River Cracraft is an American professional football wide receiver for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). Born Tanner Cracraft, he had his name changed to River when he was six months old. He played college football for the Washington State Cougars from 2013 to 2016 and signed with the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent in 2017. Cracraft has since been a member of the Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers, Miami Dolphins, Seattle Seahawks, and currently the Washington Commanders. Throughout his NFL career, he has established himself as a reliable depth receiver known for his sure hands and contributions on special teams.
River Cracraft Bio
River Cracraft has built a durable NFL career spanning multiple teams since entering the league as an undrafted free agent in 2017. Standing at 6 feet 0 inches and weighing 198 pounds, he has appeared in games across seven NFL seasons with five different franchises. His journey from an undrafted prospect to a seasoned professional demonstrates his persistence and ability to earn roster spots through consistent performance. Cracraft has recorded 32 career receptions for 374 yards and 3 touchdowns across his NFL tenure.
Early Life and Background
River Cracraft was born on November 1, 1994, in Rancho Santa Margarita, California, and grew up in nearby Trabuco Canyon. Both of his parents are named Tracy, with his father having played baseball at Taft College. Cracraft attended Santa Margarita Catholic High School in Rancho Santa Margarita, where he lettered in football, baseball, and track. In football, he was a four-year letter winner, playing both wide receiver and defensive back.
During his sophomore season at Santa Margarita Catholic, Cracraft earned All-State and All-Trinity League honors after recording 35 receptions for 469 yards on offense while making 41 tackles with three interceptions on defense. As a junior, he improved to 46 receptions for 654 yards and six touchdowns while earning All-State, All-CIF, and All-Trinity League recognition. His senior year saw him catch 56 passes for 935 yards and 10 touchdowns, along with one interception and five pass breakups on defense, earning him first-team All-County honors from the Orange County Register and Trinity League Offensive Player of the Year distinction.
Cracraft finished his high school career with 134 receptions, ranking second in school history behind former NFL receiver Brian Finneran, and accumulated 2,043 receiving yards, placing him third in school history. Rated a three-star prospect by major recruiting services and ranked as the number 91 overall prospect in California by ESPN.com, he committed to play college football at Washington State University over offers from Nevada and UNLV.
Path to American Football
Cracraft’s path to professional football began with his standout high school career at Santa Margarita Catholic, where he developed into a highly decorated prep athlete. His combination of size, speed, and production at the high school level attracted attention from multiple college programs. His commitment to Washington State represented his aspiration to play at the highest level of college football in the Pac-12 Conference.
Prior to entering the NFL draft process, Cracraft worked to refine his skills at Washington State, preparing himself for the next stage of his football journey. Despite his college success and impressive statistical record, he faced uncertainty heading into the 2017 NFL draft due to injury concerns that affected his draft stock and pre-draft evaluation opportunities.
River Cracraft Career
Denver Broncos (2017–2019)
Due to a knee injury sustained during his senior season at Washington State, Cracraft was unable to participate in the pre-draft process and went unselected in the 2017 NFL draft. He was not initially signed as an undrafted free agent and worked out for the New England Patriots in September 2017 following a season-ending injury to wide receiver Julian Edelman, but was not offered a contract. On October 17, 2017, Cracraft was signed to the Denver Broncos practice squad and was released three days later after sustaining an injury in practice. He was re-signed to the Broncos practice squad on December 18 and signed a futures contract at the end of the season.
In 2018, Cracraft was signed to the Broncos practice squad after being cut from the active roster at the end of the preseason. He was promoted to the active roster on November 2 and made his NFL debut two days later in a 19-17 loss to the Houston Texans, where he returned a punt for five yards. He caught his first career pass, a 44-yard reception, on December 30 during the Broncos’ final game of the season against the Los Angeles Chargers. He finished the 2018 season with one reception for 44 yards and appeared in eight games.
On September 1, 2019, Cracraft was waived by the Broncos after making the initial roster out of training camp. He was re-signed on September 11 but waived again on September 24.
Philadelphia Eagles (2019)
On December 24, 2019, Cracraft was signed to the Philadelphia Eagles practice squad. He signed a reserve/future contract with the Eagles on January 6, 2020, but was waived on April 30. Cracraft had a tryout with the Arizona Cardinals on August 14, 2020, but did not sign with the team.
