The Washington Commanders have quickly gone from one running back on their active roster to four, after the re-signing of Jeremy McNichols. But it may not mean what fans think it does.
McNichols was a crucial part of the Commanders' running back room last year after the injury to Austin Ekeler. He played the third-down pass-catching role out of the backfield, racking up 221 rushing yards and a touchdown on 44 carries in addition to 196 receiving yards on 25 catches.
Still, there's no guarantee he'll play the same role in 2026, especially after Washington signed Rachaad White. And we also still can't rule out an even bigger move next month.
Commanders might still consider drafting Jeremiyah Love despite late RB additions
It is worth noting, as Commanders insider JP Finlay of NBC Sports points out, that none of the three running backs Washington signed are on more than one-year minimum deals. White, McNichols, and Jerome Ford all have no guarantees regarding their roles in 2026.
Commanders adding RB depth does not rule out Jeremiyah Love at 7. Likely has no impact. Love would be 5 years on a rookie deal. All these RBs got 1 yr minimum deals. 90 man rosters in offseason.
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) March 16, 2026
Of the running backs currently on the Commanders' roster, Jacory Croskey-Merritt is the only one who can be penciled in as a key contributor. White will likely factor in, but he'll need to prove himself over the offseason. Ford and McNichols are purely insurance as depth pieces.
If the Commanders draft Love, then he, Croskey-Merritt, and White are likely the final backfield lineup, with the potential for a fourth to join them. The three of them would each bring different skill sets, with the Notre Dame star as the dynamic bell-cow of the future and the other two rotating in situational roles.
Whether the Commanders should draft Love at No. 7, or whether he'll be around at all, are different questions. Anytime you take a running back in the first round, you're investing in a short-term weapon who probably won't still be on the team beyond their rookie contract. It's an all-in move with a high risk, and the reward is far from guaranteed.
Last time Washington used a premium draft pick on a running back was in 2018, when Derrius Guice was selected in the second round at No. 59 overall. Since then, the Commanders have used top-100 picks on Antonio Gibson (2020) and Brian Robinson Jr. (2021). Croskey-Merritt was a seventh-rounder, the very final rusher taken in 2025.
Case in point, running back is one of the most unpredictable positions in football. You can just as easily find a gem on Day 3 as you can in the first round, and for the most part, their success is all about situation and opportunity.
For that reason, the Commanders would probably be best off avoiding Love, if they even have the option to draft him at all.
But it's no guarantee Peters feels that way. And the Commanders' latest signings do nothing to change that.