How will the Commanders unleash rookie Johnny Newton in 2024?

Johnny Newton comes into the Washington Commanders with a big chip on his shoulder. He's not the first college player to do so and won't be the last.

The formidable defensive lineman suffered an alarming fall from pre-draft projections due to injury issues and being perceived as undersized. This played right into general manager Adam Peters' hands, who got a stroke of good fortune from the football Gods when Newton fell into his lap at No. 36 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Newton's endured a rough start to his NFL journey. He's currently rehabilitating two successive foot surgeries, which isn't ideal. The prognosis was good heading into camp, but the Commanders will err on the side of caution to ensure there are no further complications after placing him on the NFL's non-football injury list.

There's a lot to like about Newton's potential. He's fast, physical, aggressive, and can get after the quarterback. He was a game-wrecking force at Illinois and emerged as a prominent leader within the locker room. The rookie was also one of just 20 prospects who received gold tags from the Commanders during their strenuous assessments, who thought they'd have no chance of securing his services.

Commanders plan to get Johnny Newton on the field often in 2024

Excitement remains high despite Newton's turbulent start. It's hard to gauge what his role will be in 2024. But respected beat writer John Keim of ESPN believes the Commanders will find a way to get him on the field frequently within Dan Quinn's creative defensive alignments.

"[Johnny] Newton missed spring workouts after undergoing surgery to repair a Jones fracture in his left foot. His status for training camp remains uncertain, though that will be cleared up when he reports and undergoes a physical. Once healthy, he's expected to be a key backup behind Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne. Newton is somewhat undersized inside at 6-foot-2, 304 pounds but offers pass-rush skills -- he led Illinois with 7.5 sacks en route to being named the Big Ten's Defensive Player of the Year. During the draft, [Adam] Peters asked [Dan] Quinn if he could find a way to get all three of these tackles on the field. Quinn quickly said yes."

- John Keim, ESPN

Learning and growing behind Washington's stud defensive tackle tandem of Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne is going to do wonders for his development. When the Commanders implement three-man fronts or want to rush the passer, that's when Newton will be unleashed.

His presence should also keep Allen and Payne fresh. Quinn places huge demands on his defensive lineman. Allowing them to take a breather now and again by rotating when needed stands to benefit everybody, least of all the second-rounder in pursuit of acquiring invaluable experience in the pro ranks.

If Newton can participate in some capacity during camp, it'll raise confidence in his chances of making an impression in Year 1 of his professional career. Playing catch-up is never easy, so tempering expectations initially would be wise until the lineman gets a clean bill of health.

Newton's got the scope to become a core piece of Washington's puzzle. With a little bit of luck along the way, this looks like the sort of environment he can thrive with the correct supporting cast.