Commanders pursuing defensive tackle depth based on latest workout

The Washington Commanders‘ regular season begins in three weeks and teams around the NFL are putting the finishing touches on their rosters.

While the 53-man deadline is just over a week away, clubs are still making signings and claiming players off waivers in response to injuries or a lack of depth at certain positions. The Commanders fall under that category after they claimed Kendall Blanton, the Rams’ unlikeliest of playoff heroes last year, off waivers.

Linebacker is another position that could benefit from a signing, but we’re done beating that drum until it happens.

The same can be said for the interior defensive line, which lost key rotational pieces Tim Settle and Matt Ioannidis this offseason, and Washington’s latest workout invite suggests the front office is keen on fortifying the team’s DT rotation.

Per ESPN’s Field Yates, the Commanders worked out Malcom Brown over the weekend after he was cut by Jacksonville.

The Commanders worked out veteran defensive tackle Malcom Brown.

Credit to the Commanders for acting quickly after Brown’s release.

Having appeared in 106 games (97 starts) in seven years, Brown figures to be a hot commodity among teams in need of defensive line help and it certainly doesn’t hurt Washington was the first team that invited him for a workout after he got cut.

A former first-round pick of the Patriots in 2015, Brown has been a serviceable interior defender in his career. He played his first four seasons in New England before he joined the Saints for two years and landed in Jacksonville last offseason.

Brown started all 17 games for the Jaguars in 2021, making 57 tackles, four tackles for loss, two sacks and three quarterback hits.

He graded out poorly by Pro Football Focus, but he’s been a stalwart run defender throughout his career. In 2020 with New Orleans, he posted a 72.9 player grade and 77.1 run-defense grade so perhaps he was one of several Jaguars who checked out mentally under self-obsessed head coach Urban Meyer.

Ron Rivera has preached confidence in Washington’s current DT options, but it goes without saying the rotation could use another veteran behind Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne. With second-round pick Phidarian Mathis and Daniel Wise shoo-ins to make the final roster, Brown would compete with David Bada, Tyler Clark and Justin Hamilton for a spot on the 53-man if he’s signed.