Commanders links
Articles
Bullock’s Film Room (subscription)
NFL Draft Profile: RB Jeremiyah Love
I’ll get into the whole positional value debate regarding the running back position later in this post, but one of the top players in this draft is Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love. He’s frequently being mocked to the Commanders in many mock drafts across the internet and NFL insider Adam Schefter recently said that he doesn’t think Love will go to the Titans at four or the Giants at five, but that the Commanders at seven feels like the right fit. So before
we get into the debate of drafting a running back in the top 10, let’s first break down what Love can bring on the field.
The most obvious trait that jumps out when watching Love is his explosiveness. Love rushed for 1372 yards and 18 touchdowns in his 12 games last season, at an average of 6.9 yards per carry. Of those 12 games, there were only four in which he didn’t have an explosive run of 20+ yards on a single carry and in six of those 12 games, he had at least one run of 45 yards or more. At the combine, he ran a 4.36 40-yard dash with a 1.55 10-yard split, which are elite numbers especially at 6-foot, 212 pounds. That speed isn’t just straight line speed, it translates to the field.
He’s very good at not getting ahead of himself and allowing blocks to develop before then bursting and making the most of his speed. Another strong trait that he has is vision. Love can spot some gaps that other backs wouldn’t necessarily see and has the quickness to hit them too.
But he’s still got more to offer. While Love shows patience to allow blocks to set up, he also understands how to set up blocks himself.
Commanders Wire
Commanders land Jeremiyah Love in latest NFL mock draft
NFL.com analyst Mike Band released his first mock draft of 2026, and he predicts the Commanders will select Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love.
Adam Peters’ aggressive defensive spending spree in free agency gives Washington the freedom to resist drafting strictly for need here. Even with the WR2 position opposite Terry McLaurin still looming as a logical target, Love fits exactly what Peters said he wants more of this offseason: “young, really fast, exciting, explosive talent.” This multi-talented back adds another dimension for Jayden Daniels and the offense.
Band isn’t the first analyst to predict the Commanders will select Love if he’s available, and it definitely won’t be easy to pass on such a dynamic player, but it’s hard to see them passing on Carnell Tate, Caleb Downs, or Rueben Bain, all of whom were still available in Band’s mock. Any one of those players fills a void on the roster.
Heavy.com
Day 2 draft prospect Jonah Coleman could be a Chris Rodriguez Jr. replacement
The Washington Commanders rebuilt a running back by committee approach in free agency, but there’s no obvious replacement for power back Chris Rodriguez Jr., a problem general manager Adam Peters can solve by targeting a “bowling ball” style runner on Day 2 of the 2026 NFL draft. Even if it means passing on star prospect Jeremiyah Love.
Playing the waiting game makes sense because the Commanders are one of the two “most fantasy-friendly day-two landing spots for a running back,” according to Fantasy Life’s Ian Hartitz: “If they miss out on Love, a capable between-the-tackles grinder probably the priority after losing Chris Rodriguez and only adding Rachaad White/Jerome Ford on one-year nothing-burger deals [is] Jonah Coleman”
Following this strategy wouldn’t answer the need for a star RB1 the way drafting Love would, but it would leave the Commanders free to use the seventh-overall pick to choose between true difference-makers for a rebuilding defense.
Coleman “is built like a bowling ball and runs with about as much subtlety. He isn’t a big-play threat, but is also hard to bring down quickly or cleanly, constantly finding yards after contact and turning stopped runs into successful ones,” according to Chris Pflum of SB Nation’s Big Blue View.
As Nathan Jahnke of Pro Football Focus detailed, Coleman’s “4.3 yards after contact per carry are tied with Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price for the best in the class. Coleman’s is arguably more impressive, finishing with 1.3 yards before contact per carry, which were the lowest in the class. His 148 avoided tackles on carries are the most among running backs in the class.”
Podcasts & videos
NFC East links
Big Blue View
Unlike some past drafts, the Giants may have many equally good options this year at No. 5
This year has more of the feel of 2019 or to a lesser extent 2021. In 2019 Kyler Murray, like Fernando Mendoza this year, was the clear No. 1, and people were trying to talk themselves into believing that another quarterback could be drafted in the top 10. Only Dave Gettleman won that argument inside his brain, taking Daniel Jones No. 6, much higher than anyone else had valued him.