San Francisco 49ers (2020–2021)
Cracraft was signed by the San Francisco 49ers on August 27, 2020. He was waived on September 5 and signed to the practice squad the following day. He was elevated to the active roster on October 31 and November 5 for the team’s Weeks 8 and 9 games against the Seattle Seahawks and Green Bay Packers, being reverted to the practice squad after each game. He was promoted to the active roster on November 9 and finished the 2020 season with six receptions for 41 yards, five punt returns for 40 yards, and three tackles on special teams.
On February 22, 2021, Cracraft signed a one-year contract extension with the 49ers. His tenure with San Francisco was marked by multiple roster transactions, including being waived and re-signed to the practice squad several times. He was promoted to the active roster on December 11 and was waived by San Francisco on January 29, 2022.
Miami Dolphins (2022–2024)
Cracraft was signed by the Miami Dolphins on February 17, 2022. He was waived at the end of the 2022 preseason and re-signed to the practice squad. Cracraft was elevated to the active roster for the team’s season opener against the New England Patriots and elevated again the following week. In Week 2 of the 2022 season, Cracraft caught his first career touchdown, a two-yard pass from Tua Tagovailoa, during the fourth quarter against the Baltimore Ravens. The touchdown helped spark the Dolphins’ 21-point comeback in their 42-38 victory over the Ravens.
In Week 3 against the Buffalo Bills, Cracraft caught an 11-yard touchdown pass for his second score of the season, helping the Dolphins start 3-0 for the first time since the 2018 season. He was signed to the active roster on September 29, 2022. He re-signed with the Dolphins on March 17, 2023, but was placed on injured reserve on September 29 and activated on November 14. He was re-signed on March 21, 2024, placed on injured reserve on August 27, and activated on November 11.
Seattle Seahawks (2025)
On March 21, 2025, Cracraft was signed by the Seattle Seahawks. He was waived by the Seahawks on May 12, 2025.
Washington Commanders (2025–Present)
On August 14, 2025, Cracraft signed with the Washington Commanders. He was released due to roster cuts on August 26. The Commanders re-signed Cracraft to their practice squad on November 11. He was waived on December 9, 2025, but was re-signed to the practice squad on December 16. He was elevated to the active roster for the final two games of the 2025 season and reverted to the practice squad on January 5, 2026.
River Cracraft Career Highlights
Throughout his NFL career, River Cracraft has contributed as a depth receiver and special teams performer across multiple organizations. His most productive statistical stretch came during his tenure with the Miami Dolphins from 2022 to 2024, where he caught his first two career touchdowns and became a reliable option in the passing game. Cracraft’s career NFL statistics include 32 receptions for 374 yards and 3 touchdowns as of the 2025 season.
College Career Highlights
At Washington State University from 2013 to 2016, Cracraft established himself as one of the most productive receivers in school history. He appeared in all 13 games as a true freshman, starting 10, and recorded 46 receptions for 614 yards and three touchdowns, earning honorable mention All-Pac-12 Conference and honorable mention All-Freshman Team honors from College Football News. As a sophomore, he caught 66 passes for 771 yards and eight touchdowns despite missing three games due to a stress fracture in his foot.
During a memorable 2014 game against California, Cracraft recorded a career-high 172 yards and three touchdowns on 11 receptions in a 60-59 loss. In that game, Washington State quarterback Connor Halliday passed for an NCAA record 734 yards. The following game against Stanford, Cracraft set a school record with 14 receptions in a game along with 100 yards and a touchdown. He finished his college career with 218 receptions ranking second in school history behind teammate Gabe Marks, 2,701 receiving yards ranking sixth all-time, and 20 touchdowns ranking sixth in program history. He played 42 games during his four seasons at Washington State.
River Cracraft Family
Family Background
River Cracraft comes from a family with athletic background. His older brother, Skyler, walked on to the Washington State football team as a safety after River committed to the program, despite not having played organized football since high school two years prior. Both of his parents are named Tracy, with his father having played baseball at Taft College.
Personal Life
Cracraft married his college sweetheart Taylor in Newport Beach, California, on July 1, 2022. The couple welcomed their first child, a daughter, in June 2024. Cracraft maintains an active presence on social media, connecting with fans through his Instagram account.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 NFL season marked a transitional year for River Cracraft as he joined the Washington Commanders organization. After signing with the team in August, he was initially released during roster cuts but was re-signed to the practice squad in November. Cracraft was elevated to the active roster for the final two games of the season, demonstrating the coaching staff’s confidence in his abilities. His experience and versatility continued to provide value as depth at the wide receiver position. The practice squad stints and elevations reflect the journeyman nature of his NFL career, where veteran players often move between the active roster and practice squad throughout the season.