The Washington Commanders didn't have Pro Bowl defensive tackle Daron Payne available in Week 11 against the Miami Dolphins. He was suspended after punching Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, who instigated the attack, knowing he would get a rise out of the Alabama product.
That wasn't very pleasant from Payne, who should have known better. However, this was set to provide the Commanders with a chance to see what 2024 second-round pick Johnny Newton could do from a starting role.
Newton was relishing the opportunity. He's been a rotational presence once again this season, so this was supposed to be the audition for additional reps he'd been looking for. Unfortunately, despite the noticeable defensive improvements under head coach Dan Quinn, it didn't go as planned.
Commanders' lack of trust in Johnny Newton was evident against the Dolphins
The former Illinois standout failed to generate any momentum, especially on early downs. Washington reduced his involvement, with Eddie Goldman providing a much sounder interior base alongside Javon Kinlaw. Newton played just 39 percent of snaps, which is only slightly higher than the 34% of reps he's been allocated this season.
There is not enough trust in Newton's ability to be a well-rounded force on the interior. He doesn't have the size or strength to hold his ground against the run. His hand placement at the contact point doesn't provide enough leverage. He's marginally better as a pass-rusher, but there is an enormous amount of hard work ahead.
The Commanders thought they had a bona fide steal when Newton slipped through the net and into their laps at No. 36 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft. It's been a slower burn than expected, and Washington didn't have enough confidence to put more on his plate with Payne out of the lineup.
Goldman had a tremendous game. He provided the core base up the middle, which made it hard for Miami to gain any ground in between the tackles. His ferocious goal-line stop could have been a game-changing moment for Washington, but glaring mistakes elsewhere were too much to overcome.
This should be a wake-up call for Newton. The Commanders didn't draft him early in the second round to become a bit-part player on the rotation. They expected him to be a productive starter and potential franchise cornerstone. That has not happened as yet, which is concerning, almost two years into his professional career.
Newton isn't the only draft pick made by Adam Peters who is failing to progress effectively. But unless he can prove more trustworthy to become a three-down force, he'll remain a situational player and nothing more.