The Washington Commanders signed 12 new players over the first wave of free agency. General manager Adam Peters is also busy working out agreements with his own veteran players who could have a future with the club in 2026.
Veteran backup quarterback Marcus Mariota was the first when legal tampering opened. Starting left guard Chris Paul penned a new one-year deal after seeing what else was out there on the market. Treylon Burks, Andrew Wylie, and Trent Scott are others, which solidifies depth and provides more flexibility for Peters when the 2026 NFL Draft rolls around.
The latest raised some eyebrows. According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, the Commanders have re-signed Jeremy McNichols to a one-year deal. This will be his third go-around with the club, but most fans were expecting him to leave for new pastures this offseason.
Jeremy McNichols offers something other Commanders' running backs don't
But looking a little closer, it's not hard to connect the dots.
The Commanders have high hopes for Jacory Croskey-Merritt after his encouraging rookie year. They reunited Rachaad White with his old college teammate, Jayden Daniels. Jerome Ford also joins the ranks, but McNichols has an asset that the other three running backs do not.
Head coach Dan Quinn often commended McNichols for his special-teams prowess. While his impact on the offensive rotation waned considerably, he's seen as an impact player in this key discipline. It goes largely overlooked compared to offensive and defensive fortunes, but it is nonetheless integral to a team's success.
There is an asterisk attached.
McNichols only played 59 special-teams snaps last season, but there were mitigating circumstances. Austin Ekeler's torn Achilles tendon in Week 2 changed everything. It forced the Commanders to move the 2017 fifth-round pick out of Boise State into an insurance policy alongside Croskey-Merritt and Chris Rodriguez Jr. Even so, if White and Ford both force their way into the team's plans, he can return to his expected role.
This might be the best way for McNichols to make the team. He's experienced enough to know that nothing is guaranteed, so focusing on the special teams' element may be the best route forward. The Commanders also value his leadership in the locker room, which will be important during another massive roster overhaul.
The Commanders see McNichols as a glue-guy. Fans weren't expecting to see him again, but those in power clearly value his contributions on and off the field more highly. And it's another big confidence boost for the 30-year-old when hope of an extended stay was fading.
What comes next is down to the player.