2021 had a clear consensus No. 1 in Trevor Lawrence, just like Mendoza this year. Lawrence should have been the only top 5 QB, but teams convinced themselves that the relatively inexperienced Zach Wilson and highly inexperienced Trey Lance were worthy of picks No. 2 and 3, the latter after a trade-up. The fairly inexperienced Ty Simpson is this year’s analog for that. I doubt that any team will want to trade up into the top five to draft Simpson. In fact his draft stock on the consensus big board has been sinking since December, when he briefly looked as if he might go in the top 10
Even if a trade-up for Simpson doesn’t happen, the draft could fall nicely for the Giants if the consensus is an accurate guide this year:
[T]he Tennessee Titans [are] at No. 4. The consensus big board has them taking Jeremiyah Love. Here’s what three ESPN draft experts (Jordan Reid, Field Yates, Matt Miller) had to say:
Given John Harbaugh’s inclination toward a strong running game, Love absolutely could be the pick at No. 5 if the Titans don’t take him. If Love does wind up a Titan, that leaves four other players who could conceivably be high on the Giants’ priority list. Their draft “momentum” this year has been going in different directions:
This year, it’s possible that when the Giants are on the clock, they’ll have all or most of the prospects they seriously considered taking at No. 5 still on the board when they select. Unlike those previous years, there is no single obvious choice at No. 5 but instead a menu of choices, any of which could improve the team. Even if another team trades up ahead of them, as in 2016, there should be a very good player at a position of need still on the board…that is, if they don’t trade down for a third-round pick.
NFL league links
Articles
ESPN
49ers’ John Lynch: Positive momentum on Trent Williams front
“We’ve had good communication throughout,” Lynch said. “I would say in the last week it’s kind of intensified and feel like we’re on the precipice of something good happening, but we’ll see. Don’t want to make any statements that, like, ‘Hey, we’re right there,’ because these things have felt like that before, but I do feel like we’re in good communication and hopeful.”
Perhaps not coincidentally, the talks heated up after the Niners declined to exercise the $10 million option bonus Williams was due March 20. That decision boosted Williams’ 2026 salary cap number to around $47 million, but sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter at the time that the team was “not overly concerned about it” and still planned to rework his deal before April’s NFL draft.
As it stands, Williams is slated to enter next season with no guaranteed money or years left on his deal beyond 2026. Although there had been speculation that the 49ers might move on from Williams, they have not actively looked to do so, with Lynch repeatedly expressing optimism that the sides can find a solution.
NFL.com
Raiders HC Klint Kubiak: Getting Maxx Crosby back feels like picking up ‘another free-agent signing’
“I think I’ve seen Maxx almost every day,” Kubiak said. “He’s in the building every day, he beats a lot of the coaches in there. A really impressive guy. Being a great player is really important to him. You can just tell by the way he shows up. I think John (Spytek) said this, but it’s kind of like he never left. I felt like we picked up another free-agent signing once we got him back from Baltimore. Really excited about him leading our defense.”
The first-year head coach also has no concerns over Crosby’s recovery timeline from offseason surgery to repair his meniscus, a procedure that perhaps contributed to Baltimore balking at finalizing the trade due to medical reasons.
“I know there’s gonna be a point in training camp where we’re going to get him back,” Kubiak said. “I’m not gonna get too much further into that. I think training camp, he’ll be back ready to roll. With the way that he works, it wouldn’t surprise me if he’s ready earlier.”
Pro Football Talk
Browns decide not to sign A.J. Epenesa, based on his physical
Earlier this month, the Browns agreed to terms with defensive end A.J. Epenesa on a one-year deal worth up to $5 million. The contract will not be signed.
Via Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN, the Browns decided not to proceed. Specifically, they weren’t “comfortable finalizing the deal after his physical.”
It’s a somewhat tame way of saying Epenesa failed the physical, and it’s no different than the decision the Ravens made regarding defensive end Maxx Crosby. Other teams have, on plenty of occasions, made the same decision.
The development comes 11 days after word of the deal first emerged. During that time, Epenesa could have agreed to terms with another team, one that may have been comfortable with whatever caused the Browns not to proceed.
Now, the 2020 second-round pick of the Bills will revert to the open market.
In six NFL seasons, all in Buffalo, Epenesa has appeared in 91 regular-season games, with 19 starts. He has 24 career sacks.
Owner’s meeting
The Athletic (paywall)
What to expect from the NFL’s 2026 league meeting in Phoenix next week
Rule changes
Among the proposals is a modification that will allow the kicking team to declare an onside kick at any time during the game rather than only when trailing or in the fourth quarter. Another proposed rule change would eliminate the kicking team’s incentive to intentionally boot the ball out of bounds when kicking off from the 40-yard line, and a third kickoff rules proposal calls for modifying the alignment requirements for receiving players in the setup zone. Also on the table is a proposal to allow league personnel to consult with on-field officials when considering ejections for flagrant fouls or non-football acts, even if the infraction was missed on the field. This would be the only situation in which the NFL’s control center could place a flag on the field. A fifth proposal would allow the NFL officiating department to correct clear and obvious missed calls by referees, although that rule would only be implemented if there is a referee work stoppage and the league has to use replacement officials.
