The Washington Commanders are entering a pivotal offseason, and new general manager Adam Peters has both the draft capital and cap flexibility to reshape the roster in a meaningful way. With six picks in hand and a healthy salary cap situation-even if they retain defensive lineman Daron Payne-Peters has the tools to engineer a turnaround. And if a new contract for left tackle Laremy Tunsil is structured creatively, it could free up even more short-term space to work with.
This kind of flexibility mirrors the situation Peters walked into two years ago. Back then, he resisted the urge to chase splashy free-agent names and instead spread the money around on younger veterans who hadn’t quite hit the national radar yet.
That approach paid off handsomely. So don’t be surprised if he leans into that same philosophy again-building depth, adding upside, and staying financially nimble.
Running Back Room in Flux-Could Javonte Williams Be the Answer?
One area where Washington could be looking for reinforcements is the backfield. With both Austin Ekeler and Jeremy McNichols on the wrong side of 30 and set to hit free agency-and Ekeler coming off a torn Achilles-it’s unlikely either returns.
Chris Rodriguez Jr. is a restricted free agent, so Washington has some control there, but he’s yet to prove he can be a week-in, week-out contributor. That leaves Jacory Croskey-Merritt as the only backfield piece that feels like a lock heading into next season.
Croskey-Merritt turned heads in 2025 with his explosive playmaking ability, and he’s earned a larger role. But if the Commanders want to keep him fresh and maximize his effectiveness, pairing him with a more traditional, between-the-tackles runner would make a lot of sense. Enter Javonte Williams.
Williams, who spent 2025 with the Dallas Cowboys, is coming off a career year. He posted personal bests in carries, rushing yards (1,201), and yards per carry (4.8), finishing ninth in the league in total rushing yards and cracking the top 10 in touchdowns. At 5'10", 220 pounds, Williams is built for power, and he thrives in downhill, physical running schemes.
His 2025 production wasn’t just solid-it was the best season by a Washington running back since Alfred Morris back in 2013. That’s no small feat. Williams’ 4.8 yards per carry also edged out Croskey-Merritt’s mark from last season, which speaks volumes considering much of Williams’ work came between the tackles.
But here’s the rub: Williams’ breakout came after four relatively pedestrian seasons in Denver, where he averaged under 600 yards a year and barely cracked 4.0 yards per carry. So the question becomes-was 2025 a true breakout, or an outlier?
Fit Matters-Especially Up Front
One thing that worked in Williams’ favor last year was the offensive line in Dallas. Running behind Tyler Smith and Tyler Booker, two of the better interior linemen in the league, gave him the kind of runway that punishing backs need to thrive. Whether Washington can replicate that kind of push up front is an open question.
That uncertainty is compounded by the arrival of new offensive coordinator David Blough. Blough hasn’t called plays or designed an NFL offense before, so it’s hard to project exactly what kind of run scheme he’ll favor.
Will he lean into zone concepts? Stick with gap power?
Until we see his blueprint, it’s tough to say how well a player like Williams fits.
The Price Tag and the Bigger Picture
Williams is projected to command a deal in the neighborhood of three years, $22 million. That’s not outrageous by NFL standards, especially for a back who just posted top-10 numbers. But when you consider the Commanders’ broader needs-particularly on defense-it raises a fair question: Would that money be better spent elsewhere?
Rodriguez, while unproven, would come at a fraction of the cost. And if the team believes Croskey-Merritt can handle a larger share of the workload, investing heavily in another back might not be the most efficient use of resources. That’s the kind of calculus Peters will be wrestling with over the next several weeks.
This offseason is shaping up to be a defining one for Washington. With cap space, draft picks, and a new coaching staff in place, the pieces are there for a rebuild.
The decisions made between now and the draft will go a long way in determining how quickly this team can turn the corner. Whether that includes Javonte Williams in the backfield-or a different approach altogether-remains to be seen.
But one thing’s for sure: Peters has options, and he’s shown before that he knows how to use them.