The Washington Commanders released veteran defensive tackle Jonathan Allen this offseason. One team insider believes the move will result in a potential breakout campaign for another interior force.
Allen's production no longer matched his salary. The Commanders did the veteran a huge favor by releasing him before free agency began, giving him a head start on finding alternative employment. Adam Peters also had a replacement in mind, shelling out big money to secure Javon Kinlaw's services soon after the legal tampering window opened.
Whether this provides the upgrade needed against the NFL's elite offensive lines remains to be seen. The Commanders will also be relying on others to step up and fill the void in pursuit of going one better and reaching the Super Bowl next time around.
Commanders insider tips Johnny Newton for major 2025 breakout
Ben Standig from The Athletic thought Johnny Newton could be the Commanders' primary breakout star in 2025, especially with a better run of luck on the health front after going through some issues during his rookie transition.
"[Johnny] Newton, who was a second-round pick in 2024. Last year’s surprise selection based on position got his pro career started on the wrong foot. Newton missed nearly the entire offseason program with Jones fracture surgery on both feet. He popped at times in 16 games — 11 starts — but the 295-pounder now gets to enter camp healthy. Washington needs an impact season from Newton after releasing Jonathan Allen."Ben Standig
The Commanders thought they found a bona fide steal when Newton slipped through the cracks and into their laps at No. 36 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft. His early development was hindered by foot complications, but he managed to feature prominently throughout the campaign and flashed enormous promise.
It wasn't perfect. Newton struggled with consistency against the run, which must improve to take another leap. However, there was a lot to like about his pass-rushing prowess from the interior and closing speed in pursuit.
This was expected considering Newton's strengths and weaknesses coming out of Illinois. The Commanders remain confident he can emerge into a defensive focal point, but they were right to hedge their bets by signing Kinlaw.
Allen's premature departure changes the dynamic. Daron Payne is now the senior figure but needs to improve to justify being around in 2026. Kinlaw's career hasn't quite gone according to plan, but Peters believes this sort of environment can help the former South Carolina star flourish at long last.
As for Newton? He'll benefit greatly from some encouraging rookie exploits. His explosiveness and ability to shed blocks complement what Payne and Kinlaw bring to the table. If he can polish up his run-stopping and learn how to counter more effectively when initial leverage is lost, the Commanders are going to have an exceptional contributor on their hands.
Peters got some outstanding returns from his first draft class. They didn't have a great need at defensive tackle when Newton came on board, but the front-office leader felt this opportunity was too good to turn down considering he was widely expected to be a top-15 selection.
Newton must repay this faith. He's off to a decent start, so any further growth could see the player enter franchise cornerstone territory alongside Jayden Daniels and Mike Sainristil.
More Commanders news and analysis
manual