One doesn't have to look far in the media for praise surrounding the Washington Commanders using their seventh-round selection to bring running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt into the fold. A respected analyst made a bold claim about the player's immediate fortunes provided he transitions smoothly this summer.
There's an enormous amount of intrigue around Croskey-Merritt, who was treated incredibly harshly by the NCAA last season. Revoking his eligibility after one game with the Arizona Wildcats plunged his draft stock to unrecognizable levels. However, the Commanders see something in the backfield threat that can be molded into a decent contributor.
Analyst expects Jacory Croskey-Merritt to shake up Commanders' RB room immediately
Whether that comes immediately or over time hasn't been determined. Matt Miller from ESPN believes that could be sooner than most anticipate, perhaps even as a special-teams ace and passing-down option in Year 1 of his professional career.
"There's room for [Jacory] Croskey-Merritt to get onto the field early as a special teams return man and third-down back. The scheme fit and need in Washington for a pass-catching threat make this a fun pick."Matt Miller
This projection places Austin Ekeler's status firmly under the microscope. The former undrafted free agent out of Western Colorado handled kick return and pass-catching duties for the Commanders last season. Even so, his regression performance-wise, coupled with concussion issues, meant Adam Peters was right to form contingency plans if the same trend continues.
Ekeler knows how high the stakes are this season. He's heard all the doubters, and this is the final year of his deal in Washington. Unfortunately, the Commanders are in no position to wait around on the off chance he can do enough for an extended stay.
Washington needs to find a long-term plan for the running back spot. Croskey-Merritt surging into the RB1 position would be beyond anyone's wildest expectations. It's unfair to expect this from someone who missed most of last season (through no real fault of his own), but he'll have a massive chip on his shoulder en route to making an instant impact.
The gauntlet has been laid down to Ekeler and others in the running back room. They must urgently raise their performance levels to keep Croskey-Merritt buried on the depth chart. Anything less comes with potentially grave consequences attached.
This will be one of the more fascinating dynamics to watch when preparations for the 2025 campaign gather pace. And looking at how the Commanders are preaching increased competition across the board, the best players will be rewarded accordingly.