Darius Rush

Career StatsD+

Year	Team	GP	INT	PD	Tkl
Career		3	—	1	3
2025		1	—	—	—
2024		2	—	—	—
2023		3

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

Darius Rush's value math nets a C Contract Value Index — placing the deal in a clear band relative to the league median at CB. At $1.075M on a one-year rookie scale contract, Rush is being paid at depth-cornerback rates, which aligns with his current market positioning as an unproven third-year player. His 2025 season production of 1 game reflects limited opportunity and minimal on-field impact, which justifies the C- performance grade and explains why media coverage treats him as a routine roster addition rather than a meaningful secondary upgrade. Rush enters 2026 at 26 years old with three seasons of NFL experience but zero interceptions and a track record that has not yet translated into reliable starter-caliber production, placing him squarely in the depth-piece tier where the CVI reflects appropriate compensation for his current tier. The D+ sentiment grade underscores the indifference surrounding his signing — headlines frame it as an "opportunity" rather than a solution, and fan engagement has been virtually nonexistent, all of which is consistent with a low-upside depth addition. At $1.075M over one year, there is minimal cap risk or long-term commitment; the Commanders are essentially auditioning Rush as a reserve option during a roster-building phase, which makes the contract duration and value entirely reasonable for a player of his profile and proven output.

Contracts in the Same Value Band

Other same-position deals the Contract Value Index also places in the C band — a quick read on where Darius's contract sits relative to comparable money.

Performance Analysis

Darius Rush's performance grade lands at D+, capturing how he stacks up at CB this season. He's operating well below the threshold for a starting-caliber cornerback, ranking as a depth-level contributor whose limitations are evident across the board. The 2025 season saw him appear in just one game, which immediately signals minimal opportunity and minimal production—the kind of restricted snap share that reflects either scheme misfit or the coaching staff's lack of confidence in his abilities. Over his three-year career, Rush has recorded zero interceptions, a damning absence for a position where ball-hawking and coverage instincts separate above-average starters from replacement-level fill-ins. As a third-year player who still qualifies as largely unproven, Rush fits the profile of a depth addition rather than a solution—the exact framing Washington's media coverage has adopted, treating his signing as routine roster management rather than a meaningful secondary upgrade. His trajectory remains flat absent a dramatic turnaround, and given the Commanders' current roster construction and the team's 5-12 record, there's limited margin for error if he's asked to contribute more meaningfully.

How Darius Compares at the Position

Darius Rush ranks 176th of 272 graded cornerbacks by performance. That slots Darius between Brandon Johnson (D+) just ahead and Jaden Davis (D+) just behind.

Fan Sentiment

Darius Rush enters the 2026 season with a **D+** sentiment grade that reflects the lukewarm reception surrounding his signing with Washington. The media coverage has been notably tepid, treating his addition as routine roster management rather than a meaningful upgrade to the Commanders' secondary. With zero career interceptions and minimal production over two NFL seasons, Rush is viewed primarily as depth rather than a legitimate contributor, which explains the neutral-to-slightly-positive but ultimately underwhelming media framing. Headlines have focused more on his "opportunity" with Washington than any actual accomplishments or expected impact, suggesting even beat writers see him as a placeholder option. Fan engagement has been virtually nonexistent, reflecting the broader sentiment that Rush represents the type of low-upside signing that generates little excitement. The absence of any meaningful buzz or optimism typically reserved for starting-caliber cornerbacks underscores how Rush is perceived as an unproven commodity whose best-case scenario is providing adequate depth coverage.