As the drama seems to escalate around San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, the Washington Commanders are focused on what they can control right now.
And it's starting to look like the Commanders may have secured the former college teammate of quarterback Jayden Daniels that actually matters.
The Commanders decided to shake up their running back room this offseason. Running back Rachaad White signed a one-year, $2 million deal with the franchise, betting on himself to flourish within the new schematic concepts being implemented by offensive coordinator David Blough. And his previous chemistry with Daniels isn't going to hurt, either.
Commanders might get more than they bargained for with Rachaad White
Fans were intrigued when the signing was confirmed. After a standout contribution over Washington's early offseason program, the excitement is building.
While the running back dynamic is still working itself out, White looks capable of carving out a focal-point role for himself. This will likely be in a committee, but his pass-catching prowess out of the backfield and explosive play potential are traits Washington didn't have last season.
Jacory Croskey-Merritt remains a player with promise. He's bulked up this offseason to become a better pass blocker, which is essential if he wants to secure a long-term future. White is already accomplished in all phases, with 4,106 yards from scrimmage and 25 touchdowns in four seasons. This is not only a ready-made replacement for Austin Ekeler, but it also has the potential to be a massive upgrade.
Aiyuk is blowing his chance. Throwing shade at Daniels on social media may have been his final fatal mistake, and it should come as no surprise that the signal-caller has given him the cold shoulder. While it was an intriguing possibility earlier this offseason, that is no longer the case.
White is more professional, more focused, and is far more ambitious.
Daniels and White formed a prolific backfield pairing at Arizona State, and the Commanders will be banking on this continuing when the real action begins. The early signs are encouraging, which could put the 2022 third-round pick in position for a much bigger payday in Washington or elsewhere when the 2027 offseason arrives.
Others in the running back unit are also eager to make their presence felt. White has the upper hand, and fans shouldn't expect him to take his foot off the throttle when things get more intense over camp.
General manager Adam Peters made a lot of splash signings throughout his third offseason. However, his decision to bring White into the organization may be his highest-value pickup by a considerable margin when it's all said and done.
It's not hard to see why hype is growing around White. If he takes this into the regular season, the Commanders could have an exceptional player on their hands.
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