3 Commanders who deserve another look under the new regime in 2024
By Dean Jones
Which Washington Commanders players deserve another look with a new coaching regime coming into the fold once Ron Rivera is fired?
Ron Rivera's been a lame-duck head coach this season. Josh Harris' ownership group is looking to make their mark on the franchise they bought for $6.05 billion. Considering how the Washington Commanders have underachieved once again en route to a fourth-straight losing year under his leadership, all signs point to big changes once the campaign ends.
This is a necessary step towards a brighter future. The Commanders have treaded water for too long. Now is the time to hit the reset button and start building the foundations for a more profitable future.
Of course, this uncertainty envelops the playing side of things too. With new coaches and front office figures come different ideas. Something that could make the roster almost unrecognizable when OTAs arrive.
On this topic, here are three Commanders players who deserve another look under the new regime.
Chris Rodriguez Jr. - Commanders RB
With Antonio Gibson's status up in the air as his contract gets set to expire, the Washington Commanders might look to bolster their running back room with another talented weapon from the college ranks. Brian Robinson Jr.'s done more than enough to be the top dog next season. It's also worth Chris Rodriguez Jr. getting a more prolonged examination of his capabilities heading into Year 2.
Rodriguez has flashed explosiveness and good field vision when given carries on a limited basis. The sixth-round selection is averaging 4.6 yards per carry, which is decent production for someone who came into the league with questions about how his game would translate.
Even if the Commanders do get another running back, Rodriguez is cheap and has some intriguing upside. Every team needs productive players further down the pecking order. It's a small sample size, but the Kentucky product has proved that over his rookie campaign.