Competition for places is fierce across the Washington Commanders. Only the strongest will survive, and general manager Adam Peters will be watching developments extremely closely.
The slate has been wiped clean. Everyone will get the chance to impress. Whether they're established franchise cornerstones or sitting on the roster bubble, previous reputations don't matter. And everything must be earned.
And according to one NFL analyst, an undrafted free agent who is going under the radar deserves more attention.
UDFA rookie Robert Henry Jr. gaining buzz before Commanders' roster quest
Gary Davenport of The Bleacher Report named running back Robert Henry Jr. as the Commanders' most exciting undrafted free agent pickup. While he's an older rookie and not the biggest, the analyst thought there may be an opening to force his way onto the 53-man roster if he imposes himself enough over the summer.
"[Robert] Henry was a wildly productive player at UTSA last year—he topped 1,000 yards on the ground. He averaged almost seven yards per carry and scored 11 total touchdowns while peeling off five runs of 70 yards or more. However, he is also a 24-year-old rookie who is just 5'9" and 196 pounds, which led to his going undrafted.
"The Washington running back room isn't exactly loaded—the team's lead back is a second-year pro who was a seventh-round pick last year. Henry has a realistic shot to earn a roster spot if he carries his college burst and elusiveness into camp."
Henry's college credentials were impressive. His low center of gravity and on-field vision made him a difficult proposition to overcome. It wasn't enough to hear his name called during the draft, but Washington was intrigued enough to bring him on board.
The Commanders' running back room is crowded, to put it mildly. Jacory Croskey-Merritt, free-agent signing Rachaad White, and sixth-round rookie Kaytron Allen are roster locks. That would potentially leave one spot for the rest, and Henry is behind Jerome Ford and Jeremy McNichols right now.
Realistically, sticking around on the practice squad would be an achievement for Henry. It will take a monumental effort to push his way into roster consideration. Though the task cannot be overstated, it's not impossible by any stretch of the imagination.
If Henry can flash in the coming weeks, that'll set him up well for training camp. That should also ensure he gets plenty of carries during the preseason, which will be the best way to stand out. And if that's still not enough for Washington, it might be enough for another team to claim him off the waiver wire after final cuts.
Performing well is key. After that, everything is out of his hands.
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