Brian Robinson‘s tenure in Washington is coming to an end as expected. The fourth-year running back will spend the coming season in San Francisco.
The 49ers and Commanders agreed to terms on a Robinson trade Friday, as first reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter. A 2026 sixth-round pick will head the other way as a result of the swap. San Francisco had been in the market for a backfield addition, per Mike Garafolo of NFL Network. Efforts to pull off a move have now paid off ahead of roster cutdowns. Washington will retain a portion of Robinson’s 2025 salary ($3.4MM), Garafolo adds.
It recently became clear Washington was looking to move on from Robinson, who did not dress in the team’s second preseason game with a trade looming. The team’s Dan Quinn-Adam Peters regime has been open to a trade since last year, and with a swap now agreed to it will proceed with its other in-house RB options. Washington has veteran Austin Ekeler in the fold along with 2023 draftee Chris Rodriguez and seventh-round rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt, who has enjoyed a strong training camp.
Quarterback Jayden Daniels led the Commanders in rushing last year, and today’s deal indicates he will once again be counted on as a central element of the team’s ground game. Expectations are high after Washington made a surprise run to the NFC title game during Daniels’ rookie campaign. Robinson will not play a role in the team’s efforts to duplicate that success, though.
Racking up 570 carries across his three seasons in the nation’s capital, Robinson was a key figure on offense with the Commanders. The former third-rounder saw his touchdown total and yards per attempt figure increase with each passing campaign. That included eight scores and 4.3 yards per carry in 2024. Instead of retaining Robinson on the final year of his rookie pact, however, Washington will proceed with a less expensive backfield.
The Commanders will recoup draft capital in this swap, something which is needed given the number of veterans on their roster. For the 49ers, meanwhile, today’s deal marks another addition on offense for the 2025 season. A trade was worked out on Wednesday for Skyy Moore, giving San Francisco a healthy receiver option. Moore, like Robinson, is a pending 2026 free agent.
The 49ers have Christian McCaffrey atop the RB depth chart, and all parties involved will aim for a healthier season this time around than 2024. After trading away Jordan Mason, the team was in position to have 2024 fourth-rounder Isaac Guerendo handle backup duties. Now, he and Robinson will compete for playing time in the backfield (although using McCaffrey and Robinson on the field together could be an option, per Garafolo). Robinson’s market will of course be dictated in large part by the level of success he has with his new team.
San Francisco entered Friday with with nearly $49MM in cap space. Taking on Robinson will eat into the figure, and it will be interesting to see how much Washington retained on his pact to finalize the trade. The Commanders, meanwhile, should see partial cap savings and thus add to their roughly $17MM in available funds ahead of cutdowns. As both NFC teams prepare for the campaign in the coming days, they will do so with differences in their backfields.
Dumb deal … to a conference rival. Insurance for McCaffrey sure, but he will want to get paid as well. Semi is also a good backup. Should have got at least a third round pick.
No one is trading a third round pick for a one year rental of a pretty good not great running back who’s fallen out of favor with his team. Joe Mixon only returned a 7th round pick last year.
Seriously LOL … top20 WR’s were barely sniffing 2nd round draft pick compensation in trades and to expect a backup RB for a 3rd round is 2000’s calling
Which is why they should have sent him to a crap team like the Browns, not a team they might be playing in postseason
We’re talking about running back depth. It’s fine.
Not one team would be offering anything close to a third round pick. Or a fourth or fifth round for that matter
Yeah, the Commanders had to eat part of the salary to get a trade done. And still only got a 6th. Its clear nobody was offering anything higher.
Ouch fantasy owners
Actually it’s a great stash in case CMC goes down.
Jordan Mason 2.0
He has no juice. They also have Guerrendo and Jordan James who they’d likely turn to first. Going from a possible week 1 starter in a good offense to a possible handcuff is akin to fantasy/dynasty death.
Guerendo and James are both promising, but both are dealing with injuries.
No way they play Jordan James over Robinson.
Totally unrelated but didn’t he also get shot before he started? Both him and Pearsall will have something to talk about.
The dynamic duo of “Lead Belly” & “Lead Tuchus“.
One a famous blues musician, the other a famous klezmer musician.