Adam Peters is a shrewd talent evaluator. He didn't have much to work with during the 2025 NFL Draft, but analysts and fans alike believe the Washington Commanders are in a better place thanks to the prospects acquired.
The Commanders took the best players on the board regardless of need. This didn't help the team's glaring hole at edge rusher, so it'll be interesting to see what moves Peters has left before attention firmly turns to the 2025 campaign.
Some picks were lauded more than others. But perhaps Peters might have saved his best-value pick for last.
Fans have been clamoring for the Commanders to add another running back this offseason. It looked for a long time as if Peters might resist the temptation, but the chance to take Jacory Croskey-Merritt with his final draft pick at No. 245 overall in the seventh round was too tempting to ignore.
Commanders could get more than they bargained for with Jacory Croskey-Merritt
Croskey-Merritt went completely under the radar through no real fault of his own. The dynamic threat played just one game for the Arizona Wildcats in 2024 before the NCAA prevented any further involvement due to eligibility issues. Although frustrating and probably costing him a lot of money, the Commanders were suitably impressed throughout their comprehensive pre-draft assessments.
Peters spent considerable time learning more about Croskey-Merritt. He was intrigued by this story and wanted to see if the fire still burned after being robbed of his final college campaign. The front-office manager was convinced, and Louis Riddick from ESPN stated on their draft coverage that the Commanders might have a steal on their hands.
There is also an opportunity for the rookie to gain immediate involvement. His one-cut slashing style could provide the Commanders with an extra sense of energy that was sorely lacking at times in 2024. Peters kept faith with the options around last season, but they should all be nervously looking over their shoulders now.
Croskey-Merritt is a seventh-round pick, so tempering expectations would be wise. However, it's not hard to see a path for the backfield weapon if he uses what happened with the Wildcats as a source of motivation upon taking his chances in the pros.
The Commanders are giving him a chance to remind everyone why he was such a highly touted prospect once upon a time. What comes next is down to Croskey-Merritt, but his progress will be something to monitor closely throughout the summer and potentially beyond.
