Washington’s pass game may not need another headline-grabbing receiver to find a boost. The quieter answer could be sitting in the backfield with Jacory “Bill” Croskey-Merritt, a player who has already shown enough to earn a bigger slice of the offense and may be positioned to do even more in his sophomore season.
Croskey-Merritt made it clear at one of this offseason’s mandatory minicamps that he’s not treating last year as the finish line.
“I mean, it feels good, but I know I just got to keep working and just being even way better than last year,” he said during his media availability. “Like that’s my only thing.
Like that’s my only goal, my only focus. Like just winning and being a whole different version of myself.”
That mindset fits the way his 2025 season unfolded. As a seventh-round pick, he opened behind veteran Austin Ekeler and didn’t crack Washington’s starting lineup until Week 5.
Once he got his chance, he flashed immediately, topping 100 rushing yards in his first start and making that one of seven starts on the year. He didn’t stay that hot every week, but he finished strong, scoring four touchdowns over his final four games.
Jacory "Bill" Croskey-Merritt 11 CAR, 105 YDS, 2 TDs vs DAL Today.🎄pic.twitter.com/1Mzbs39HBW https://t.co/nKuT7PFmgr
The Commanders now have reason to think bigger about what Croskey-Merritt can do in the passing game, too. Washington’s current mix of offensive weapons includes Rachaad White, who brings more experience to the backfield, and Chig Okonkwo, whose athletic upside at tight end adds another layer to the attack. That leaves Croskey-Merritt in a fight for touches, but also in a spot where his ability as a release valve could matter.
White has already shown he can be involved as a receiver. In his final season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he caught 40 of 45 targets and picked up 10 first downs. He still didn’t score through the air, just as Croskey-Merritt hasn’t yet done, but White’s workload in Washington was far lighter, with only 13 total targets and none over his final six weeks.
Croskey-Merritt, meanwhile, has shown he can handle the ball when it comes his way, securing nine of his 13 passing looks. The next step is obvious: more production than 68 receiving yards in a season.
With Ekeler gone and Croskey-Merritt still young, there’s a path for him to become a more important piece of Washington’s offense. If he does that while White continues his connection with Jayden Daniels and Okonkwo gets unleashed, the Commanders could do a better job masking a receiver group that still looks thin on paper.
In Other News...
Former Commanders Fan Favorite Suddenly Faces A Brutal NFL Reality
Noah Browns time in Washington ended the way a lot of short-term receiver stops do, with the Commanders looking to get younger around Terry McLaurin and sort through other options in the wideout room. Brown had his moments in burgundy and gold, including a memorable role in one of the seasons biggest plays, but his stint also came with the kind of availability questions that can quickly change a players standing.
Now the former Commanders fan favorite is back on the open market as training camps get going, and the reality for a veteran receiver in that spot can be harsh. Brown has already battled through significant health setbacks that have limited him in recent seasons, and with no obvious landing spot emerging yet, his next NFL opportunity is far from settled. [Read more 🡒]
Jake Moody Backs NFL Change That Could Reshape Long Kicks
The NFLs willingness to borrow from the United Football League has already shown up on kickoffs, and now another tweak is drawing attention around the league. The next idea under discussion would give teams four points for field goals from 60 yards or longer, a change that would add a new layer of value to the games biggest-legged kickers and could push coaches to think differently about late-drive strategy.
Jake Moody is among the kickers who like the concept, seeing it as a way to encourage more long-distance attempts and reward the toughest kicks on the field. The debate is still in its early stages, but it has already split opinion among specialists, and the bigger question is whether the league wants to keep reshaping scoring in ways that might alter how offenses manage the middle of the field. [Read more 🡒]
Adam Peters Still Has One Big Decision At Wide Receiver
Adam Peters still has one more wide receiver call to make, and it is the kind that could shape how Washington rounds out its offense before the season. The Commanders already have Terry McLaurin at the top of the room, and the group behind him has been strengthened by younger players and new additions, giving Peters a little more breathing room than he had earlier in the offseason.
For now, the front office appears content to let camp do some of the talking before committing to another veteran. There has been speculation about names such as Brandon Aiyuk and Stefon Diggs, but no known interest has surfaced, and Washington may simply let its current depth chart play out through camp and final cuts before deciding whether to add another proven receiver. [Read more 🡒]