‘I play everything’: How Nick Cross’ versatility can help Washington Commanders defense

Nick Crossis a safety. Formally speaking, anyway.

That'swhat shows up on his football card, but itdoesn'tcompletely describe what he plays.Crossplaysall over the place.

A detailed look at his2025snap counts,confirms that, with action coming at both safety spots, playing deep and in the box. Helined up as a slot cornerback and on the outside.There was also some positioning as a linebacker in certain alignments, showing how his versatility can be an asset.Hisbox alignments werethird-highestfor a defensive back in the NFL last season.

Expect more of the same in his first year with the Commanders.

Put on the tape," Cross saidin a press conference following Tuesday's OTA session. In Indy I played everything. Here I play everything. I can doliterally anythingon the field. I take pride and joy in that, knowing I can play anywhere in the back seven and make an impact."

His biggest impact comes in run defense, andCross willplayan important rolefor Washington in that area, being active closer to the line of scrimmage.

I pride myself on the work put in during the offseason work to get stronger, to get faster and to know my keys and responsibilities." Cross said.At the end of the day, run defense isjust about opposingyour will on the man across from you. Whetherit'sa lineman, tight end or receiver, your job is to beat him andgo makea play. If you when your one-on-ones more than he wins his,it'sgoing to bea pretty goodday for you."

Crosshad lots of good days in Indianapolis last year, before signing a two-year deal with the Commanders this spring.He had 46 stops in 2025,per NFL Next Gen Stats,that results in a negative EPA play for the offense. That was fifth-most among defensive backs.

Whilehe'llcontinue to be active in those areas, the Commanders are experimenting with how to play him during the offseason program, and head coach Dan Quinn believes he could be more of an asset playing deep than some people think.

There is a really physical style of box style of play to him," Quinn said in his Tuesday press conference. He's got more speed maybe than even I thought, you know, playing in the deep part of the fields. And so, by the week, like our first week we playedalmost allmiddle field coverages where we were featuring guys high and low the last week.

It'sbeen more of the two-high spaces. So,we'realso experimenting and learning what each of the guys can do. But I think, I feel the speed, the quickness of somebodythat'sgot that kind ofsize."