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An Overview of the Washington Commanders Defense
The Commanders' defense was not exactly good last year. They recorded a respectable 43 sacks but were tied for 30th against the run at 4.8 yards per carry, and only six teams produced fewer takeaways. Maybe the most telling statistic is that Washington surrendered the third most yards through the air while facing the second fewest pass attempts. In many situations, statistics like these would lead to coaching changes. That is not the case here since the team made those changes last season.
The defense was a disaster in 2023. They allowed the most passing yards in the league and were 27th versus the run. Washington gave up 75 plays of 20+ yards, while only six teams created fewer turnovers, and six teams had fewer sacks. That unit surrendered 63 more points than any other team in the league. While they still have plenty of room for improvement, under head coach Dan Quinn and defensive coordinator Joe Whitt, Washington moved all the way up to 18th in points in 2024.
The Commanders made no big impact additions on defense. Instead, they spent judiciously in free agency, picking up several solid contributors and two or three starters. The team had just five picks in this year's draft. They addressed the corner position with Trey Amos in round two, adding depth at linebacker in round six. Washington could still use some pass rushers, but all in all, they seem to be trending in the right direction.
Washington Commanders Defensive Linemen
It will be difficult for this defense to take the next step without a substantial pass rush. Looking at Washington's roster, it is tough to see where that pressure will come from. They traded away Montez Sweat and Chase Young midway through the 2023 season. Heading into last year, the Commanders added Donte Fowler Jr. and Dorance Armstrong. Fowler stepped up with a team-high 10.5 sacks while Armstrong contributed a disappointing 5. Fowler will be lining up for the division rival Cowboys this year, leaving the Commanders to hope that Armstrong can pick up the pace.
Armstrong spent his first six seasons with the Cowboys, where he developed into a solid rotational contributor and third-down specialist. His most productive season was 2022, when he totaled eight sacks. He had 20 over his final three years with Dallas. Washington thought Armstrong was ready to blossom in a starting role. So far, that has not been the case. He was on the field for 300 more plays last year than in 2023, putting up virtually identical tackle totals with two fewer sacks. He will have to make a better showing this year or the team will be looking for a replacement in 2026.
Fowler turned out to be a good one-year rental. The organization hopes it can get a similar return on the signing of former New England starter Deatrich Wise Jr. With 32 sacks over his eight years in the league and a career best of seven in 2022, Wise will never be confused with an elite pass rusher. He is a contributor in that area, while his biggest attribute comes into play versus the run. At 271 pounds, Wise is big for an edge player by today's standards. He sets a strong edge to turn runners back inside and does a good job getting off blocks to make tackles.
Wise's fantasy value has been hindered over the years by the Patriots' constantly changing scheme, which rarely allowed anyone to excel consistently. To get an idea of his potential in Washington, we can look at the 2022 and 2023 seasons. Wise had his best statistical year in 2022 when he accounted for 59 combined tackles, 7 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, and 3 batted passes. He followed that with 54 combined stops, 4 sacks, and a forced fumble in 2023. He's not built to be an IDP star, but in the new situation, he could be roster-worthy as solid depth.
There are no stars in waiting at the edge position for Washington. In Clelin Ferrell, Jalyn Holmes, and free agent addition Jacob Martin, they have veteran depth that can get them through in a pinch.
With the duo of Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne, the interior line was once a strength of Washington's defense. After eight seasons and 42 sacks with the team, Allen will be wearing Vikings purple in 2025 while Payne tries to rebound from the least productive of his seven years as a pro.
In 2022, Payne totaled 64 combined stops, 11 sacks, and 5 batted passes. All of those numbers are career-highs. Payne had at least 53 total tackles in each of his first six seasons and at least four sacks in five of seven. In other words, he had been remarkably consistent and highly productive for the position. It is challenging to pinpoint what happened last year that led to career lows in tackles and assists, as well as his first season without recording a takeaway since 2019. The down year certainly takes a toll on my confidence in Payne. That said, at this point, I am considering it an outlier. With the limited number of quality options at the interior position, I still see him as a priority DT2 with low DT1 upside.
The Commanders selected Jer'Zhan Newton in round two of last year's draft, presumably in preparation for the loss of Allen. He filled in adequately when Allen missed time with an injury. There were growing pains as expected from a rookie, but Newton also showed flashes that gave the organization confidence. He finished the season with 44 combined stops, 2 sacks, and a pair of turnovers on fewer than 600 snaps. Give him 200 or so more opportunities, and Newton could be an IDP factor in 2025.
Newton is not a lock to get all of those snaps, however. The team landed Javon Kinlaw in free agency. As a first-round pick of the 49ers in 2020. Kinlaw was supposed to be the replacement for DeForest Buckner. Injuries derailed the early part of his career, but he emerged with a solid 2024 for the Jets. There are some who project Kinlaw to start ahead of Newton. While I am not one of them, I do believe that Kinlaw will have a substantial role as the third man. He has the size and power to spell Payne at the nose tackle spot with enough quickness and athleticism to play the three-technique. Kinlaw has a modest resume. It does, however, include 40 tackles, 4 sacks, and 3 turnovers for the Jets in 2024. We will need to keep a close eye on this situation as it unfolds.
