Reviewing the Washington Football Team’s defense before the 2021 NFL Draft

Previously, we looked at the offensive players currently under contract with the Washington Football Team.

Today, we take a look at the 30 defensive players and specialists.

Washington Football Team DL

ACTIVE ROSTER

Jonathan Allen, DT (26 years old)

A defensive standout. Entering his fifth year and in need of a long-term extension.

Best Case Scenario for 2021: Continues his steady rise. Pro Bowl selection and Walter Payton Man of the Year recipient.

Worst Case Scenario for 2021: As with all standouts, it’s injury. Beware the pernicious Lisfranc, which knocked him out for most of his rookie season.

Daron Payne, DT (23)

Stone cold stud in the middle of the defensive line.

Best: Seven sacks, two forced fumbles and a Pro Bowl.

Worst: Some writer recently expressed the opinion that given the number of defensive linemen who will be due for new contracts over the next several years, one of them will have to be moved. And this writer said Payne was the most likely. But this writer gets a lot of things wrong.

Montez Sweat, DE (24)

Showed in 2020 why the Washington Football Team traded up to get him in the 2019 draft.

Best: Double-digit sacks, eight pass deflections, two interceptions and one touchdown. Plus another national ad campaign for Old Spice.

Worst: Barring injury, hard to imagine.

Chase Young, DE (21)

The Man. And Saahdiq Charles is the only player younger than him on the Washington Football Team.

Best: First-team All-Pro, 16 sacks, three of them strip-sacks.

Worst: See Montez Sweat, only even harder to imagine.

Tim Settle, DT (23)

An increasingly important part of the team’s best unit.

Best: Plays 50 percent of the team’s defensive snaps and manages five sacks.

Worst: If another interior lineman goes down with injury, we will have to find out if Settle can handle increased snaps. Worst case scenario is that playing more wears him down and he regresses from his quality spot performances in the past.

James Smith-Williams, DE (23)

Not as productive as the other seventh-round pick from 2020 (Kamren Curl), but Smith-Williams still flashed some talent.

Best: Takes over Ryan Kerrigan’s role as primary backup edge rusher and gets seven sacks.

Worst: Loses out to Casey Toohill but gets by as a special teamer.

Casey Toohill, DE (24)

Signed after Philly cut him mid-season of 2020. Didn’t show a lot in limited action, but has a world of athleticism.

Best: See James Smith-Williams.

Worst: Again, see James Smith-Williams. Both could have spots, but one is likely to emerge as a steady contributor while the other becomes mere depth.

RESERVED LIST

Matt Ioannidis, DT (27)

Sleeper out of Temple developed in one of the strongest and most versatile players on the team.

Best: Plays all over the line, over center, end in a 3-4 set, and traditional tackle. Logs more than 500 snaps.

Worst: Recovery from injury and the wealth of quality linemen are the only causes for concern. They could conspire to keep his snap count down.