The Washington Commanders made many statement signings throughout the offseason. However, some positive signs are emerging that one of the more unheralded additions could also force his way into the team's plans.
Washington bolstered its running back unit considerably this offseason. Free-agent signing Rachaad White and sixth-round rookie Kaytron Allen have generated plenty of positive headlines, which is encouraging. Jacory Croskey-Merritt is still around, and his rookie production last season is enough to suggest that was just the start of what's to come.
Not to be outdone, Jerome Ford turned heads at Washington's recently concluded organized team activities. And for a player who some claimed was nothing more than a camp body, this is significant.
Jerome Ford is off to a good start in Commanders roster quest this offseason
According to those in attendance, Ford is getting noticed. He's running with purpose and proving to be a useful pass-catching outlet out of the backfield. It's a positive first step, and he will no doubt look to build on it in the coming months to make the 53-man roster.
Nothing much was expected of Ford when he signed a one-year, $1.4 million deal with the Commanders, which included a $137,500 signing bonus and $437,500 in guaranteed money. A promising start to his career fizzled out in 2025 with the Cleveland Browns, and they didn't put up much of a fight to keep him around.
This wasn't surprising, given he'd fallen behind Quinshon Judkins and Dylan Sampson in the Browns' pecking order. Still, it's given Ford the motivation to hit the ground running in Washington.
Keeping this same urgency is crucial.
Much will depend on how many running backs the Commanders take, but not everyone will make it. One can assume Croskey-Merritt, White, and Allen are roster locks. That leaves Ford, Jeremy McNichols, and maybe even undrafted free agent Robert Henry Jr. battling it out for the other one or two spots.
The Commanders seem satisfied with what they have. There isn't an elite-level backfield presence, but they have enough for a highly productive committee within David Blough's schematic concepts. Keeping everyone happy might be a difficult task, but it's a nice problem for the rookie offensive play-caller to have.
Ford is off to a good start, but from the outside looking in, he still looks like the fourth option right now. He's caught the eye, but it'll take more. Tougher tests are coming, and the Commanders might also drag this out right through the preseason before making a final judgment.
Others are gaining more hype. Ford is going under the radar, which is just fine with him.
But don't be shocked if he does enough to feature when the action gets real.
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