Jerome Ford - Commanders RB
New offensive coordinator David Blough acknowledged during his introductory press conference that more was needed in the running back room. This need became even more glaring after the Washington Commanders didn't tender a contract to Chris Rodriguez Jr., leaving him free to sign with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Jacory Croskey-Merritt flashed immense promise as a rookie. The Commanders re-signed veteran Jeremy McNichols. They reunited quarterback Jayden Daniels with Rachaad White, which brings significant intrigue given how well they worked together at Arizona State.
The Commanders also took a flyer on Jerome Ford. He looked like a potential superstar once upon a time after gaining 1,132 yards from scrimmage and nine touchdowns in 2023. He was unable to reach similar heights, and his role diminished even more when the Cleveland Browns drafted Dylan Sampson and Quinshon Judkins.
Ford now gets the chance to galvanize his career in Washington. The 2022 fifth-round pick out of Cincinnati has dual-threat capabilities. He's also got some experience in the return game. Even so, his situation remains precarious.
Washington remains hotly linked to Notre Dame phenom Jeremiyah Love at No. 7 overall in the 2026 NFL Draft. Whether he'll make it that far down the pecking order is anyone's guess, but Ford faces an anxious wait with plenty to prove heading into offseason workouts.
D.J. Davidson - Commanders DL
The defensive trenches will look a lot different in Washington next season. Daronte Jones is projected to switch his unit into a 3-4 base front, which requires space-eaters in the middle to free up room for the linebackers to create significant disruption within an aggressive, creative scheme.
Washington opted to retain Daron Payne rather than explore trade possibilities. Adam Peters won't be offering a new deal in advance, which should provide the longstanding veteran with the motivation needed to improve consistency.
Javon Kinlaw's overpay went as expected last season. The Commanders couldn't get out of his contract, but that won't be the case in 2027 if improvements aren't made. Tim Settle Jr.'s return to the club was a popular decision, and his tree-trunk presence against the run will be of significant use.
The Commanders remain bullish on Johnny Newton, who could be the situational pass-rusher from the interior once again. Depth is relatively scarce aside from that, so there is an opportunity for D.J. Davidson to carve out a role for himself.
Davidson has some decent athleticism, though he couldn't quite break into the New York Giants' starting lineup. The Commanders believe there is still untapped potential, but the margin for error remains incredibly slim.