Referee negotiations
Despite lengthy discussions, the NFL and the union have remained far apart in their efforts to hammer out a new contract. No one wants replacement referees, but neither side is willing to compromise. The NFL — which pays referees on average $350,000 per season, including base pay, bonuses, and other benefits — wants to redirect some of the annual bonus money toward high-performing officials and increase the probationary period for new officials. The league also wants a deeper talent pool (a practice squad of sorts) to tap if poorly performing officials need to be replaced.
Technological advances
The NFL continues to lean into its quest to use technology, including artificial intelligence, to improve the game. Those efforts include how it is officiated and presented, as well as how teams can use technology to help track and prevent injuries and to improve equipment and playing surfaces.
International reach
The current CBA allows 10 international games per season, and the owners would like to expand the slate to 16 in the near future.
Coaches breakfasts
On Monday, the NFC coaches’ breakfast will take place, and coaches will hold roundtable discussions with local and national reporters about the new pieces added to their teams, remaining roster holes and ongoing draft evaluations and needs. Tuesday morning, the AFC coaches will do the same.
Discussion topics
ESPN
Sources: NFL, far apart with NFLRA, to begin hiring replacement refs
NFL owners are “alarmed” by the state of negotiations with the NFL Referees Association and have authorized staff members to begin hiring and onboarding replacement officials in the coming weeks, league sources said Sunday at the start of the league meetings.
The NFL began compiling a list of college-level officials to recruit earlier this month, and owners are expected this week to approve a sweeping set of replay enhancements to support replacement officials in preseason and regular-season games. A league source said that training of the new replacement officials will begin May 1.
According to a source, once that happens, “The opportunity to reach an agreement with our current union becomes a bigger challenge, just from simple economics.”
That effectively leaves about a month for the sides to bridge what league sources said are wide gaps in their proposals, from economics to the seasonal structure of the job.
The league sent a memo to each club last week prohibiting public comment on the situation. But as owners, league officials and team staffers gathered this weekend at the Arizona Biltmore resort, sources painted a dire portrait of the likelihood of an agreement before replacement officials are hired.
One of the league sources said the league office is expecting and preparing for a lockout.
“We are so close to expiration and so far apart on economics, that unless an act of God gets involved…” the source said.
During the last lockout in 2012, a league source said the league’s mistake was waiting until July to prepare for replacement officials.
“To expect people to jump from college to the pros and change in speed in that short of time is destined to be a challenge to succeed,” the league source said. “We’re not going to do that.
“There will be no panic, and we have begun preparations for the expiration. We have to do it. Otherwise, it would be just gross negligence.”
“We really want to follow the model, which is the NFL’s kind of DNA, of you pay for performance,” a league source said. “You have to perform every day. Players do it, coaches do it, lawyers do it, owners do it, and we continue trying to test ourselves and improve.”
Pro Football Talk
NFL Referees Association accuses NFL of spreading “false and misleading” information
“As far as performance pay, we had ‘high-performing officials’ who worked this year’s Championship games and the Super Bowl who were paid less for those games than what they were paid for a regular-season game. That certainly isn’t rewarding performance, as the NFL claims is their goal.”
The [NFL’s] real goal, in our view, is to win. To get the best possible terms. To get the NFLRA to cave. It worked against the NFLPA in 2011. It failed, ultimately, against the NFLRA in 2012 — thanks in large part to the Fail Mary.
Meanwhile, the NFL continues to lay the foundation for another round of replacement officials, augmented by an expanded replay system that has been far from perfected in its more limited form. On Sunday night, the league pushed to ESPN (of which the NFL owns 10 percent) the notion that, if/when replacement officials are hired on May 1 in anticipation of a potential lockout, “The opportunity to reach an agreement with our current union becomes a bigger challenge, just from simple economics.”
If…that’s a real deadline, the NFL needs to get the NFLRA to agree to that and to act accordingly. The NFL is a deadline-driven business. If the two sides agree that the deadline isn’t Week 1 but May 1, a deal could be done by May 1.
If, alternatively, the league is currently huffing and puffing with every intention of blowing the officials’ house down by locking them out until they cry uncle, the NFL plans to play Russian roulette with the integrity of the game.
