Chris Rodriguez Jr. - Commanders RB
It's no secret that Jacory Croskey-Merritt has set the Washington Commanders' running back room alight since being selected at No. 245 overall in the 2025 NFL Draft. The rookie made a hugely positive impression in early workouts. This trend has continued over the opening few sessions of training camp.
While head coach Dan Quinn acknowledged that it's hard to evaluate running backs until the pads go on, he also singled out Croskey-Merritt for special praise. In particular, the decisiveness of his cuts, which became a strong feature of his college production before the NCAA revoked his eligibility one game into his transfer to Arizona.
Brian Robinson Jr. and Austin Ekeler are firmly entrenched as the starting tandem. Croskey-Merritt is also on course to make the roster and impact the rotation, so Chris Rodriguez Jr. becoming the odd man out looks more likely than ever.
Rodriguez got his restricted free-agent tender triggered by the Commanders this offseason. The former sixth-round pick out of Kentucky displayed improved explosiveness and contact balance when carries came his way in 2024. That was a positive step in the right direction, but he must prove himself all over again this summer.
Much will depend on how many running backs the Commanders take through, but Rodriguez already has his work cut out for him.
Ben Nikkel - Commanders S
It's not just the cornerbacks who've thrived over the initial exchanges at training camp. There's also a lot to like about the safety unit, which came into the summer with questions to answer after Adam Peters let Jeremy Chinn walk in free agency.
Quan Martin and Will Harris have both drawn plaudits for their early camp contributions. Jeremy Reaves and Percy Butler both got one-year extensions as a result of their efforts. Tyler Owens is also getting plenty of work with the first-string defense as the former undrafted free agent out of Texas Tech looks for more playing time in Year 2 of his professional career.
This all but guarantees these five will make the roster. That might be all the Commanders need, so anyone else vying for roles could be fighting a losing battle.
Ben Nikkel has the size and length typically associated with defensive backs in Dan Quinn's defensive scheme. He joined last season but spent his time on the practice squad. Getting a reserve/futures contract represented a big confidence boost, but it's hard to envisage a scenario where he makes the roster currently.
Sticking around on the practice squad would be an achievement for Nikkel. But even that's not set in stone.