Commanders Trade Brian Robinson Jr.: Report

The Washington Commanders have reportedly traded running back Brian Robinson Jr. to the San Francisco 49ers in exchange for a 2026 sixth-round draft pick, sources with knowledge of the situation confirmed to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero on Friday (August 22).

Robinson, 26, who was selected by the Commanders in the third-round of the 2022 NFL Draft, is coming off a season in which he averaged a career-best 4.3 yards per carry, 799 yards and eight touchdowns. The former Alabama standout will join a 49ers team that has former All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey, who was limited to just four games in 2024 after leading the NFL in rushing the previous season, and is otherwise depleted at the position.

"Trade! The #Commanders are sending RB Brian Robinson Jr. to the #49ers, sources tell The Insiders. Robinson posted career highs last season with 4.3 yards per carry and eight touchdowns in Washington. Now, a fresh start," Pelissero wrote on his X account. "With the #49ers backfield depleted behind Christian McCaffrey, they get depth, Robinson gets a fresh start and Washington gets a 2026 sixth-round pick."

The reported trade took place days after Commanders head coach Dan Quinn appeared to confirm the team's plan to trade Robinson after the team's preseason game against the Cincinnati Bengals Monday (August 18) night, claiming he and general manager Adam Peters spoke to the running back about "a lot of moving parts" to the situation on Sunday (August 17).

“News like that’s always not easy,” Quinn said of his conversation with Robinson via Pro Football Talk. Robinson as in the final year of his rookie contract and was set to make a base salary of $3.4 million prior to the reported trade, which will now carry $212,000 in dead money under the 2025 salary cap for the Commanders.