Chris Rodriguez Jr. - Commanders RB
The Washington Commanders stood pat at the running back position this offseason. This was a vote of confidence in the options available despite the obvious regression as the campaign wore on. However, general manager Adam Peters could have his sights set on one of the gifted prospects from a deep draft class.
Brian Robinson Jr. and Austin Ekeler are the starting tandem right now. Both are heading into the final year of the respective deals, which should provide the urgency needed to improve. The Commanders also re-signed Jeremy McNichols, who'll be a rotational piece without any guarantees of making the 53-man roster, depending on what other reinforcements arrive.
The same goes for Chris Rodriguez Jr., who was given an exclusive rights tender to prevent him from speaking to other teams in free agency. This was well-received by the fanbase after the former sixth-round selection flashed promise when called upon in 2024.
Rodriguez displayed power as a runner and improved contact balance. There was aggression and explosiveness — something that probably warranted a prolonged look when Robinson and Ekeler showed signs of struggle. The trust wasn't completely there, but there was enough to give the Kentucky graduate another summer to develop under Kliff Kingsbury's coaching staff.
Whether he can seize the moment or not is another matter.
Colson Yankoff - Commanders TE
As with the running back position, the Commanders held firm with their tight end options this offseason. That was the correct call to make given how well Washington's options complimented each other.
Zach Ertz was rewarded for galvanizing his career with a one-year extension. He'll be the No. 1 option in the passing game and the supreme leader in the room. John Bates also received a new, longer-term commitment to continue his work as a primary blocking option.
The jury is still out on 2024 second-round pick Ben Sinnott, who was used sparingly as a rookie but has plenty of promise attached. Washington also has Colson Yankoff, a surprising undrafted free-agent gem who caught the eye frequently over the summer en route to making the squad.
Yankoff featured six times for the Commanders, mostly on special teams, before going to injured reserve. He flashed promise on occasion, but the former UCLA standout will need to prove himself all over again if more competition arrives via the draft.
Last summer's experience should serve him well. Yankoff has scheme familiarity and knows the coaching staff's demands. That's a positive working in his favor, but it'll be interesting to see if the Commanders are happy with what they have or identify another promising youngster to mix things up.