The Washington Commanders want to add another weapon to their backfield alongside star quarterback Jayden Daniels. Offensive coordinator David Blough acknowledged as much during his introductory press conference, although the rookie play-caller remains confident in running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt's outlook after his encouraging first NFL campaign.
All options should be on the table, especially with the cash available to general manager Adam Peters. As such, the Commanders were projected to win the pending free-agent sweepstakes for Kenneth Walker III.
Walker didn't get tagged by the Seattle Seahawks, which was no great surprise. John Schneider isn't known for overspending. He wants his players to get the best deals, and pending contract extensions for franchise cornerstones such as wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba must be considered.
Commanders need a tone-setting running back, and Kenneth Walker III may fit the bill
The backfield force may no longer fit into the team's plans. But make no mistake; the market for Walker could be robust when the legal tampering window opens.
Matt Harmon of Yahoo Sports projected the Commanders to push the boat out for Walker, who can help take the heat off Daniels and provide Blough with the legitimate tone-setter this offense doesn't have right now.
"I think it's gonna be more of a traditional NFL offense, a lot more under center stuff, play action shots over the middle of the field. Grab Kenneth Walker, who's not the same class of back at all as Jeremiyah Love, but another guy who can create those explosive plays. And man, I'll tell you what, a Jayden Daniels, Kenneth Walker two in the backfield, that's gonna be tough for people to deal with."
It's an interesting option, for sure. Whether Peters wants to pay what Walker could potentially demand on the open market is another matter.
Walker is a physical runner with enough explosiveness to break off big yards when he reaches the second level. His dominant display in the Seahawks' Super Bowl success only added more dollars to his demands. But at 25, there could be a lot of good football left in the tank.
The 2022 second-round pick out of Michigan State is projected to get $9.01 million per season on a four-year, $36.04 million deal. That's a big commitment, but the rewards could be substantial for the Commanders if Walked builds on his recently acquired momentum.
Other options will be considered. But if the Commanders did go all-in with a signing like Walker, it would be the clearest sign yet that Peters believes their turnaround can be quicker than most experts anticipate.
And if Walker was convinced by the project, there would be nobody happier than Daniels.