plays and handle additional work as a receiver.