- Edge Dorance Armstrong – Worth monitoring but no grand expectations
- Edge Deatrich Wise Jr – Possible depth
- Edge Clelin Ferrell – Marginal impact
- Edge Jacob Martin – No impact expected
- Edge Andre Jones Jr. – No impact
- Edge Javontae Jean-Baptiste – No impact
- DT Jer'Zhan Newton – Watchlist sleeper with DT2 potential
- DT Daron Payne – Solid DT2 with low DT1 upside
- DT Javon Kinlaw – Sleeper with DT2 potential
- DT Eddie Goldman – No impact
Washington Commanders Linebackers
Hopefully, Washington's offense will be set after this year because the defense will need a lot of attention before 2026. Edge is not the only place they have holes. Bobby Wagner turns 35 in late June and is heading into his 14th season. That is a lot of mileage on a linebacker who has averaged well over 1000 snaps per year over his career. Wagner is an iron man who rarely misses time. He appeared to have lost a step last season, though he still got the job done. At 75-57-3 with 3 turnovers, he slipped to number 17 in the rankings. It was his lowest total and ranking since 2015, when he missed a few games. There is no one looking over his shoulder, so it is safe to expect another productive year. At this stage of his career, that likely means a solid LB2 for fantasy managers.
Frankie Luvu was a late bloomer. He signed with Carolina as an undrafted free agent in 2018 and made the team as a special-teams maven. It was not until year five that he finally got a real opportunity. Luvu took full advantage, going 76-35-7 with a pair of turnovers, 4 passes defended, and a score. That remains his best fantasy season as Luvu's tackle totals have steadily slipped in the two years since. Last year was his first with the Commanders. Luvu's tackle production was marginal at 54-45. He made up for it with career bests of 8 sacks, 4 turnovers, and 7 pass breakups to finish as the 23rd-ranked linebacker. The modest tackle totals created some inconsistency from week to week. Enough to keep him out of the LB2 conversation. We could see some rebound in that area, but it is best to target him as a low-end LB3 with upside.
The Commanders were fortunate to make it through last season without injuries to either Wagner or Luvu, because they had very little behind them. The organization has taken no significant steps to address that concern. They used a fifth-round pick in last year's draft on Jordan Magee and a sixth-rounder this year on Kain Medrano. Throw in Nick Bellore and converted safety Dominique Hampton, and the next four players behind the starters have a total of 23 snaps at the pro level.
- MLB Bobby Wagner – Solid LB two with virtually no upside
- WLB Frankie Luvu – Target as a low-end LB3 due to weekly inconsistency
- SLB Dominique Hampton – Injury sleeper
- MLB Jordan Magee – Injury sleeper
- MLB Kain Medrano – Developmental rookie with good cover skills
Washington Commanders Defensive Backs
Washington's secondary was atrocious for most of last year. They traded for Marshon Lattimore ahead of the deadline, but he was not on the field until week 15 due to an injury. The lone standout of the group was rookie Mike Sainristil. There were moments when he reminded everyone that he was a rookie, but he generally played well. With a healthy Lattimore, a more experienced Sainristil, and the addition of talented rookie Trey Amos, Washington's corner play should be greatly improved.
From the fantasy perspective, Sainristil was even more impressive. His 62 solo stops were tied for fourth among corners, and his 31 assists were fifth. Throw in four turnovers and 14 passes defended, and Sainristil ranked fourth at the position. The rookie corner rule is a thing. Due to the nature of the position, it doesn't usually apply to nickel corners. Unless his role is altered, which seems unlikely, we should see similar production with the potential for more splash plays from him in 2025.
Marshon Lattimore has never made much of a splash in the IDP waters. Those who played opposite him in New Orleans, on the other hand, were often ranked highly. That trend could continue in Washington with Amos seeing an exaggerated number of opportunities. Not only will he be perceived as a weakness due to inexperience, but teams will also look to avoid challenging Lattimore.
Mediocre linebacker play created numerous opportunities for strong safety Jeremy Chinn. He parlayed that into a productive season that culminated with a top-12 rank at the position. Chinn was on a one-year, prove-it contract. He proved it and signed with the Raiders. Washington filled the void with Will Harris, who came over from the Saints. Harris is a step down in talent and big-play production, but he is a physical run defender who can also cover. Washington's linebackers are not going to be any better this year, so Harris should spend plenty of time as a box safety with run support priorities. He's never amounted to much in IDP circles before, but in this situation, I like his chances of being a decent second starter for us.
Quan Martin was a second-round pick of the Commanders in 2023. He saw playing time down the stretch as a rookie and even started some games at the end of the year. An impressive training camp earned him the starting job in his second year. He is blazing fast, has the cover skills to hang with receivers down the field, and is emerging as a playmaker. In the centerfield role, Martin is unlikely to make enough tackles to be an IDP factor. He could, however, make up a lot of points in the big play columns. He is not roster-worthy in most formats at this stage, but he deserves a spot on the watchlist.
- SS Will Harris – Late round target with DB3 expectations
- FS Quan Martin – Marginal fantasy impact expected
- FS Percy Butler – Injury sleeper with limited potential
- SS Jeremy Reaves – No impact expected
- CB Marshon Lattimore – Marginal IDP value
- CB Mike Sainristil – Slot corner with top-10 expectations
- CB Noah Igbinoghene – No impact
- CB Trey Amos – Rookie corner rule could be in play
- CB Jonathan Jones – Veteran option if the rookie struggles
That wraps up the NFC East. We move to the AFC next with Buffalo.
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