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Did the Washington Commanders fix their run defense? While Washington lost to the New England Patriots 48-18 in the preseason opener on Friday, they weren’t playing with their projected starting defensive line.
Washington was ridiculed for giving 27-year-old Javon Kinlaw a three-year deal worth $45 million at the start of free agency. A first-round pick of the San Francisco 49ers in the 2020 NFL draft, Kinlaw dealt with injuries and inconsistency during his first four seasons, and the 49ers didn’t pick up his fifth-year option.
Kinlaw signed a one-year deal with the New York Jets, where he started all 17 games for the first time in his career. There were signs of a breakthrough. So, this offseason, Commanders general manager Adam Peters, who was with San Francisco when Kinlaw was drafted, believed the South Carolina product would be an excellent fit for Washington’s defense.
It’s early, but the signs are encouraging.
Since training camp began three weeks ago, the defense has often gotten the better of Washington’s offense. Keep in mind, the Commanders were a top-five offense in 2024. In Tuesday’s intrasquad “Burgundy & Gold” scrimmage, Washington’s interior defense was dominant, with Kinlaw and Daron Payne leading the way.
Speaking of Payne, he’s entering his eighth NFL season and is looking to replicate something close to his 2022 season. With longtime teammate Jonathan Allen gone, Payne can play his more natural position in 2025, with Kinlaw often facing double teams. When Payne is on, he’s one of the NFL’s best defensive tackles. Coaches have been encouraged by his growth this offseason and Payne appears more confident than ever.
Then there is second-year defensive tackle Jer’Zhan “Johnny” Newton. A second-round pick in the 2024 NFL draft, many considered Newton a first-round talent. However, a foot injury caused him to fall out of the first round and the Commanders pounced. Newton had an up-and-down rookie season. He played in 16 games, making 11 starts and participated in 51% of the defensive snaps. This year, Newton is healthy. Remember, he had surgery on each of his feet after last year’s draft. During Friday’s game against the Patriots, Newton had a strip-sack and looked dominant in his limited snaps.
The Commanders also signed veteran Eddie Goldman, a 320-pound 10-year pro. Goldman is known for his ability to stop the run.
Washington saw Saquon Barkley run wild against them on three separate occasions last season. The mission this offseason was to negate two of Philadelphia’s significant advantages: Its offensive and defensive lines, by beefing up in the trenches on both sides of the ball.
It’s difficult to learn anything until the games begin — the real games. We will know more when the Commanders open the season against the New York Giants next month. Washington is counting on a combination of new additions and improvements from holdovers to slow down Barkley & company this season.
It’s early, but there’s reason to believe things will be different in 2025.
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