Commanders' Dan Quinn Reveals Reason For Brian Robinson Jr. Trade

When the news dropped that the Washington Commanders were shopping running back Brian Robinson Jr. around, it was met with a collective eyebrow raise.

Then, when the Commanders traded Robinson Jr. to the San Francisco 49ers in exchange for a 2026 sixth-round pick, many were stunned at the compensation Washington received.

Given that the Commanders' running back room doesn't have many household names, aside from maybe Austin Ekeler, it was thought, from the outside at least, the Robinson Jr. was RB1 given he has been the most productive over the past 12 months.

But Washington felt differently, and head coach Dan Quinn detailed why the move was made.

"We knew this was going to be a competitive group, like all the way back from the very beginning," Quinn said. "We certainly wish B- Rob the best with San Francisco and terms of style and fit and all that. So, all of that was a factor, but also the room here, too."

Now, it will be up to Ekeler, Chris Rodriguez, Jeremy McNichols, and rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt to carry the run game load, with a sprinkling of Jayden Daniels mixed in there, too.

But is that enough considering Robinson Jr. has been good for at least 700 rushing yards each year, along with his eight rushing touchdowns?

The Commanders seem to think so.

It was a move that some didn't see coming, but the Commanders clearly like the options mentioned above and are confident that this group can be effective in Kliff Kingsbury's system, to the point where B-rob wasn't needed.

Competition, that is the reason Robinson Jr. was moved on.

Time will tell if it was the right decision.