3 running backs Commanders can sign after JD McKissic’s departure

The first wave of free agency haven’t been kind to the Washington Commanders.

While Brandon Scherff’s departure was always expected after both sides failed to reach an agreement on a long-term deal in back-to-back offseasons, it’s still pretty surreal to think of him playing for another team.

While Scherff joins a rebuilding Jaguars side, Tim Settle and JD McKissic will reunite in Orchard Park with the championship hopeful Buffalo Bills, who were an overtime away from reaching the AFC Championship Game last season.

While each player is a big loss for the Commanders, let’s focus on McKissic’s departure, which came as a shock given he signed with Buffalo for a measly $7 million (with a max value of $8 million) over two years.

As arguably the most important component of Washington’s offense — Terry McLaurin certainly has a case — over the last two seasons, it won’t be easy to replace McKissic’s production and presence in the locker room.

With that said, running backs might be the most interchangeable position the NFL has to offer, so the front office could (emphasis on could) plug and play a RB with a skillet similar to McKissic in Scott Turner’s offense.

The free agent market is slim pickings, so the Commanders could justify resorting to the draft to find McKissic’s replacement, but these three pass-catching specialist free agents would make for quality signings in McKissic’s wake.

3 RBs Commanders can sign to replace JD McKissic

3. Tarik Cohen

A lot of football fans might have forgotten about Tarik Cohen given he hasn’t played since tearing his ACL three weeks into the 2020 season. Despite being out of the league for nearly two years, though, the Bears’ former bundle of energy will only turn 27 in July, so he has plenty of football left in the tank.

When healthy, Cohen is as versatile as they come as a change-of-pace running back, with a speciality as a pass-catcher. From 2017 (his first year in the NFL) to 2019 (his last full season), Cohen compiled 203 catches for 1,531 yards and nine touchdowns, culminating in a 725-yard effort in 2018. Just ridiculous numbers.

At 5-foot-6 and 191 pounds, Cohen’s limitations as a pure runner go without saying. Despite being undersized, though, he’s averaged a respectable 4.2 yards per carry in his career. For context, Antonio Gibson has a career 4.3 YPC.

An added bonus to signing Cohen? His history in the return game. Though he’s unexperienced as a kick returner, he was one of the best punt returners in the league during that aforementioned three-year stretch.

In fact, he was named an All-Pro in 2018 after leading the league in punt return yards (433) while averaging 12.3 yards per return. If the Commanders are unable to re-sign DeAndre Carter, Cohen could fill the void on command.

Sounds like someone Washington should be interested in, no?