Commanders rookie nobody saw coming turning camp into his own stage

The Washington Commanders might be dealing with wide receiver Terry McLaurin's contract standoff and trade request behind the scenes. But for others, focus is firmly set on making a splash at training camp.

And for a Commanders' rookie upstart looking for immediate involvement, he's quickly turned camp into his own stage.

It's been difficult to ignore the momentum building around Jacory Croskey-Merritt. The No. 245 overall selection in the 2025 NFL Draft is the talk of Ashburn, and with good reason. He's been nothing short of electrifying from the moment he got into the building, and the seventh-rounder has turned things up another notch at camp.

Jacory Croskey-Merritt is dazzling at training camp, and the Commanders should take note

Croskey-Merrit is doing everything possible to not only make the roster but also firmly establish himself as a key part of the running back rotation. That seemed almost inconceivable once upon a time, so it's a credit to the rookie's resolve to fight back positively in the face of adversity.

All hope seemed lost for Croskey-Merritt when the NCAA revoked his eligibility one game into his transfer to Arizona. This was nothing more than a bureaucratic technicality. Regardless, it saw his draft stock plummet to a level that almost saw him go undrafted.

The Commanders prevented that. They believe he had the traits needed to carve out a role for himself within Kliff Kingsbury's schematic concepts. There is a long way to go and bigger tests are coming, but Croskey-Merritt couldn't have done much more to stake a claim.

The explosiveness, on-field vision, and purposeful aggression instantly became a pleasant surprise. Croskey-Merritt is passing every challenge with flying colors. If the same happens during joint practices and the preseason, Washington's power brokers will have a simple decision to make.

Croskey-Merritt, who is affectionately known as 'Bill' to his teammates, has quickly become a feel-good story that fans have latched onto. He's gaining more hype than any seventh-round pick in the league this year. But it's not without substance — there is genuine hope that the Commanders might have a steal on their hands.

After everything Croskey-Merritt's gone through to get to this point, he won't be getting complacent. He'll never feel comfortable and will approach every practice, every carry, and every game with the same intent. And the Commanders are only going to benefit.

It's worth remembering that Croskey-Merritt is still learning the ropes. But don't be surprised if he gatecrashes the running back dynamic from the moment he steps onto an NFL field in a competitive setting.

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