The Washington Commanders have a lot of problems to fix this offseason. Two of those have already been solved, with head coach Dan Quinn hiring two new coordinators after parting ways with Kliff Kingsbury and Joe Whitt Jr.
Quinn took a supreme leap of faith by making David Blough their offensive coordinator. He's got no play-calling experience and was only a position coach for a few weeks. However, the Commanders believe he can provide the modern-day concepts needed to help take quarterback Jayden Daniels' game to new heights.
New defensive coordinator Daronte Jones fits into a similar mold. He's also a first-time play-caller. But unlike Blough, his coaching credentials are vast and revered in equal measure.
Most fans and experts expect the Commanders' defense to be more aggressive and explosive with Jones leading the charge. But for this system to work, a significant overhaul of the roster is required through free agency and the 2026 NFL Draft.
General manager Adam Peters doesn't have much high-end capital in the draft, so maneuvering could be in his plans in pursuit of bolstering the assets at his disposal. Either way, the Commanders have to get younger and more explosive. Anything less is organizational malpractice.
Using the Pro Football and Sports Network simulator, our latest seven-round mock draft focuses on building the defense Jones will need to excel.
Commanders' 7-round mock draft builds a dream defense for Daronte Jones
Commanders draft Sonny Styles
- Linebacker | Ohio State Buckeyes
- Round No. 1 | Pick No. 15
A trade down cannot be completely dismissed, and it may be welcome for the Washington Commanders to build through the draft. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were a willing partner in this scenario, giving up their second and third-round picks, together with a third-round pick next year, to move into the No. 7 spot.
That gives Adam Peters more ammunition. It's also not too far down the order. That gives the Commanders a good chance to find a Day 1 difference-maker, and if Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles was still available here, he would be a fantastic addition to the ranks.
With Bobby Wagner likely entering retirement or taking his chances elsewhere, the Commanders can replace him with Styles. He is a do-it-all, three-down presence who thrives against the run, on blitzes, and can also drop back in coverage. That will be key for Daronte Jones if he wants to get things up and running quickly.
Pairing Styles with Frankie Luvu and Jordan Magee gives the Commanders a potentially dynamic linebacker trio.