Commanders running back committee
The Washington Commanders relied too heavily on Jacory Croskey-Merritt last season. He performed much better than almost every seventh-round pick during his rookie campaign, but aside from a few flashes from Chris Rodriguez Jr., the supporting cast was subpar.
New offensive coordinator David Blough acknowledged that more was required. When Rodriguez departed in free agency for the Jacksonville Jaguars, the need became even greater. Fortunately, general manager Adam Peters agreed, and things look a lot more promising now.
The Commanders have an intriguing battle brewing in the running back room. Dan Quinn wasn't sure how the dynamic would shake out, but he did hint at a committee approach. That is the best way to keep everyone fresh and firing on all cylinders, and Washington now has the options available to deploy this approach.
Croskey-Merritt will play a role. Free-agent signing Rachaad White looks like a potential focal point. Sixth-round rookie Kaytron Allen brings a physical presence. Jerome Ford, Jeremy McNichols, and undrafted free-agent Robert Henry Jr. have also caught the eye over offseason workouts.
Not everyone will make the team, but there is genuine strength in depth that Blough can put to extremely good use when the regular season begins. And that's without counting for Jayden Daniels' exceptional ability to take off when things aren't developing as expected downfield.
Daronte Jones' innovative Commanders defense
Joe Whitt Jr. was living on borrowed time from a long way out last season. The Commanders' defense quickly became a glaring weak link, and when head coach Dan Quinn took over play-calling, the coordinator's fate was sealed.
Whitt was let go. After a long search to find the right guy, the Commanders settled on Daronte Jones. He might be a rookie NFL play-caller, but he's called plays at the college level. And there is no doubt that Quinn was blown away by his vision for the unit moving forward.
Jones has worked under some exceptional defensive minds, including Brian Flores, as his right-hand man with the Minnesota Vikings. If he can bring this sort of aggression and creativity to the Commanders, it could completely transform their outlook.
The early signs are positive. Jones is likely to switch Washington's base to a 3-4 front, with large humans on the interior and long, explosive edge rushers capable of causing havoc in opposing backfields. Couple this with the enhancements at linebacker and the versatility across the secondary, and this previously moribund group now has the spark to make significant improvements during the 2026 campaign.
Speed is deadly in the NFL. And Jones plans to utilize it heavily on his defense.
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