Daronte Jones' arrival as defensive coordinator represents a supreme leap of faith for the Washington Commanders. For this to work, general manager Adam Peters must put the correct personnel in place to enhance the play-caller's chances of a smooth transition.
The Commanders' defense is currently lacking sufficient starting-caliber players. It's got almost no legitimate depth whatsoever, so it's not hard to see why Peters has his work cut out in the coming months before preparations for the 2026 campaign gather pace.
Peters needs to have a long conversation with Jones about the scheme he plans to run and what sort of players he's looking for. If it's anything like Brian Flores' concepts with the Minnesota Vikings, he'll need long, rangy pass-rushers capable of setting the edge and generating pressure consistently.
Commanders can help Daronte Jones with ambitious bid for Trey Hendrickson
Washington's front-office leader ignored the pass-rush last season, relying on aging veterans on short-term deals. It backfired horribly, and aside from Dorance Armstrong Jr., nobody else is guaranteed to return.
In fairness to Peters, he's outlined a desire to prioritize the defensive edge this offseason. Jones' system, which promises to use exotic blitz packages and disguised coverages, demands an elite-level game-wrecker with proven credentials.
That means the Commanders must swing for the fences with a bold bid for Trey Hendrickson.
The NFL's sack leader in 2023 and 2024 is arguably the hottest name set to enter free agency this spring. Hendrickson's time with the Cincinnati Bengals seems to have run its course, with a contract holdout last summer yielding only a pay increase, with no additional years added to his deal.
Hendrickson played just seven games this season due to injury, gaining four sacks. If everything checks out on the health front, there should be a queue of suitors looking to attain his services. That won't be cheap, but this would be a massive statement of intent from the Commanders if they pulled it off.
The former Florida Atlantic standout is 31, but he's got the traits to have at least a few more good seasons left. Hendrickson is the sort of player who strikes fear into opposing offensive lines. He demands extra attention on every down, and he still manages to put up elite numbers. Washington is crying out for someone like this, although Peters would need to shell out substantial financial resources to get this potential deal over the line.
According to Spotrac, Hendrickson is projected to get a two-year, $50.98 million deal, which works out to $25.44 million per year. Not exactly chump change, but not at the top end for edge rushers league-wide, either.
It's certainly affordable for the Commanders. Whether it becomes reality or not is another matter.