The 2025 Free Agency Thread

[Discobob]

I don't think there is any case where they cut BRob, but I fully expect them to spend a pick in rounds 1-4 on an RB, and for that RB to eat into his workload at some point next year.

 

[SkinsGuy99]

I would like Washington to draft another RB.

I like Robinson, but he seems injury prone, hesitates at the line of scrimmage, very rarely will break off a BIG run and it seems in big games/moments, he comes up small.

I think an upgrade is needed.

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

I don't think there is any case where they cut BRob, but I fully expect them to spend a pick in rounds 1-4 on an RB, and for that RB to eat into his workload at some point next year.

I agree with you but I don't necessarily agree with the decision. I'd draft a guy, keep Ekler and one of CRod or McNichols and cut BRob. Unless he can show he's got his confidence back. He was shook last year and never recovered. Like the RB version of having the yips. I wouldn't give him a lot of time to work out of it. Once you've got the yips, you might never recover.

I'm in the minority in this position. I fully understand that.

 

[heisenberg]

I've never quite understood the love for Rodriguez. He's fine. He's run hard in spots to close games out. I don't think he's any better than Robinson. I could be wrong, but I dunno. I've never been just wowed by his ability.

Yeah i didn't mean to suggest i like him, I've thought for years we've needed a more explosive running back.

I think the reason some may like him over brob is that he seemed to run with a little more exuberance for lack of a better way of saying it, a lot like brob used to but it seemed to missing most of last year especially after the fumbling problem popped up.

 

[Hail Raiser]

Eh. I think BRob is "just fine" when healthy. But he's not explosive, doesn't have great vision, doesn't have the explosiveness to get outside, and can't break off big runs.

I've never seen it with CRod. He's ok. I like McNichols more than most. But he's a backup.

I think the problem is all three of them should really be backups.

I know we lost close games kicking FGs when he was out of the line up.

 

[Renegade7]

There are two windows going on here:

Jayden being here

Jayden being here on a rookie deal


Once he gets paid, it will be harder or jus not feasible to trade for all-pro talent due to budget constraints.

So if you gonna do it because you believe you close to getting over the top, now is the time, imo.

If we draft a pass rusher, he likely doesn't hit his prime until we have to renew Daniels...that's too late.

 

[mistertim]

I'd say Ekeler is the only RB on the roster who isn't a JAG. But he's old (for a RB) and has major injury concerns. We really need an infusion of talent in the running game.

 

[Renegade7]

I'd say Ekeler is the only RB on the roster who isn't a JAG. But he's old (for a RB) and has major injury concerns. We really need an infusion of talent in the running game.

BPA and need will probably overlap here the best...I hope we draft best running back we can with our 2nd round pick (I still support sending our 1st, which is like a high second it's so low, to the Bengals)

 

[Simeon]

I've been puzzled by their usage of CRod for a couple of years now. I assumed when he was drafted he would be a good backup/eventual replacement for BRob since their power back running styles and SEC record were similar, and in the limited times he has been on the field he has looked that way, at least to me. But he seems to be viewed as a marginal add by the staff.

I think he ought to be used at least as a short yardage/goal line back, at least until we can get our own version of a Tush Push going (not sure we have enough beef this year).

According to one analyst CRod looked pretty amazing in rushing success rate last year and pretty bad in yards before contact, suggesting he broke a lot of tackles:

Were the Commanders’ Running Backs Held Back by the Run Blocking?

Part 2 of the dive into what made Washington’s run game tick last season

www.hogshaven.com

The author is a fan and medical statistician so I like him already (I have a background in statistics and program evaluation). Neither one of us are qualified to do actual film analysis, so I really appreciate the posters here that can contribute that.

Rushing success rate is defined by yards needed for a first down: a successful rush is 40% of yards needed on first down, 60% on second down, 100% on third or fourth. The two big caveats here are that CRod had a limited sample and that sample was mostly 2 games against the Giants and Titans. Nonetheless I saw him basically run over people in those games, how about you? He has got to have a role on the team at least.

My thinking for the draft and free agency is if we can't get an elite lead back, I don't know how much we will actually improve the team by putting resources into a slightly better power player; the backs we have can take what the blocking gives them and improved blocking leads us to where we finish the season. We did top third of the league in non-QB rushing last year but that was mostly against poor defenses. Some of the bad games were either against great defenses or when our OL was trucked by injuries and our poor depth was exposed.

If we can't get an elite lead rusher then the priority is getting a back to eventually replace Ekeler. I'm uncomfortable with him as our third down back this year, not because of his age or productivity but more because of his concussions and just feeling it is wrong to put him back in that elevated risk of permanent disability.

Lastly, I really think an elite back could help this team more than elite edge at this point. There are none in free agency. If Ashton Jeanty fell out of the top 10 to say, #20 in the draft I would really go for trading up from 29. If no elite player falls to them at 29 then I expect (and hope) they will trade back for more picks.

On the other hand, maybe Peters and Quinn have a better plan than we do.

 

[Commander Wraith]

I get the sense there were other issues with our ground game beyond our backs. Coleman and Biadasz got high marks for run blocking, and Cosmi has proven himself there as well. Couple that with Daniel’s running and RPO, and the high number of sustained drives… feels like our backs should have had much better production. I don’t have any answers, whether it’s scheme related, talent related, or what, but I do know that I’d love to see a high caliber guard and running back added. Can’t hurt anyway.

As to Robinson vs Rodriguez, I actually liked that Robinson developed more patience as a runner - allowing blocking to develop, especially with gap runs. I do question whether he’s still figuring out when not to be patient, or how to balance the two. Rodriguez certainly runs more aggressively/urgently, which really suits a role as a finisher - a guy to close out games with. Less sure about him as our primary back though, even if I feel like they should have given him a chance.

