Since Washington selected defensive tackle Daron Payne in the first round of the 2018 NFL draft, the defensive line has been a strength. Washington chose Payne one year after it selected his former college teammate, Jonathan Allen, in the first round of the 2017 NFL draft.
In 2019, Washington selected defensive end Montez Sweat and followed that up by choosing Chase Young in the 2020 NFL draft. During the 2020 season, it looked like Washington had the makings of what could’ve been a dominant foursome for a long time.
It didn’t happen. Young never became the player most thought he’d become for different reasons, and he was traded last October. The Commanders also traded Sweat at the trade deadline, too, although because they received an offer they couldn’t refuse. The team didn’t want to trade Sweat.
Washington’s defense, which was expected to be a team strength, was dead last in multiple categories last season. Even Payne and Allen had down seasons.
So, with Payne and Allen back but Sweat and Young gone, is the defensive line still a team strength?
Pro Football Focus recently ranked every NFL team’s defensive line from 1 to 32. Washington was ranked 19th, last of the four NFC East teams.
Last season resulted in unexpected down years from the interior duo of Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne. Allen led the team in quarterback pressures, with 49, but it was his worst PFF pass-rushing grade since 2019 and the worst overall grade of his career.
Rookie Johnny Newton will hope to force his way into the rotation inside and make some noise, but the big issue for this team is on the edge, where new free agent Dorance Armstrong may be the most proven commodity.
It’s hard to disagree that the issue here is on the edge. Washington signed multiple veterans, including Armstrong, Dante Fowler and Clelin Ferrell, but none of the group is in Sweat’s class. Armstrong does appear to have the highest ceiling of the group.
In case you were wondering where the rest of the NFC East ranked:
- 3. Philadelphia Eagles
- 6. Dallas Cowboys
- 18. New York Giants
The Giants’ ranking was a bit of a surprise with the addition of edge rusher Brian Burns and the presence of Dexter Lawrence.