The Washington Commanders didn't get their young players involved as much as fans and, reportedly, general manager Adam Peters would have liked in a lost campaign.
Head coach Dan Quinn kept faith with his aging veterans right until the bitter end. What impact that will have on the team's long-term growth remains to be seen, but the 2025 draft class did manage to get plenty of time on the field to aid their development.
Peters only had six selections at his disposal. The front-office leader thought his team was in a position to win it all, and he reacted accordingly with some bombshell trades. Unfortunately, things fell by the wayside, and the NFL's oldest roster lacked the quality or depth to overcome severe injuries.
Things may not have gone according to plan for the Commanders this season, but their 2025 rookie group will benefit greatly from the experience. Most look capable of carving out important roles for themselves. The jury is still out, but Washington looks to have more hits than misses right now.
With this in mind, we regraded the Commanders' 2025 NFL Draft class following their first seasons in Washington.
Re-grading the Commanders' 2025 NFL Draft class after one season
Commanders drafted Jacory Croskey-Merritt
- Running Back | Arizona Wildcats
- Round No. 7 | Pick No. 245
With the Washington Commanders' final selection, they took a chance on running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt. Day 3 picks are always crapshoots, but general manager Adam Peters struck gold with the backfield force.
Croskey-Merritt was a revelation over the summer, instantly captivating fans across the league. The Commanders traded Brian Robinson Jr. to the San Francisco 49ers and lost Austin Ekeler to a torn Achilles in Week 2, which thrust the first-year pro into the limelight.
The Arizona product shone, taking the Commanders by storm. Croskey-Merritt hit the inevitable rookie wall midway through his first season, but he responded positively en route to ending the campaign on a high note.
He acknowledged that things couldn't have gone much better as a rookie. Croskey-Merritt secured 805 rushing yards and eight touchdowns with a 4.6 yards per carry average. If he works on his pass protection and route running out of the backfield, the sky is the limit in 2026.
- Original draft grade: B+
- Regrade after one season: A+
This was an absolute home run so late in the draft. Croskey-Merritt has a bright future in the game, and the Commanders need to make him a focal point moving forward.