The Washington Commanders and Jeremiyah Love have been hotly linked before the 2026 NFL Draft. Experts believe this would be the perfect landing spot for the Notre Dame running back, linking up with quarterback Jayden Daniels for one of the league's most devastating backfield tandems.
Whether he'll be around or not is the big question.
But when discussing the possibility, ESPN insider Adam Schefter offered another tidbit that Commanders fans hadn't heard previously.
Commanders were reportedly looking to pursue Aaron Jones Sr. last year
According to the respected reporter, the Commanders were planning to pursue veteran Aaron Jones Sr. in 2025 free agency before he re-signed with the Minnesota Vikings. Schefter also highlighted the lack of salary-cap investment in the running back position, making Love a tempting proposition if he somehow makes it down to No. 7.
"Last spring, the Commanders planned to pursue Aaron Jones Sr. before he returned to the Vikings. This offseason, Washington added Rachaad White and Jerome Ford to join Jacory Croskey-Merritt, but the team still does not have much money invested in the position."
Jones was coming off another four-figure campaign in which he accumulated 1,138 rushing yards and five touchdowns in Minnesota. It would have been another aging player for the Commanders, and by running back standards, the former Texas-El Paso standout is ancient.
The proverbial cliff was always going to come at some stage for Jones. He featured just 12 times in 2025, barely crossing the 500 rushing yard mark. Considering seventh-round pick Jacory Croskey-Merritt went over 800 during his rookie breakout, the Commanders may have had a lucky escape.
Minnesota hasn't given up on Jones just yet, but the franchise did restructure his contract this offseason after a subpar year, which also slightly reduced its salary-cap burden. As for the Commanders? They currently have Croskey-Merritt, Rachaad White, Jerome Ford, and Jeremy McNichols in their running back room. Solid players, but not elite difference-makers by any stretch.
Jones may not have moved the needle all that much, to be honest. He'd have helped, especially considering Austin Ekeler went down with a torn Achilles after two games, but the Commanders were not one running back away from returning to the NFC Championship game, that's for sure.
This may have been new information, but it's firmly in the past. The Commanders are focused on the future. And if those in power have zeroed in on Love at No. 7, they will currently be praying to the football gods for the prospect to somehow slip through the cracks and into their laps.
That's to be determined, but any pursuit of Jones last year ended almost before it began.
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