As stated previously in the offensive line assessment I did of the team, the Commanders have a remarkable QB + head coach duo that I rank among the best in the sport. However, the team’s subpar roster has held them back thus far in the Jayden Daniels + Dan Quinn era and the roster will need to improve if the pairing plans on contending for a Super Bowl next season. I have gone into detail regarding the offensive line of the team and here I will go into detail assessing the skill position unit of the team as the season approaches.
Starting at running back the team is led by 2025 7th rounder Jacory Croskey-Merritt who had a decent rookie season that he is in line to build off. Merritt averaged 4.6 yards per rush as a rookie despite the Commanders having amongst the weakest run blocking lines in the sport with Pro Football Focus grading him as an above average runner of the football despite being a rookie. Croskey-Merritt had a solid rookie year in totality although he could not do much in terms of catching the ball out of the backfield. Croskey-Merritt could certainly emerge as a B level running back if not better heading into year 2 in the NFL, but I do not see him being a star.
The Commanders have strong depth at running back as they have multiple players who are just as good if not better than Croskey-Merritt out of the backfield. The team acquired Rachaad White this offseason from the Buccaneers who has always been among the best overall #2 backs in the sport. White during the 2025 season graded in the top 25% among all running backs while being graded as a top five overall runner of the football among all qualified backs during this past season. White is consistently a strong receiver out of the backfield, has shown improvement in every season in the NFL, and could now emerge as a household name at running back. Third string running back Jerome Ford is also a strong option out of the backfield and is among the better if not among the best overall #3 backs in the NFL.
At tight end the team has question marks but still some talent. Currently listed as the #1 tight end is former 4th rounder Chig Okonkwo who is talented with his inconsistencies. Okonkwo had a remarkable rookie season grading as a top six overall tight end in the NFL albeit catching just 32 balls. However, he has been consistently below average since then, but perhaps as he heads into his second full season with a healthy Jayden Daniels, he can recapture his rookie form. The other noteworthy name in Washington’s tight end unit is 2024 2nd rounder Ben Sinnott who has looked very subpar in the NFL thus far although not having time to blossom as of yet. Sinnott has only caught 16 passes in two seasons, graded poorly as a rookie in very limited action, he however improved in year 2 in limited action but still ranked below average. Perhaps Sinnott could break out heading into year 3 in the NFL with a healthy Jayden Daniels and start to live up to his high draft billing.
At wide receiver the team has a lot of promise as well led by standout Terry McLaurin. McLaurin has always been one of the most underrated players in the NFL as the two-time pro bowler and 2024 second team All-Pro has been often overlooked playing for a subpar Washington franchise. McLaurin graded as a top ten overall wide receiver during the 2025 season despite Jayden Daniels missing most of the season due to injury and looking hobbled even when playing. This was after McLaurin accumulated five straight 1000-yard seasons despite Washington having less than desirable QB play up until Daniels arrived.
Currently listed as #2 on the Commanders’ wide out depth chart is 2024 3rd rounder Luke McCaffrey who has shown promise thus far in the NFL. McCaffrey has logged only 29 career receptions while grading poorly as a rookie although grading above average in limited year 2 action. It is very possible that McCaffrey breaks out heading into year 3 in the NFL while both him and Jayden Daniels hopefully stay healthy.
2026 3rd rounder Antonio Williams presumes the #3 wide out role for the Commanders this upcoming season and the team is optimistic he can give them solid production. 2022 1st rounder Treylon Burks had a very strong rookie season and was in line to become a potential star, but his play has nosedived for three straight seasons since. However, Burks had strong QB play in his rookie season but has had consistently poor QB play since then while also struggling with his health. If Burks is healthy, he could potentially build off his elite rookie year and live up to his high draft billing and be a starter for the Commanders in their wide out unit. 2021 third rounder Dyami Brown was drafted pretty highly and has had mostly poor QB play thus far in his career and/or has struggled to see enough reps. Brown could be a strong reserve wide out option for the Commanders going forward. 2020 2nd rounder Van Jefferson was drafted very high and has looked decent from time to time in the NFL as well. While finally 2025 4th round rookie Jaylin Lane had a respectable rookie season that he could be in line to build off of going forward.
In totality the Commanders have question marks from a skill position player standpoint, but I think they will have a solid if not more than that grouping of skill position players as next season approaches. Terry McLaurin is a true #1 wide out while the Commanders have multiple players who are capable of being solid #2 wide outs while also having a ton of depth in their wide receiver unit although they do perhaps lack some high-end talent in the unit. There are a ton of question marks at tight end and the team’s tight end unit as of now is very subpar, but they have two very capable players who have what it takes to be a high-level tight end in the modern NFL. While at running back the unit is one of the most underrated in the sport, Jacory Croskey-Merritt could break out as a star in year 2, Rachaad White was one of the top backs in the NFL last season and has consistently improved as well. A breakdown of the Washington Commanders’ skill position grouping heading into 2026 can be found below.
Notable Washington Commanders’ Running Backs
HB – Jacory Croskey-Merritt – C+ to B- as rookie in 2025, could become a consistently high-level player going into year 2 onwards
HB – Rachaad White – B+, one of the most underrated players in the NFL, graded as an elite player at the position in 2025
HB – Jerome Ford – C+ to B-, one of the best #3 backs in the NFL
Notable Washington Commanders’ Tight Ends
TE – Chig Okonkwo – C+ to B-, elite rookie season in 2022, but below average since
TE – Ben Sinnott – 2024 2nd rounder, C so far, still improving and could live up to potential still
Notable Washington Commanders’ Wide Receivers
WR – Terry McLaurin – B+ to A-, could have him graded too low
WR – Luke McCaffrey – 2024 3rd rounder, B- in very limited snaps so far
WR – Antonio Williams – 2026 3rd rounder
WR – Treylon Burks – 2022 1st rounder, elite rookie season, below average since, struggles understandable, could now build off year 1
WR – Dyami Brown – 2021 3rd rounder, C, still has some promise
WR – Van Jefferson – 2021 2nd rounder, C, has shown some promise
WR – Jaylin Lane – 2025 4th rounder, C as rookie, in line to improve heading into year 2
