Editor’s note: Everyone’s excited about the Commanders’ NFL Draft haul. Rightfully so. That doesn’t mean each selection will slot into a prominent role as a rookie. We’ll discuss realistic expectations for each player over the next few days, leading into Commanders rookie minicamp. In this installment, we evaluate a super-productive rusher from Penn State:
RB Kaytron Allen, Penn State
Selection: Sixth round, No. 187 overall
Height/Weight: 5-foot-11, 216 pounds
What assistant GM Lance Newmark said: “He has true move-the-line-of-scrimmage pile push. (He’s) a power player, with a lot of defenders falling backwards as they’re bringing him down. There’s just a lot of power and dirty yards gained that maybe you don’t always appreciate, but they mean a lot. He’s a really good short-yardage player and really a cool kid who has been very productive for a very long time. He’s someone we respect and we appreciate his game, which is a little bit unique to our backfield.“
[RELATED: Why Commanders took Kaytron Allen in NFL Draft]
What Kaytron Allen said: “I feel like I can do everything as a running back. I feel like people don’t respect it enough, but I feel like I can do it all, strength, toughness, physicality, everything. I put everything into a running back that you need in the running back. I feel like I do that well, and it is going to be on full display and I’m ready to go right now, man. I’m ready to play right now. Put the rock in my hands, I’m ready to go.”
Prominent members of the position group*: Bill Croskey-Merritt, Rachaad White, Jerome Ford
*Note: Taken from Mark Tyler’s way-too-early 53-man depth chart
Perfect-world expectations: The Commanders took Croskey-Merritt with the No. 245 overall pick last year and still generated 805 yards and eight touchdowns on 4.6 yards per carry. All that from a seventh-round pick. That’s proof positive that lower-round running backs can produce as rookies.
If he earns a significant carry count, Allen could be a steady and efficient producer. Allen averaged 5.4 yards per carry during his career at Penn State, with a 6.2 ypc mark during a 2025 campaign where he generated 1,303 yards and 15 touchdowns. He’s a physical runner with some speed, so it’s possible that Allen could match what Croskey-Merritt did a year ago.
[RELATED: Commanders select Kaytron Allen in sixth-round of NFL Draft]
Real-world expectations: Croskey-Merritt and White will take a significant carry chunk, especially early this upcoming season. Those two were expected to be the primary runners, though Allen could well work into the mix. As Newmark mentioned (above), Allen provides something unique to the Commanders backfield. That suggests Allen will get some early work, and could be most active early in short-yardage situations. That could lead to a high touchdown count. If he makes the most of those opportunities, he could earn more work on early downs. While most Day 3 picks should come with tempered expectations, running backs buck that trend and could put a solid stamp on this campaign.
What are your expectations for Kaytron Allen in his rookie year? Add them and a stat line – what the heck? — in the comments below.
