Previewing the position: Commanders’ RB room receives makeover with new faces to hopefully continue previous success
The Commanders had a top-5 rushing offense last season, but their committee looks completely different after an active free agency period.
The Washington Commanders were active in free agency, and there will be a lot of new faces in town next season.
It’s time to preview every position and see where the roster stands as we turn our attention from free agency to the NFL Draft. The RB room had its biggest turnover with Bill Croskey-Merritt as the only RB under contract this offseason. The Commanders added talent in the RB room, but the door is also open for another major addition.
Where the Commanders’ RB room stands now
General manager Adam Peters knew the rushing offense had a lot of success as a RB committee last season, which finished with the fourth-most rushing yards in 2025 with 2,290 yards. They had to replace Chris Rodriguez Jr. after he went to the Jacksonville Jaguars in free agency, and they had the perfect response by signing Rachaad White on a one-year deal for $2 million.
White is very underrated in my opinion, and he will have a much bigger impact on the Commanders than people expect. He’s the most complete RB the Commanders have on the roster, and it will be hard to take him off the field. White can create a long run, but he’s also down for the dirty work with pass protection and opening up the receiving game.
Bill Croskey-Merritt had a breakout rookie season with over 800 yards on the ground, and he has the homerun ability that has been missed in the backfield for a long time now. That’s the one area that makes him dangerous and helps him stand out from the other RBs. He has to clean up his four fumbles from last year, but Croskey-Merritt could have another big season.
The Commanders also added Jerome Ford in free agency, who is deceivingly faster than expected as a bruising RB. He has only had one fumble in his four-year career, while being a physical back who isn’t afraid of contact. Ford gained 1,050 of his 1,463 yards on the ground after contact, which is 71% of his career yardage.
How the RB room can shake up
I believe White will be the team’s most productive RB when it comes to touches, and who actually sees the field the most in 2026. The team will see his pass protection and underrated rushing ability, and not want to take him off the field. Croskey-Merritt will still get his own opportunities again, and likely the speed option to keep defenses on their toes and create homerun plays.
Ford could be the guy who takes Jeremy McNichols’ spot, who actually just re-signed with the Commanders to make that four RBs on the roster. The door isn’t fully closed on the Commanders drafting a RB as well, especially if Jeremiyah Love somehow falls to the No. 7 overall pick. This committee should still be just as productive, and actually has a much higher ceiling than last season.