It didn't take long to figure out what the biggest catalyst behind the Washington Commanders' failures were during a 2025 season that promised dreams of a Super Bowl triumph and ended with just five wins.
The injuries didn't help. The offense's predicatability was a problem. But the Commanders' horrendously inept defense constantly held Washington back.
Head coach Dan Quinn recognized this early on. Taking over defensive play-calling duties did not bring the desired improvements, but replacing Joe Whitt Jr. with new coordinator Daronte Jones might.
He's got the concepts and the experience to get the most out of his players. However, general manager Adam Peters must also do his part by significantly revamping the personnel at Jones' disposal.
Commanders can't justify keeping Jayln Holmes around again in 2026
Washington is expected to be aggressive in free agency. They could also use the No. 7 overall selection in the 2026 NFL Draft on a defensive difference-maker. Peters knows the time to strike is now, and countless veterans will be seeking alternative employment along the way.
One example made it painfully clear he doesn't belong in Washington. Because even with so many injuries to the defensive front, Jalyn Holmes just could not seem to firmly establish himself.
The 2018 fourth-round pick got another deal from the Commanders last offseason after gaining two sacks in limited action. Holmes was released as part of the final cuts but brought back onto the practice squad. When injuries struck, the lineman was activated onto the 53-man roster, and he ended up playing 38 percent of the team's defensive snaps in 10 games — five of which he started.
Unfortunately, his consistency fell well short of the required standard. That leaves the Commanders with a pretty simple decision.
Holmes is on the wrong side of 30 now, and his ceiling has firmly been reached. The Commanders need more youth and explosiveness on their front seven. Peters knows it, and Jones will demand it if he wants his aggressive system to yield the desired results.
That will probably leave players like Holmes on the outside looking in. It's tough, of course, but it's a small price to pay for progression.
He won't be the only aging defensive option on their way out. Holmes certainly won't be the most high-profile in terms of accolades or reputation. But it's hard to justify another contract for someone who would be a bit-part player at best, even if he made the roster.
This won't be lost on Holmes. Whether another opportunity arrives elsewhere is the bigger question that nobody knows the answer to right now.