The Washington Commanders turned over every stone and allocated their primary resources to fortifying their league-worst defense this offseason. That was a welcome approach, and the introduction of new coordinator Daronte Jones, along with his innovative concepts, will only help.
Defensive lineman Javon Kinlaw is among those who'll be expected to improve next season. He was perceived as a massive overpay upon his arrival and did nothing to push back on these claims during his first campaign in Washington. It didn't make any sense to remove him from the equation this time around, but the need to bounce back couldn't be more glaring.
Another frustrating element for fans was Kinlaw's brash talk, which lacked substance. He made headlines once again after the first day of OTAs for this exact reason. But perhaps for the first time, there might be some weight to his statement.
Commanders fans are familiar with Javon Kinlaw's brash talk, but this time might mean more
Kinlaw went on an expletive-laden rant about the defensive enhancements. To cut a long story short, he is excited about the future. And even though this sort of talk is something fans became all too familiar with last season, there is clearly more meaning to it this time.
"We've got some m------------ now. Excuse my language. It's gonna be exciting, bruh. It's gonna be super exciting to play with these guys, for sure. A lot of talent, bruh. I'm just excited, bro. I'm super excited."
It's only May, but Javon Kinlaw might have delivered the best soundbite of the year.
— Scott Abraham (@Scott7news) May 27, 2026
I asked JK about the new pieces/faces on defense.
He told me, "We got some motherf******."
Amazing. pic.twitter.com/s6Tn4kXbCv
Unsurprisingly, the soundbite went viral. But after a campaign that promised much and delivered almost nothing for the Commanders in 2025, talk is cheap.
Kinlaw is right, though. The Commanders look like a formidable defensive unit, at least on paper. Their front seven is strong, their edge rushing room has depth, and the linebacking corps could become a genuine strength. If the secondary meets its end of the bargain and Washington gets a better run of luck on the injury front, they might be in line for a huge turn of fortune.
Such bold claims by Kinlaw shouldn't come as a shock. But overall, the Commanders should be trying to go under the radar.
They've not generated many headlines this offseason as the NFC East drama lies elsewhere. That should be just fine with head coach Dan Quinn, and hopefully, Washington will be a surprise most teams don't see coming when competitive action commences.
As for Kinlaw? He's got his own problems.
The former South Carolina star is entering a make-or-break year. Kinlaw looks like a prime salary-cap candidate in 2027 if the Commanders aren't suitably impressed by his contribution. Until then, he's expected to occupy the 3-4 defensive end role opposite Daron Payne, though the scheme will be interchangeable.
Fans took almost everything Kinlaw said last season with a grain of salt. Let's hope things are very different this time.
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