5 blatantly obvious Commanders 2025 extension candidates after 4-1 start

Brian Robinson Jr. - Commanders RB

Paying running backs after their rookie deals is reserved only for the truly elite these days. It's become a position that gets plenty of mileage early before teams move on to the next college prospect capable of shouldering the load. The Commanders could buck this trend with Brian Robinson Jr. once the campaign concludes.

Robinson isn't out of contract until 2026, so time is on Washington's side. They could opt to wait it out and decide on his fate when his rookie deal concludes. However, a situation could emerge where general manager Adam Peters extends the former third-round pick ahead of time if there's supreme conviction in his future outlook.

It's hard to deny Robinson's superb impact under the new regime. He's a physical, explosive runner capable of shouldering a hefty burden. No moment is too big for the Alabama product and the Commanders trust him fully in crucial situations.

A running back's shelf life can be short, but he's got less tread on the tires than most following his disrupted rookie campaign and being underused by previous offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy last time around. Robinson will be 26 years old next season, so the Commanders have a long-term backfield threat to go alongside Jayden Daniels if he keeps this up.

Jeremy Chinn - Commanders S

The Commanders took a flier on Jeremy Chinn this offseason. His career with the Carolina Panthers fizzled out following a blistering start. He was relishing a fresh start somewhere else after falling out of favor with defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero in 2023. The former second-round selection felt like this was the perfect environment to silence his doubters.

It was an indifferent start from Chinn over the first two games. The safety/linebacker hybrid came to life after that, displaying the instinctive explosiveness that saw him take the NFL by storm as a rookie in 2020. There's a long way to go and a lot of hard work ahead, but the Commanders' decision to give him a legitimate shot is paying off so far.

There are still some deficiencies in coverage, but that was expected looking at his career output to date. However, head coach Dan Quinn and defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. are utilizing him correctly within their expansive concepts. If the Southern Illinois product keeps this up, his initial one-year deal will turn into something more.

Chinn cannot afford to be complacent. At the time time, he's well on course to make those who wrote off his chances eat some humble pie at season's end.