Commanders buzz grows louder for this unexpected offseason breakout

The hype has gradually built around one unheralded draft pick this offseason. Jacory Croskey-Merritt is making more waves than most seventh-rounders, and the Washington Commanders have taken notice of his seamless transition accordingly.

Croskey-Merritt was the No. 245 overall selection in the 2025 NFL Draft through no real fault of his own. The backfield threat saw his stock crash after having his eligibility revoked by the NCAA just one game into his transfer to Arizona. Not even winning Offensive MVP at the East-West Shrine Bowl could help change his narrative, but the Commanders saw something in him that others didn't.

Anthony Lynn had high praise for Commanders' rookie RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt

He's set about repaying the faith quickly. Croskey-Merritt is eager to seize his chance. He's avoiding complacency and working exceptionally hard to force his way into the team's plans. This came with significant praise from running backs coach Anthony Lynn, who believes the rookie is growing up quickly in pursuit of making his presence felt.

He's working, man. He's already a young professional. He worked his way up from Alabama State to get to this level, and that says a lot about his work ethic right there … I don't know what we have in him, but he's learning right now. He's growing up like a weed every day.Anthony Lynn via Commanders.com

The Commanders will take their time with Croskey-Merritt. It's easy to get carried away at this stage of preparations, but it's also worth remembering that he missed a lot of football last season and was a late Day 3 pick for a reason.

Still, he's off to a good start. Having the right attitude has helped smooth his transition. It's also something that slots into the Commanders' locker room culture shift seamlessly, so it's no surprise to see glowing reviews over the extremely early stage of his development.

Nothing is guaranteed, and the hard work is just getting started for Croskey-Merritt. Things are about to become heated over training camp. The Commanders will probably give the first-year pro all he can handle during the preseason. That'll provide the most telling indicator of what he might be capable of as a rookie.

Lynn is a no-nonsense coach who doesn't dish out undeserving praise. The fact that he spoke so highly of Croskey-Merritt means something. It's a big confidence boost before things get tougher in camp, but building on this positive momentum is critical.

If Croskey-Merritt successfully achieves this objective, don't be surprised if he gets his fair share of touches when the regular season gets here.

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