Commanders draft pick is barely hanging on (and no one is talking about it)

One of the Washington Commanders' biggest question marks going into this offseason was the running back position, given the availability concerns of both Brian Robinson Jr. and Austin Ekeler.

The Commanders elected to hold serve with their backfield tandem, though they did add Jacory Croskey-Merritt into the mix at No. 245 overall in the 2025 NFL Draft. He's drawn rave reviews thus far and is considered one of the most likely under-the-radar players on Washington's roster who could emerge as a key piece.

That leaves 2023 sixth-round pick Chris Rodriguez Jr. in a rather awkward position. He's shown some impressive flashes with the Commanders, but he might be hanging onto his roster spot for dear life this summer.

Chris Rodriguez Jr. must defy the odds again to make Commanders' roster

Rodriguez was in a similar position entering last season, and even initially didn't make Washington's 53-man roster as the team placed him on the practice squad. However, as Robinson and Ekeler both missed a handful of games due to injuries, he was elevated for much of the second half of the campaign. He also accumulated offensive snaps in seven different contests.

His best performance was against the Tennessee Titans in Week 13, rushing for 94 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries. Rodriguez also found the end zone in Washington's playoff-sealing Week 17 win over the Atlanta Falcons. But opportunities were limited.

In addition to Robinson and Ekeler, Rodriguez was also slotted behind veteran Jeremy McNichols on Washington's depth chart for most of 2024. He also re-signed with the Commanders for 2025, which will only make the third-year pro's work that much harder.

Only one of McNichols, Croskey-Merritt, and Rodriguez will likely make Washington's opening 53-man roster. McNichols figures to be the easiest to cut, given his age and contract. There is also the possibility that the Commanders shake things up and attempt to move Robinson before the season, especially if Croskey-Merritt continues to impress throughout training camp.

Regardless, the bottom line is that it's not going to be easy for Rodriguez to find a role on the Commanders this season. He has defied the odds before, but this time, it seems like the writing is on the wall.

Barring a herculean effort in training camp or major injury woes to those ahead of him on the depth chart, the former Kentucky standout will likely be looking for a new home to resume his NFL career.

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