Commanders 'linked' to two-time 1,000-yard running back in free agency

The Washington Commanders will target a running back when free agency opens this week. Only Jacory Croskey-Merritt is under contract for 2026. Austin Ekeler and Jeremy McNichols are unrestricted free agents, while Chris Rodriguez Jr. is a restricted free agent. McNichols and Rodriguez could be back next season, but the Commanders will add more to the running back room.

The popular names for the Commanders are Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love and Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III. Walker is expected to be the highest-paid running back in free agency and he'd immediately make Washington's run game more dynamic. If the Commanders largely avoid signing a big name in free agency, they could look to target Love with the No. 7 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

The good news for Washington is that it has options. Other available free agent running backs are Tyler Allgeier, Rachaad White, Travis Etienne, Kenneth Gainwell and Rico Dowdle. Speaking of Dowdle, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN mentioned his latest free-agency buzz column that some around the NFL have linked him to the Commanders.

Power back Rico Dowdle has been linked to the Commanders by some people around the league.

Dowdle, 27, entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent from South Carolina. He spent his first five seasons with the Dallas Cowboys, where he ascended to the starting position in 2024, rushing for 1,079 yards and two touchdowns.

After the Cowboys opted not to re-sign him, Dowdle signed a one-year deal with the Carolina Panthers, where he rushed for 1,076 yards and six touchdowns. He can also catch passes out of the backfield, catching 39 passes in each of the last two seasons. For his career, Dowdle has averaged 4.5 yards per rushing attempt.

Rico Dowdle tweaked his celly to avoid another fine 😂🔥
pic.twitter.com/9UpLWlKLIu— FanDuel (@FanDuel) November 9, 2025

Dowdle is projected to earn $6.5 million per Spotrac in 2026. That would allow the Commanders to land a starting back, while also saving money to spend at other positions.

Stay tuned.

This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders: Linked to RB Rico Dowdle in free agency