Spotlight on Commanders’ Top Picks
When reviewing the Washington Commanders’ 2025 NFL Draft class, most of the spotlight naturally falls on their top selections. Meanwhile, the Commanders’ later-round picks have largely flown under the radar. Wide receiver Jaylin Lane, linebacker Kain Medrano, and running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt were chosen in the later rounds and will likely begin training camp low on the depth chart.
Yet, one of them is already gaining attention as a potential late-round gem.
Jacory Croskey-Merritt Drawing Alfred Morris Comparison
The running back position is historically one of the more forgiving spots for late-round and undrafted talent to thrive. Every season, new names emerge unexpectedly to become their team’s primary rusher.
The Commanders have seen this pattern before. Rob Kelley rushed for 700 yards in 2016 as an undrafted rookie. Chris Thompson, a fifth-rounder, served as a reliable third-down back for years. Roy Helu Jr., drafted in the fourth round, was once seen as the heir to Clinton Portis. But none made a bigger splash than Alfred Morris.
A sixth-round pick in 2012, Morris surprised everyone by becoming a Week 1 starter. While most of the media focus was on fellow rookie Robert Griffin III, Morris quietly put together one of the greatest seasons ever by a rookie running back, finishing with 1,613 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns. He earned Pro Bowl honors and was named a second-team All-Pro, incredible achievements for a player taken so late.
Now, CBS Sports analyst Chris Trapasso is suggesting Jacory Croskey-Merritt might be capable of a similar breakout: “Runners with his size, vision and particularly, explosiveness (4.45-second 40-yard dash and 41.5-inch vertical) are rarely available in Round 7.”
A Path to Playing Time
Croskey-Merritt enters the 2025 season slotted as the third-string running back behind Brian Robinson Jr. and Austin Ekeler. However, both of those players are set to become free agents in 2026, potentially opening a path for the rookie to earn more touches this season and possibly secure a larger role moving forward.
Trapasso adds: “Croskey-Merritt will enter the season as the third-string running back on Washington’s depth chart, behind Brian Robinson Jr. and Austin Ekeler. Given that both are pending free agents in 2026, the Commanders might be wise to give their rookie an extended run to gauge whether or not they already have their long-term answer at the position.”
Potential Steal in a Strong Draft Class
Trapasso ranks Washington’s 2025 rookie class as the 10th-most impactful in the NFL. If Croskey-Merritt, a seventh-round selection, turns into a legitimate starter, the Commanders’ draft class under GM Adam Peters will be remembered as a resounding success.
“If a player selected as late as Croskey-Merritt can turn into a quality starter, Commanders fans will look back very kindly at the group Adam Peters and his staff selected.”
As comparisons to Alfred Morris begin to surface, all eyes will be on Croskey-Merritt to see if he can replicate that kind of breakout and potentially reshape the future of Washington’s backfield.
