The Washington Commanders have signed rookies Jayline Lane, Kain Medrano and Jacory Croskey-Merritt.
Lane, Medrano and Croskey-Merritt were all drafted by the Commanders on Day 3 of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Lane (5-foot-10, 196 pounds) was a five-year player at the college level and spent time at MTSU and Virginia Tech. Over the course of his career, Lane amassed 2,532 yards and 18 touchdowns. A three-star recruit out of South Carolina, Lane committed to MTSU after breaking every receiving record at Clover High School. He ended his three-year stint with the Blue Raiders by being a Second Team All-C-USA selection for leading the team with 69 receptions for 940 yards and five touchdowns.
"We had a vision for him and he was the highest player on our board when we got to that point, and it really was kind of a stressful wait from noon until whenever we finally picked because [it was] just a...mixture of stress and hope that he was going to be there for us," said Commanders assistant general manager Lance Newmark. "And when he was there, it was really a great moment for us, and he just does a lot of great things."
Medrano (6-foot-3, 222 pounds) was a Third Team All-Big Ten selection who led his team with three forced fumbles. He also filled up the stat sheet for the Bruins in 2024 with 72 tackles, 1.5 sacks and two interceptions with one returned for a touchdown. Medrano, a three-star recruit out of Pueblo East High School, was the No. 10 recruit in Colorado as a receiver. He made the switch to linebacker but didn't get significant action until the 2020 season. Medrano ended his career with 25 starts and was named a team captain in 2024.
"Really a cool athlete," Newmark said. "Tall, long, fast. Fastest linebacker at the combine. Ran sub-4.5, another guy that has a really unique body type and just a unique athlete in terms of testing numbers. To me, you can kind of feel his offensive history in his play. I think he has a really good feel as a coverage player. Just has a unique sense as a pass defender."
Croskey-Merritt (5-foot-10, 206 pounds) spent four years at Alabama State before transferring to New Mexico and Arizona. Croskey-Merritt made a solid impression at the East-West Shrine Bowl after appearing in just one game in 2024 because of eligibility issues. In 2023, Croskey-Merritt rushed for 1,190 yards and 17 touchdowns on 189 carries.
"What a cool personality, what great energy he brings to any event or any situation," Newmark said. "He's in kind of a unique road to this point for him where he started at Alabama State, had a couple of nice years there, stepped up in competition to New Mexico. At New Mexico he had a great season there and then took another step forward to Arizona."
