Jacob Martin - Commanders DE/OLB
Fears around the edge-rushing room were eased considerably before training camp thanks to the arrival of Von Miller. The future first-ballot Pro Football Hall of Famer might be at the end of his glittering career, but the Washington Commanders are confident that he's got one more year of solid production in the tank before potentially walking away from the gridiron.
Miller's arrival raised urgency for everybody. It's one less spot on the roster for someone else, so it's a fine-margins situation for many aiming for depth places or prominent involvement.
Jacob Martin is among them. The free-agent signing has been a moderate performer throughout his career without ever setting the world alight. The Commanders are confident that their exceptional coaching staff can bring more out of the veteran, and the initial signs at camp are promising.
Martin is generating pressure consistently during drills. There's some useful explosiveness, and his technique looks refined. Those in attendance have been suitably impressed, but it remains unclear what sort of role he'll occupy when the regular season commences.
It doesn't seem likely that Martin won't be included on the 53-man squad. But he'll need to keep showing out in his quest for key rotational reps now that Miller is part of the equation.
Jacory Croskey-Merritt - Commanders RB
There is arguably no player gaining more headlines for the right reasons than Jacory Croskey-Merritt. The seventh-round pick is relentless in his quest to not only make the 53-man roster but also secure prominent backfield involvement immediately. He's off to a good start.
Croskey-Merrit is gaining more hype than almost every seventh-rounder around the league. The decisiveness of his cuts and physical running style have gone down extremely well with fans and coaches alike. This trend continued when the pads came on, which was the measuring stick everyone was waiting for.
The No. 245 overall pick is passing every test with flying colors so far. Washington is still erring on the side of caution, but Croskey-Merritt is leaving no doubt. He's got a role to play, and he'll stop at nothing to achieve his objectives.
This is far better than even the brightest optimist envisaged. At the same time, it didn't take many by surprise when one considers how smooth Croskey-Merriitt's transition has been this offseason.
The Commanders will likely deploy Croskey-Merritt heavily in the preseason. If he continues to make a splash, don't be surprised if Kliff Kingsbury has some regular-season packages in place for the first-year pro.