Washington Boosts Offense, Leaves Backfield Mostly Unchanged
The Washington Commanders made notable improvements to their offense this offseason, particularly to support rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels. They acquired wide receiver Deebo Samuel and reinforced the offensive line. Despite those upgrades, the running back group saw minimal changes.
The team waited until the seventh round of the draft to select Jacory Croskey-Merritt and did not add any veterans via free agency. That leaves Brian Robinson as the clear-cut No. 1 running back heading into the new season.
Kliff Kingsbury Impressed with Robinson’s Preparation
Offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury shared positive impressions of Robinson’s offseason progress. “Yeah, he’s been really focused,” Kingsbury said last week, via the team’s official transcript. “The biggest thing that came out of last year I think was that any of the guys that we asked to go in and play, played at a really high level.”
Kingsbury emphasized that the offense features strong overall talent. “B-Rob’s a guy who has played an incredibly high level. I thought early in the year when he was really healthy, he was what we expect him to be, and the focus this offseason has been great,” Kingsbury said. “He knows what this year means to him and can mean to us when he plays at that level.”
Robinson Set for Heavy Workload
Kingsbury confirmed that while Austin Ekeler is still expected to have a role, and both Jeremy McNichols and Chris Rodriguez Jr. are ready when needed, Robinson is projected to handle a significant share of the workload.
In his first year in Kingsbury’s system, Robinson posted a career-high 4.3 yards per carry. The 26-year-old finished 2024 with a personal best of 799 rushing yards and eight touchdowns on 187 carries across 14 games. However, he lacks a burst as an explosive playmaker.
Options and Expectations Ahead
As the season approaches, adding a veteran running back remains a possibility. Croskey-Merritt could emerge as a surprise speed threat, and Deebo Samuel might also see backfield action depending on Robinson’s performance early in the year.
Heading into June, Robinson enters a contract year as Washington’s definitive lead back. With enhanced blocking in front of him, he has a chance to take another step forward in 2025.
