Commanders' defensive gamble could spark uneasy change up front

The Washington Commanders couldn't land Brian Flores as their new defensive coordinator, but they got one of his most trusted lieutenants when they hired Daronte Jones.

He's capable of designing a defense similar to the one Flores ran for the Minnesota Vikings, a scheme that became the envy of the NFL, but might not be good news for one Commanders draft flop and one Pro Bowler.

Jones isn't guaranteed to simply copy the Flores playbook in Washington. Still, defensive tackles Johnny Newton and Daron Payne should be the most interested observers of the new play-caller's system.

Commanders' trench mentality could change on defense under Daronte Jones

If it's anything like the Flores blueprint, Newton and Payne won't like Javon Hargrave's critique of the system.

The latter is expected to be released by the Vikings, just as former Commanders standout Jonathan Allen was let go. Hargrave isn't going quietly after reposting the following message: "If you're DL and wanna get to the QB, Brian Flores' system is not for you."

Hargrave's endorsement of blunt criticism of the pressure schemes Jones helped Flores design as his defensive pass-game coordinator was echoed by ESPN's Kevin Seifert. The latter referenced a 2023 chat with nose tackle Harrison Phillips about his reservations about "playing a role that essentially asks him to be a placeholder rather than a playmaker."

This is a lot of negativity about the type of defense Jones knows best, but there are benefits as well.

It's important to look at exactly what Hargrave meant about the Vikings' defensive structure Jones saw firsthand during three seasons with Flores. Two sacks by inside linebacker Eric Wilson from the 2025 campaign show the sacrifices defensive linemen have to make along the interior.

The first came against the Detroit Lions in Week 9 when Wilson broke through to deck Jared Goff. Notice the roles played by Hargrave (97) and his defensive tackle partner Jalen Redmond (61).

Both took steps to their outside shoulders to lean into more than one blocker. They each occupied a double team to open a lane through the middle for Wilson.

Wilson was at it when dropping Sam Darnold against the Seattle Seahawks four weeks later. The same principle worked, with Hargrave and Allen (93) aligning on either side of rookie left guard Grey Zabel (76) and taking care of three blockers, leaving Wilson matched up against another mismatched running back.

Linemen doing the dirty work so linebackers make plays is one of the core tenets of the 3-4 front Jones saw Flores employ in Minnesota. If, and it's still a big if at this point, the rookie NFL play-caller goes the same way in Washington, he might find Javon Kinlaw and the returning Deatrich Wise Jr. more valuable than Newton and Payne.

Being asked to act as blockers for blitzing linebackers and defensive backs may lack appeal for Payne and Newton. Especially when both are at a crossroads in their careers with the Commanders.

Newton has long flashed breakout potential, but the erratic 2024 second-round pick's best moments in the pros have been as an interior pass-rusher. The Commanders invested premium draft capital in the Illinois product to be a roving disruptor up front. Not a funnel to allow others to make the big plays.

Taking on and holding double teams isn't Newton's primary skill set. It's why the 23-year-old is far from a lock to become a core member of whatever Jones' defense becomes, and Payne faces a similar worry.

Like Newton, Payne's best football has occurred when he's been turned loose to rush the passer. Notably, he logged a career-best 11.5 sacks in 2022. A style of defense based on having tackles clear blitz lanes isn't likely to help him post double-digits again and justify the Commanders' faith in him.

Sturdy defensive tackles are the foundation of any stout defense, but neither Payne nor Newrton is a natural building block. It may mean Jones adjusts his system, tweaking what he learned from Flores into something more functional for the key personnel he inherited.