Ranking the Commanders’ 3 biggest strengths before OTAs

1. Defensive Line

While losing Matt Ioannidis and Tim Settle is a killer to the defensive line’s depth, Jonathan Allen, Chase Young, Daron Payne (for now) and Montez Still still form one of the most vaunted fronts in the league. You’re talking about four Pro Bowl-caliber talents and two of whom have already made the Pro Bowl.

This DL as the potential to be elite. Allen posted career-highs in sacks and quarterback hits last season to go with a 90.9 pass rush grade from PFF. Young is recovering from November ACL surgery, but we all know the impact he can make off the edge after he took home Defensive Rookie of the Year honors in 2020.

Payne, on the other hand, gets overlooked as maybe the most important component of the line, as he plays the most snaps of the four starters, and Sweat posted 16 sacks, 20 tackles for loss, 33 QB hits and four forced fumbles in two years before a broken jaw and family tragedy limited him to 10 games last year.

The DL will need a lot from rookie second-rounder Phidarian Mathis following the departures of Ioannidis and Settle, but James Smith-Williams and Efe Obada offer plenty of intrigue as backup edge rushers and both players have the versatility to kick inside on passing downs if need be.

While the offensive line might be deeper, it’s hard to argue against the defensive line being Washington’s biggest strength. There’s star-power at all four positions. You can’t say that about the offensive line.

Honorable mention: Quarterback

We wanted to give QB a spot on this list, but Carson Wentz being a mid-level starter and playing for his third team as many years made that impossible. With that said, Taylor Heinicke might be the best backup in the NFL and Sam Howell gives the room a ton of depth, as he could leapfrog Heinicke for QB2 duties.