Eric Bieniemy 'Very High' on Commanders Rookie RB Chris Rodriguez Jr.

The Washington Commanders feel they got an NFL Draft steal in Kentucky running back Chris Rodriguez Jr.

For the third time in the last four years, the Washington Commanders selected a running back in the NFL Draft. And if everything goes according to plan, all three should play large roles in the offense in 2023.

The team drafted Antonio Gibson in 2020, and he gained over 1,000 yards from scrimmage in each of his first two seasons. Despite that, Washington selected Brian Robinson Jr. in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Robinson flashed some promise as he split carries with Gibson last season. But Washington felt that wasn't enough, taking Kentucky running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. in the sixth round this year.

The difference between the three draft choices is the impact Eric Bieniemy had on taking Rodriguez. As a new member of the coaching staff and a former NFL running back himself, Bieniemy has a knack for finding running backs. A year ago, he helped the Kansas City Chiefs pick Isiah Pacheco in the seventh round, and he gained 960 yards from scrimmage last season. Now, Bieniemy and the Commanders hope Rodriguez can have a similar type of impact.

"Running back, got another big physical guy, with some of the things that Eric [Bieniemy] wants to do," head coach Ron Rivera said. "This is a guy that Eric was very high on. He's a guy that Eric thinks will most certainly have a role for us on the offensive side.

But no matter who ends up carrying the ball for the Commanders, Washington feels good about each of its top three running backs.

“Feel very good about what we have with AG [Antonio Gibson] and we continue see the growth and development with B-Rob [Brian Robinson]. I mean, those are two young guys that we like a lot," Rivera said. "Adding a physical player in Christopher is a guy that, talking to Eric and what Eric wants to do and how he wants to use him, in Eric's mind, this is a guy that will fit what he wants. And so we're pretty excited about being able to pick him. We had a higher grade on him too as well. So we thought we got a lot of value here.”

Rodriguez was the Kentucky running back for five college seasons, totaling 3,643 yards and 33 touchdowns, averaging 6.2 yards per clip. His best season came in 2021, where he played 13 games and ran for 1,378 yards. In 2022, he was limited to just eight appearances, but gained over 900 yards on the ground. If Washington can squeeze out some of that production, Bieniemy will be proven right about being very high on Rodriguez.

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