NFL analyst predicts Kenneth Walker III to Commanders in free agency

The Washington Commanders have only one running back under contract for 2026. Rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt returns after a promising rookie season, where he rushed for 805 yards, eight touchdowns and averaged 4.6 yards per attempt.

Chris Rodriguez Jr. is a restricted free agent and should be back. Veterans Jeremy McNichols and Austin Ekeler are also free agents, with McNichols having the best chance to return.

Washington needs another back. Apparently, the Commanders are seeking a specific type of back. Matthew Berry of NBC Sports revealed what he'd heard about Washington's search for a running back at last week's 2026 NFL combine.

I’m told the Washington Commanders “want a thumper” and by that I mean a true early-down star running back. They felt like once Austin Ekeler went down last year, the run game struggled. They think Chris Rodriguez is a nice back but don’t like him in the passing game, and they clearly found something in Jacory Croskey-Merritt aka BILL but think of him more as a “2 or a 3” than a true lead back. My guess is the running back who leads Washington in touches next year isn’t currently on their roster.

The good news for Washington is that there will be options. The Seattle Seahawks decided not to place the franchise tag on Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III on Tuesday, meaning he'll be a free agent next week, barring an extension. The New York Jets did apply the franchise tag on their running back, Breece Hall.

In the latest episode of the Football 301 podcast, analysts Nate Tice and Matt Harmon made some free-agency running back predictions. Harmon sees Walker going to the Commanders.

"I think they really, really want an explosive back," Harmon said. "They want to get more under center, so send Kenneth Walker there."

Last week on Football 301, @Nate_Tice and I talked about why we liked the idea of Travis Etienne signing with the Chiefs.

Tried out some more fits for other free agent RBs on today's show:

Rico Dowdle -> Denver
Kenneth Walker -> Washington
Tyler Allgeier -> Seattle pic.twitter.com/jnm8vIDUyw

— Matt Harmon (@MattHarmon_BYB) March 4, 2026

That's two respected analysts in two days connecting the Commanders to a top running back. Harmon even acknowledged he thinks Washington would take Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love if he fell to them at No. 7 overall in the 2026 NFL Draft. However, in this instance, the Commanders believe there's a chance that Love doesn't make it out of the top five, so they spend on a premier back.

This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders: Analysts predicts them to sign Kenneth Walker