Jacory Croskey-Merritt’s emergence may have decided the fate of a Commanders starter going into a make-or-break season
The Commanders are shopping a starter thanks to this gem.
The Washington Commanders could be looking to make a big move and decide one player’s future before the season even starts. An emergence of one late-round rookie may have decided the fate for a make-or-break season for a former third-round pick.
The Commanders’ running back room needed to improve this season, and they may have found a gem in the late rounds of the draft in Jacory Croskey-Merritt to be the new starter, making Brian Robinson Jr. a trade piece for the team.
Brian Robinson Jr. is being shopped around
Croskey-Merritt has been the hype of training camp, and even in the first preseason game, while Robinson Jr. has been the complete opposite so far. The Commanders must love what they have seen in Croskey-Merritt, too, because reports are saying that the team is shopping Robinson Jr. before the season starts.
The leg injuries last season took away what Robinson Jr. was best at, and that’s the physical running style he played with. Jeremy McNichols or Chris Rodriguez Jr. could be the power backs for the Commanders, while Croskey-Merritt takes over as the starter with big-play potential.
The Commanders would save $3.33 million in salary cap space for this season if they trade Robinson Jr, and some RB-needy teams could take a swing on the 26-year-old RB. Peters would love to collect more draft picks to continue building the young core of the roster, and they may be able to get an extra pick next season from a team calling in.
RB needy teams
There’s a list of teams that could take a swing and send in their bids for Robinson Jr. Although we aren’t sure what an exact trade package would look like, I’d assume it’s a day 3 pick of some sort. I could also see a player swap if the player the Commanders receive makes sense for their scheme and role. Here’s a look at who could be calling with an offer:
- Green Bay Packers
- Cleveland Browns
- Houston Texans
- Chicago Bears
- Carolina Panthers
- San Francisco 49ers
There’s no official word on what teams have shown interest in trading for Robinson Jr, but the Commanders feel confident in moving on with the emergence of Croskey-Merritt this offseason. Robinson Jr. is set to play on his final year of his rookie contract, and would be a free agent after the season anyway, so getting any kind of draft capital would be a massive win for the Commanders.
The Commanders play the Cincinnati Bengals Monday night, and I’d be surprised to see Robinson Jr. get any snaps if he’s actively being shopped around, even with starters projected to play.
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