 

[Discobob]

I agree with you but I don't necessarily agree with the decision. I'd draft a guy, keep Ekler and one of CRod or McNichols and cut BRob. Unless he can show he's got his confidence back. He was shook last year and never recovered. Like the RB version of having the yips. I wouldn't give him a lot of time to work out of it. Once you've got the yips, you might never recover.

I'm in the minority in this position. I fully understand that.

I agree with the fact that BRob, CRod, and McNichols are kinda all vying for the same role. Ekler does different stuff, and hopefully a rookie offers no more upside than all those guys. If BRob can't shake the funk, I don't need to keep him. That said, is bet on him showing better than the other two, and not being the odd one out.

 

[Discobob]

I've been puzzled by their usage of CRod for a couple of years now. I assumed when he was drafted he would be a good backup/eventual replacement for BRob since their power back running styles and SEC record were similar, and in the limited times he has been on the field he has looked that way, at least to me. But he seems to be viewed as a marginal add by the staff.

I think he ought to be used at least as a short yardage/goal line back, at least until we can get our own version of a Tush Push going (not sure we have enough beef this year).

According to one analyst CRod looked pretty amazing in rushing success rate last year and pretty bad in yards before contact, suggesting he broke a lot of tackles:

View attachment 10360

Were the Commanders’ Running Backs Held Back by the Run Blocking?

Part 2 of the dive into what made Washington’s run game tick last season

www.hogshaven.com

The author is a fan and medical statistician so I like him already (I have a background in statistics and program evaluation). Neither one of us are qualified to do actual film analysis, so I really appreciate the posters here that can contribute that.

Rushing success rate is defined by yards needed for a first down: a successful rush is 40% of yards needed on first down, 60% on second down, 100% on third or fourth. The two big caveats here are that CRod had a limited sample and that sample was mostly 2 games against the Giants and Titans. Nonetheless I saw him basically run over people in those games, how about you? He has got to have a role on the team at least.

My thinking for the draft and free agency is if we can't get an elite lead back, I don't know how much we will actually improve the team by putting resources into a slightly better power player; the backs we have can take what the blocking gives them and improved blocking leads us to where we finish the season. We did top third of the league in non-QB rushing last year but that was mostly against poor defenses. Some of the bad games were either against great defenses or when our OL was trucked by injuries and our poor depth was exposed.

If we can't get an elite lead rusher then the priority is getting a back to eventually replace Ekeler. I'm uncomfortable with him as our third down back this year, not because of his age or productivity but more because of his concussions and just feeling it is wrong to put him back in that elevated risk of permanent disability.

Lastly, I really think an elite back could help this team more than elite edge at this point. There are none in free agency. If Ashton Jeanty fell out of the top 10 to say, #20 in the draft I would really go for trading up from 29. If no elite player falls to them at 29 then I expect (and hope) they will trade back for more picks.

On the other hand, maybe Peters and Quinn have a better plan than we do.

I'd love to be proven wrong, but CRod is an outlier on that chart mostly due to his lack of carries. Again, maybe he's not gotten the run he deserves, but it's not fair to compare him to players that got the ball so many more times....

 

[Boone]

All our RBs except Ekeler are jags. And Ekeler is older and we know the injury issues.

I don’t know why we can’t just admit this? None of the other 3 RBs are even above average. We laughed about Samaje Perine when he was here but neither BRob, CRod, or McNichols is any better. Nice guys, hard runners, okay…. But it takes more than that.

 

[skinsinparadise]

 

[ExoDus84]

Don't understand the Deebo contract rework. DId they add void years or something to lessen the cap hit? Or just offered him some guarantees to keep him happy?

 

[Gooseneck]

When you all say "Jags," which of these are you talking about.

"JAG" stands for Judge Advocate General and refers to the military's legal branch, with JAGs being military lawyers who provide legal services to the armed forces.



In the context of American football, "Jags" refers to the nickname for the Jacksonville Jaguars, a professional team in the National Football League (NFL) based in Jacksonville, Florida

 

[Renegade7]

All our RBs except Ekeler are jags. And Ekeler is older and we know the injury issues.

I don’t know why we can’t just admit this? None of the other 3 RBs are even above average. We laughed about Samaje Perine when he was here but neither BRob, CRod, or McNichols is any better. Nice guys, hard runners, okay…. But it takes more than that.

I understand RBBC, but I don't agree with doing that to try to limit reps for players that can't handle too many.

Once one gets hurt, another gets worn down and inevitably hurt, too.

I'm ready for another 3 down rb...someone like Kamara in this offense would make it absolutely lethal and unfair.

 

[Renegade7]

Don't understand the Deebo contract rework. DId they add void years or something to lessen the cap hit? Or just offered him some guarantees to keep him happy?

My initial reaction was creating more cap space for this year, but will wait for the math experts to confirm.

 

[mistertim]

When you all say "Jags," which of these are you talking about.

"JAG" stands for Judge Advocate General and refers to the military's legal branch, with JAGs being military lawyers who provide legal services to the armed forces.



In the context of American football, "Jags" refers to the nickname for the Jacksonville Jaguars, a professional team in the National Football League (NFL) based in Jacksonville, Florida

JAG = Just Another Guy

Basically, an average rando player who doesn't have much impact at all.

 

[Boone]

Don't understand the Deebo contract rework. DId they add void years or something to lessen the cap hit? Or just offered him some guarantees to keep him happy?

I don’t get it either. Was the original contract just 1 season?