After being linked to Jets RB Breece Hall last week, could an NFC East standout running back materialize into an offseason free agent target for the Washington Commanders?
The Washington Commanders enter the offseason with a long list of question marks and over 30 free agents on both sides of the ball, but a big part of the focus will be centered around upgrading the weapons around quarterback Jayden Daniels ahead of his third season.
Washington enters the offseason with only one player under contract in the running back room in Jacory Croskey-Merritt, who flashed during his rookie season in an inconsistent role to post a pair of 100-yard games. Chris Rodriguez Jr., who finished second on the team in carries (112), rushing yards (500) and rushing touchdowns (6) after playing in all but four games, enters the offseason as a restricted free agent to give the front office a chance to match his offer. Still, there was an element lacking in the room that neither provided in 2025 with the Commanders linked to a possible free agent to possibly address exactly that.
Running back Javonte Williams was predicted to sign with Washington by Pro Football Network, the second running back to do so after the Commanders were linked to Breece Hall, another pending free agent after four seasons with the New York Jets.
Javonte Williams is coming off a career year with over 1,200 rushing yards and a top-10 NFL PFSN RB impact grade (74.5). Dan Quinn gets back to a hard-nosed identity while protecting his young quarterback.
Williams is coming off a career season with Dallas after notching new highs in carries (252), rushing yards (1,201) and rushing touchdowns (11), also ranking top ten in the NFL in all three categories. But it was what he added in the passing game that adds a dynamic to the room that was missing in 2025.
Jeremy McNichols stepped up as the receiving back where he added 196 yards on 25 catches and 31 targets, while Williams tallied 137 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 35 receptions and 51 targets.
Whether the Cowboys let Williams walk is another questions, however.
“Javonte is at the top of our list to go out and sign. and we want to bring him back,” Cowboys COO Stephen Jones said on Tuesday. “We want to sign him to a multiple-year deal, and Adam [Prasifka, Dallas cap guy] and I have been talking about it, how we want to get started with his agent It's my understanding he really wants to be back as well, which is helpful, but certainly that's one of our priorities is to get him re-signed.”
While Williams' price tag is worth watching this offseason with a chance to capitalize after becoming one of nine players in the league to rush for over 1,200 yards in 2025, Steelers running back Kenneth Gainwell could materialize into a more sensible and complementary free agent addition to a room in need of pass support. Gainwell finished with 486 yards and three touchdowns on 73 catches, the fourth-most catches among running backs, and 85 targets.
Who coaches the running backs could end up serving as the next domino for the Commanders with Danny Etling and DJ Williams set to serve under new offensive coordinator David Blough, while the team reportedly promoted a pair of assistants to take over the trenches.