​Former Washington Commanders running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. never seemed to do enough to win over general manager Adam Peters and head coach Dan Quinn, for reasons that still puzzled observers. The 25-year-old was a sixth-round choice by Washington in the 2023 NFL Draft, a selection made by the previous regime. In his rookie season, with limited opportunities, Rodriguez carried the ball 51 times for 247 yards and two touchdowns, an average of 4.6 yards per carry.
When Peters and Quinn took over in 2024, Rodriguez looked like a promising candidate to make Washington’s roster. Yet he was waived during final cuts and quickly re-signed to the practice squad. Over the course of the 2024 season, Rodriguez was elevated to the active roster and made a notable impact, especially in Week 9 against the Giants, where he carried 11 times for 53 yards. He was then signed to the 53-man roster, waived again, and re-signed to the practice squad, before returning to the active roster to notch a career-best 94 rushing yards and a touchdown on 13 carries in a victory over the Titans. He finished his second NFL season appearing in nine games, with 35 carries for 173 yards and three touchdowns, averaging 4.9 yards per carry.
During the following offseason, Rodriguez’s work ethic and progress were praised, and he earned a spot on the 53-man roster. He appeared in 13 games and started seven, posting career highs with 500 rushing yards and six touchdowns, while averaging 4.5 yards per rush.
This past offseason, Rodriguez entered as a restricted free agent, but Washington opted not to tender him, rendering him an unrestricted free agent. He did not remain unsigned for long, as the Jacksonville Jaguars signed him to a two-year, $10 million contract with $6.2 million guaranteed. Jacksonville was no stranger to Rodriguez; head coach/Liam Coen, who was Kentucky’s offensive coordinator in 2021 when Rodriguez starred as a junior running back, recalls that season well. Rodriguez earned second-team All-SEC honors after rushing for 1,379 yards and nine touchdowns in 2021.
Washington made a sweeping set of changes in the backfield this offseason. Jacory Croskey-Merritt, a seventh-round gem from last year who led the Commanders with 805 rushing yards and eight touchdowns in a part-time role, is back. Veteran Jeremy McNichols also returned, as Washington allowed Rodriguez and veteran Austin Ekeler to depart. Peters added Rachaad White, who is expected to be Croskey-Merritt’s primary competition for carries. The Commanders also signed Jerome Ford and drafted Kaytron Allen. Why did Washington let Rodriguez go? Time and again, whenever his number was called, he delivered. He was an effective short-yardage option who didn’t fumble, making him a dependable late-game asset. He also worked hard to improve his speed over the past two years and contributed on special teams. It seems perplexing that the Commanders didn’t recognize Rodriguez’s value more consistently.
Could Washington’s loss become Jacksonville’s gain? That question lingers, a topic of discussion among analysts including Bleacher Report’s Brad Gagnon, who highlighted the potential for better exposure and accountability in a new setting. In this ongoing narrative of career movement, Rodriguez’s trajectory underscores how a player’s value and fit can shift with system changes, coaching strategies, and personnel decisions.