With new defensive coordinator Daronte Jones able to upgrade the secondary, the Washington Commanders are putting a premium on upgrading the front seven.
Head coach Dan Quinn took over as play caller midway through the 2025 season as the Washington Commanders suffered a major setback in year two under Joe Whitt Jr., eventually leading to his dismissal just days after the regular season finale. After weeks of working to find his replacement with the list of candidates seemingly growing every 48 hours, Quinn made the move to bring in Minnesota Vikings defensive pass game coordinator Daronte Jones in to fill the vacancy.
Initial feedback pointed to Washington's preference for an experienced coach with play calling experience, though this will mark the first time that Jones will both coordinate and call plays in the NFL. But his experience under previous coaches like Marvin Lewis, Lou Anarumo, Mike Zimmer and Brian Flores - who retained him on his defensive coaching staff. That reportedly resonated with the Commanders after moving quickly to hire him just days after his interview with Washington among five interviews this offseason.
What happens next on Jones' staff in Washington remains to be seen with current defensive pass game coordinator Jason Simmons is expected to interview with the Pittsburgh Steelers for the defensive coordinator vacancy under head coach Mike McCarthy, one of two coaches to draw outside interest this month. It's expected that Jones brings some with him from Minnesota, but who is following him remains unclear at this point.
Jones brings a history disruption to the Commanders' secondary where the Vikings recorded 73 interceptions during his four seasons with the organization, including an interception in every game during 2024. But the next question is how the Commanders address the front seven, though Nick Jhabvala of The Athletic was the first to report that the team's defensive staff remains fluid with a "focus to bring on someone to oversee the front seven, with a focus on improving the pass rush."
It's the latest bit of evidence that general manager Adam Peters is focused on rebuilding the Commanders' pass rush after noting the team needs to address "a lot of spots." But after also being spotted scouting the edge prospects ahead of Tuesday's Shrine Bowl, Peters also noted in his end of season press conference that addressing the pass rush in any capacity is an offseason focus.
"I think where we can look at, I think, certainly another pass rusher would be something we'd definitely be looking for. Whether that's the draft or free agency, I think we have a lot of good options in both of those areas," he said earlier this month.
The obvious stay-or-go candidate is veteran Von Miller, who quietly led the way with a team-high nine sacks in 2025. He also expressed interest in a return during the season, but has since drastically shifted his tune after the season.
“Next year, this Denver Broncos team is gonna be scary and that’s where you enter Von Miller," he said on his latest podcast. "That play where Drake Maye rolled out for the bootleg and got the first down, I think Von makes that play.”
Washington has been viewed to target an edge rusher with their first round pick in April with David Bailey the growingly popular target among the fanbase, while the latest mock drafts pointed to a pair of Buckeyes as the likely picks with the attention gradually shifting to the offseason.
Veteran defensive lineman Daron Payne has been viewed as another key roster decision with defensive tackle an intriguing position ahead of the offseason with limited production among several pieces. While some have speculated Payne could materialize into an offseason trade target across the league, Ben Standig noted that a return in 2026 could be more likely at this stage in the offseason. But one thing is clear - Washington will look to upgrade the defense after posting the league's worst turnover margin and ranked middle of the league with 42 sacks.