The Washington Commanders have agreed to terms with running back Jerome Ford on a one-year contract, according to multiple reports. The deal brings a veteran pass-catching back to a backfield that was largely unsettled heading into the 2026 offseason.
Ford spent his first four professional seasons in Cleveland after the Browns selected him in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL Draft out of the University of Cincinnati. He departs as one of the more quietly reliable pass-catching backs in the league over that stretch, even if his role as a runner diminished significantly in his final season with the team.
Financial terms of the agreement have not been disclosed.
What Jerome Ford brings to Washington
Ford’s most productive season came in 2023, when he started 12 games, totaled 1,132 scrimmage yards, and scored nine touchdowns. That year he drew 63 targets, caught 44 passes, and added five receiving touchdowns, establishing himself as a dual-threat contributor capable of handling a featured role.
His production as a runner fell sharply in 2025. Ford carried the ball just 24 times for 73 yards as Cleveland leaned on rookies Quinshon Judkins and Dylan Sampson in the ground game. Neither rookie was trusted consistently in pass protection, which kept Ford on the field for nearly 300 snaps despite his limited rushing work. He still finished with 26 receptions, his third consecutive season with at least that many catches.
Over four seasons with the Browns, Ford accumulated 1,463 rushing yards on 340 carries, averaging 4.3 yards per attempt, along with 107 receptions for 647 yards. He scored seven rushing touchdowns and five receiving touchdowns.
Where Ford fits on Washington’s depth chart
The Commanders entered the offseason with only one running back under contract for 2026, second-year back Jacory ‘Bill’ Croskey-Merritt. The additions of Ford and Rachaad White, who also signed a one-year deal with Washington during the current free agency period, bring the room to three.
Croskey-Merritt figures to handle the bulk of the between-the-tackles workload after a strong rookie season in which he posted 805 rushing yards and eight touchdowns on 175 carries. White, who has averaged 51.25 receptions per season across four NFL seasons, projects as the primary pass-catching back and pass-protection option after earning a strong grade from Pro Football Focus as a pass blocker in 2025.
That leaves Ford as the likely third option on the depth chart, at least to start. Head coach Dan Quinn and new offensive coordinator David Blough ran a committee backfield in 2025 following Austin Ekeler’s season-ending Achilles injury, with Croskey-Merritt and Chris Rodriguez Jr. carrying most of the load. A similar approach in 2026 would give Ford a path to playing time, particularly in situations that call for a reliable receiver out of the backfield.
Why the signing makes sense for both sides
For Ford, Washington offers a chance to stay in the league on a team that has genuine needs in the backfield and a coaching staff familiar with using multiple backs. His skill set as a receiver and his experience in pass protection give him a clear role even as the third back on the roster.
For the Commanders, Ford represents low-risk insurance. If either Croskey-Merritt or White misses time due to injury, Ford is a proven commodity who has handled starting duties before and produced at a high level when given the opportunity. At what figures to be a modest one-year salary, that kind of veteran depth offers reliable value in a position group that can be volatile across a full season.
