The Washington Commanders needed to maximize their limited resources during the 2025 NFL Draft. This need became more pressing after general manager Adam Peters opted to not trade down for additional assets over his first two picks.
That decreased the margin for error, but there's a growing sense around the league that the Commanders may have found a genuine draft steal with their final selection.
The Commanders spent the No. 245 overall pick on Jacory Croskey-Merritt. There is significant intrigue attached to the running back, who ran into eligibility issues after transferring to Arizona. That dented his stock considerably, but Peters was confident he could offer something to Washington's backfield after thorough investigations throughout the assessment phase.
Louis Riddick expecting big things from new Commanders RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt
This was a sentiment echoed by Louis Riddick of ESPN. The respected analyst, who's also a former player with extensive experience in front offices around the NFL, hailed Croskey-Merritt as the best value Washington got from the draft. One doesn't have to look far in the media for similar opinions.
Excitement is relatively high regarding Croskey-Merritt among the fan base. He comes to the Commanders with a big chip on his shoulder after being harshly treated by the NCAA. He's eager to prove himself and rise into rotational consideration immediately. Looking at the questions surrounding most of Washington's running back unit, it represents a bold yet attainable objective.
Tempering expectations initially would be wise where Croskey-Merritt is concerned. Running backs tend to transition quicker than every other positional group, but he's starting from the bottom. Brian Robinson Jr. and Austin Ekeler remain the starting tandem. Surging above the likes of Jeremy McNichols and Chris Rodriguez Jr. should be the first challenge.
The Washington Commanders needed to maximize their limited resources during the 2025 NFL Draft. This need became more pressing after general manager Adam Peters opted to not trade down for additional assets over his first two picks.
That decreased the margin for error, but there's a growing sense around the league that the Commanders may have found a genuine draft steal with their final selection.
The Commanders spent the No. 245 overall pick on Jacory Croskey-Merritt. There is significant intrigue attached to the running back, who ran into eligibility issues after transferring to Arizona. That dented his stock considerably, but Peters was confident he could offer something to Washington's backfield after thorough investigations throughout the assessment phase.
Louis Riddick expecting big things from new Commanders RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt
This was a sentiment echoed by Louis Riddick of ESPN. The respected analyst, who's also a former player with extensive experience in front offices around the NFL, hailed Croskey-Merritt as the best value Washington got from the draft. One doesn't have to look far in the media for similar opinions.
Excitement is relatively high regarding Croskey-Merritt among the fan base. He comes to the Commanders with a big chip on his shoulder after being harshly treated by the NCAA. He's eager to prove himself and rise into rotational consideration immediately. Looking at the questions surrounding most of Washington's running back unit, it represents a bold yet attainable objective.
Tempering expectations initially would be wise where Croskey-Merritt is concerned. Running backs tend to transition quicker than every other positional group, but he's starting from the bottom. Brian Robinson Jr. and Austin Ekeler remain the starting tandem. Surging above the likes of Jeremy McNichols and Chris Rodriguez Jr. should be the first challenge.
After that, Croskey-Merritt can focus his attention on inspiring confidence. Earning the trust of quarterback Jayden Daniels and offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury would be a good place to start. Taking advantage of carries when they arise is only going to assist his cause, whether that be in the preseason or when competitive regular-season games arrive.
There's a lot of momentum building around Croskey-Merritt despite his lowly draft status. It's not about where you get drafted, it's about what players do when they get into the pros. And there's an opportunity for the rookie to establish himself right out of the gate if everything goes according to plan or better than expected this summer.
It could go the other way, which tends to be the case more often than not with seventh-round picks. However, don't be surprised if Croskey-Merritt becomes an exception to the rule.
