Following the Washington Commanders’ historic 2024 campaign, Adam Peters and company chose to add to their high-powered offense led by Offensive Rookie of the Year Jayden Daniels. But this decision left a concerning hole on the other side of the ball.
A common question among Washington fans this offseason has been: “Who’s rushing the quarterback?”
Washington’s only additions at defensive end have been Deatrich Wise Jr. and Jacob Martin. Both are solid rotational pieces, though they combined for only eight sacks last season. Dante Fowler Jr., who departed for Dallas in free agency, had 10.5 sacks himself in the 2024 season.
The Commanders seemed hesitant to draft an edge rusher high in the draft, and chose not to reach for one in the fourth round after there was a run of pass rushers before their pick. They were also reportedly interested in DeMarcus Lawrence and Joey Bosa, per John Keim, but failed to land either.
Now, there are only five available edge rushers that played over 40% of snaps last year, and all are at least 31 years old, according to Over the Cap. Washington hasn’t shied away from leaning on veterans, however, and may look to sign one of these three players:
Za’Darius Smith
The former All-Pro linebacker with the Green Bay Packers is the Commanders’ most enticing option statistically. Za’Darius Smith notched nine sacks last season with the Cleveland Browns and the Detroit Lions, more than any player currently on Washington’s roster.
Smith is four seasons removed from his 12.5-sack campaign with Green Bay, but can still provide value as a pass rusher and, perhaps more importantly, as a run stopper.
The Montgomery, Alabama, native is 6-foot-4, 270 pounds and sets the edge as a true 4-3 defensive end. Washington will take any help it can get against the run after it ranked among the worst rush defenses in the league last year.
Matthew Judon
Like Smith, Judon has the physical tools to bolster Washington’s run defense. However, Judon was less effective than Smith at getting to the quarterback, with only 5.5 sacks last season.
The former Falcon may be more likely than Smith to recapture the magic of his peak years, though. Judon recorded 15.5 sacks and garnered Defensive Player of the Year votes in 2022 and has played only one full season — last year in Atlanta — since.
While Washington shouldn’t necessarily expect a year of that caliber, or even a double-digit sack season, Judon would easily be the most accomplished name on the defensive end depth chart.
Jadeveon Clowney
Clowney isn’t the athletic freak he once was coming out of South Carolina, but he can still provide versatility and juice as a pass rusher.
At 6-foot-5, 266 pounds, Clowney has the frame to defend the run, though he was only slightly above average in run defense according to Pro Football Focus, and the agility to play on-ball linebacker. The former first overall pick could be an interesting addition on the defensive line or across from Frankie Luvu in certain defensive packages.
No matter what role he’s playing, though, Clowney knows how to rush the passer. PFF graded him as the 30th-best pass rusher out of 211 edge defenders last season.
The Commanders still have time to address their biggest need at edge. It won’t be a long-term solution, but one of these players could provide just enough production for a team in win-now mode.
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