Potential defensive free agent targets for the Commanders in 2023

OK, we’ll squeeze in one final peek ahead toward next year before getting back to some serious real-time Washington Commanders football. We have already considered some potential free agents on offense for the coming off-season. Now, let’s take a quick look at what defensive players might be on the radar.

By position group, from strongest to weakest:

Potential defensive free agent targets for Commanders

Defensive Line

It’s well-known that when healthy, the Commanders line up four recent first-round draft picks across their defensive front. You would expect this to be the team’s greatest strength and despite the year-long injury to DE Chase Young, this continues to be the case.

Montez Sweat, DaRon Payne, and Jonathan Allen have continued to function as one of the best units in the NFL. And Washington has solid depth with injured rookie Phidarian Mathis, John Ridgeway and Daniel Wise in the middle, and athletic ends Casey Toohill and James Smith-Williams improving. If he is re-signed, young vet, Efe Obada can help out across the line.

Indeed, the biggest free agent move the Commanders can make across the line is figuring out how to re-sign pending UFA Payne, and how to lock up Sweat before he hits free agency after next season. In other words, the mission concerning the defensive line is just maintenance.

Of course, things never go according to plan in the NFL, and if things don’t work out with Payne and/or Sweat, a player like Pittsburgh’s Chris Wormley would be a fine replacement. Wormley, 29, reminds me a lot of Jonathan Allen. He plays defensive end in a 3-4 front but could slide inside in a 4-3. Another sturdy young run stopped, the Raiders Andrew Billings, is also slated to hit free agency. The Commanders will not entertain any thought of signing such a player unless negotiations with Payne go south.