Whereas the Washington Commanders get pleasure from their first-round draft choose, they’re nonetheless making an attempt to kind out the Terry McLaurin scenario. Additionally, right here is the most important shock from the Commanders’ first unofficial depth chart of the 2025 NFL season.
Due to the development of the Commanders throughout the 2024 season, they entered this offseason with extra stability on the roster. That’s very true after they acquired Deebo Samuel and Laremy Tunsil.
So the primary official launch of the crew’s depth chart wasn’t going to be frontloaded with surprises. Nonetheless, there’s one factor that deserves a better look.
Commanders rookie RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt listed fifth crew
It is sensible from one path. Croskey-Merritt was a seventh-round choose on this yr’s draft. So no matter he will get, he should earn.
Meaning he began the summer time behind guys like Jeremy McNichols and Chris Rodriguez Jr. After all, he’s additionally behind starter Brian Robinson Jr. and backup Austin Ekeler.
Nonetheless, it’s a bit stunning as a result of the season is drawing nearer. And a few individuals imagine Croskey-Merritt will make the 53-man roster and be a big backup. He has been one of many Commanders’ greatest surprises this summer time, in keeping with commanders.com.
“There was a number of hype surrounding seventh-round working again Jacory Croskey-Merritt,” Zach Selby wrote. “There’s rather a lot to love about him; he is fast, decisive, and might burst by working lanes. It has been some time since he is performed in a significant sport, however it did not seem as if he is misplaced a step throughout OTAs and minicamp.”
Croskey-Merritt has made an impression on head coach Dan Quinn, although it’s not the complete image, in keeping with commanderswire.com.
“Yeah, at that place, like I mentioned, it is a exhausting one to guage in non-pads as a result of you do not know, did the individual make the sort out? Did he break the sort out? And so it is the offensive line, the line of defense, the working backs are generally the toughest,” Quinn mentioned.
Is there a technique to the position of Jacory Croskey-Merritt?
And maybe that feeds into Croskey-Merritt remaining low on the depth chart. Nonetheless, the clues could also be there already about his impending transfer to RB3 ultimately.
“However what you may consider is the explosion on the lower, the project, was the learn right?” Quinn mentioned. “Having Anthony (Lynn, working backs coach) here’s a actually huge deal, from a working again standpoint. He is bought a lot expertise and may give the perception to the gamers to completely get them proper.
“However I believe it is the violence of the cuts. That he can get his shoulders sq. and get downhill quick. So I am very excited to see, as soon as we get into some alternatives. Does he get tackled? [Or] does he not? Does he run by some? However he is off to a extremely good begin.”
The Commanders not often bought explosive performs from the backfield in 2024. In the event that they add that to the offense this yr, issues might elevate to a different stage with Jayden Daniels working the present.
What function does the offensive line play?
Most of what occurs on the bottom can be impacted by whether or not the offensive line improves as a lot because it ought to with the addition of Tunsil. Quinn mentioned he likes what he’s seen from Tunsil and Brandon Coleman, in keeping with commanders.com.
“They’re distinctive, and now we have seen each pull,” Quinn mentioned. “How do you get out and go? So, whether or not it is a guard pull on a counter or each guard and sort out pulling, simply to sort out, perhaps on a sweep or a toss play. And that jumped out to me that normally you do not have that sort of flexibility.
“Oftentimes, there’s one actually good puller, and generally it is the left guard once you’re working into this aspect. When you will have the flexibleness to maneuver and be dominant, get into the mixtures, it is a huge deal for us. And a part of our offense is being on the line and being aggressive, however having that capability to tug and transfer, that is a tough factor defensively to defend.”
There are a number of causes to suppose Croskey-Merritt could possibly be greater than a backup in 2025. However when the crew is comfy transferring him as much as RB3 stays to be seen.
One factor is for certain: the Commanders have to be higher with the bottom assault this season. They can not depend on huge runs from Daniels to be the most important risk. Ekeler is previous his prime, so it is as much as Robinson to step up and be that risk. If he cannot, the door is open for Croskey-Merritt. The Commanders suppose they bought a steal, and time will inform if that is true.