Hogs Haven
Editor’s note: Each day, Hogs Haven compiles a collection of articles, podcasts & tweets from around the web to keep you in touch with the Commanders, the NFC East, the NFL and sports in general, with a sprinkling of other stuff. Enjoy!
The Pewter Plank
Ironically, the Commanders’ running back stable might actually be more crowded than the Buccaneers’ entering 2026.
The Commanders have Jacory Croskey-Merritt returning after he rushed for 805 yards and eight touchdowns as a rookie.
They also drafted Penn State standout Kaytron Allen, who rushed for 4180 yards and totaled 43 total touchdowns during his college career.
Jeremy McNichols, another former Buccaneer, is also lingering deep on the depth chart.
But White has the skillset to stand out and rise to the top of this group. At the very least, he’s the best equipped to fulfill the third-down role where he shines brightest, and he’ll emerge as a true asset on passing downs.
For a mere $2 million, White could prove to be the biggest steal of free agency, and one of the best values in the NFL in 2026.
Commanders Wire
For the first time in his career, McLaurin missed seven games due to injury. Even with missing those games, McLaurin was still in the top five wide receivers in first downs per route run.
Riggo’s Rag
ESPN insider John Keim is one of those high on Cross. After naming him Washington’s most underrated move, he outlined how Jones could potentially use his outstanding physical attributes within his creative system. And if it has the desired effect, the Commanders will have a massive steal on their hands.
“Coordinator Daronte Jones’ system, if he copies what he did in Minnesota as pass game coordinator, calls for a lot of safety involvement — and having one who can be versatile. With the Vikings it was Josh Metellus, who would be moved around quite a bit. For Washington, that will be (Nick) Cross. He was a bit overshadowed in the spring, but his importance could be evident in the fall.”
Cross signed a two-year, $13 million contract with the Commanders. This includes a $3 million signing bonus and $6.05 million in guaranteed money, which is pretty cheap for a starting safety expected to be a legitimate No. 1 option in Washington.
He was among the league’s best run-stopping safeties in 2025, but there are some frailities in coverage on occasion. Finding the right balance will be key, and how Jones maximizes his skill set will be even more vital to the cause. There is no better place for Cross to take his game to another level. Jones got this gig in large part due to...
