Pro Football Rumors
The Commanders did some work to revamp their running backs room this offseason, but the team seems destined to operate without a definitive RB1. As ESPN’s John Keim writes, the Commanders will likely enter the 2026 campaign with a committee approach at the position.
The front office used free agency to add some notable depth at the position, signing Rachaad White and Jerome Ford to inexpensive one-year deals. The Commanders later selected former Penn State standout Kaytron Allen in the sixth round of the draft before adding UTSA’s Robert Henry (who the team is “intrigued by,” per Keim) as an undrafted free agent.
While those acquisitions alone would represent a crowded depth chart, the team still has two notable holdovers in Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Jeremy McNichols. JCM was a seventh-round pick in last year’s draft and proceeded to lead Washington’s rushing attack, finishing with 805 rushing yards and eight touchdowns. McNichols, meanwhile, has carved out a role as a third-down back, and he finished fourth on the team last season in receptions (25).
Considering the depth, a committee approach seems to be a logical conclusion. White himself admitted that the current grouping brings “different skills” to the table, while head coach Dan Quinn hinted that his staff may capitalize on his players’ individual strengths when the situation calls.
JCM is the likeliest candidate to lead the team in carries, and the second-year back recently told reporters that coaches are challenging him to take command of the starting gig (per Zach Selby of the team’s website). Still, the organization seems likely to go another year without a 1,000-yard rusher. Per Keim, the team has only had one RB reach that mark since 2021 (Antonio Gibson), and they’ve only had a pair of 1,000-yard rushers over the past 11 years.
