The One Overlooked Departure That Will Hurt the Commanders the Most

It was an active free agency for the Washington Commanders once again, and that has seemingly become the norm in the DMV since Adam Peters took over as general manager.

While it's not always ideal to have so much turnover year after year, Peters has shown he's made the right calls – for the most part – to build solid rosters.

Peters seems to have done a fantastic job once again this free agency period. And while many are digging into the newest additions, let's examine the one departure that has been slightly overlooked, but could end up hurting the franchise down the road: running back Chris Rodriguez Jr.

Losing C-Rod Hurts the Commanders

Watching the Commanders cut center Tyler Biadasz, only for him to quickly sign with the Los Angeles Chargers, could have been in this spot. However, with how much chatter there has been surrounding the current state of the Commanders' center position, that departure didn't quite make as much sense when it came to being "overlooked".

On the other hand, one could make the case that the Commanders are better off with their acquisitions of Rachaad White and Jerome Ford to replace the one departure of Chris Rodriguez Jr., but while both hold up in their own strengths, they don't fit the billing of everything rolled into one back.

After being drafted by the Commanders in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL Draft, Rodriguez Jr. spent his first two seasons as a backup before being called into action as a starter in seven games this past season due to injuries to other backs. He filled in admirably during this time, seeing career highs across many of his stats.

Jacksonville Jaguars RB Chris Rodriguez Jr. — Washington Commanders running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. (36) Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images | Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

Rodriguez Jr. was the lone bruising back for the Commanders last season, frequently being relied upon in short-yardage and goal-line situations, which led to him having some of the best yards after contact in the league. White does not fit this mold, and while the assumption is that Ford will be that type of back for Washington now, he is older and fell out of the rotation in Cleveland with the Browns this past season.

The Commanders have made it clear this offseason that they have wanted to get faster and more versatile, but the one aspect they may have forgotten is physicality. By letting Rodriguez Jr. head to the Sunshine State to join the Jacksonville Jaguars, they have ultimately taken a gamble that someone will be able to come through short yardage in big moments without having to think about potentially getting cute with play calling.

While on the outside it appears that Washington will be fine with the likes of Jacory Croskey-Merritt, White, Ford, and Jermey McNichols, the loss of Rodriguez Jr. can't be overlooked unless the Commanders do something in the NFL Draft to otherwise change that notion.