Which Washington Commander Enters 2026 with Most Pressure?

Veteran defensive lineman Daron Payne enters the 2026 season with a bit of a different feel than in seasons past, though that's now tied to his contract status.

The former first-round pick is on the final year of his four year, $90 million deal with the Washington Commanders that has produced subpar production given he's combined for 11 sacks and 25 TFLs over the last three seasons. The irony? Payne set career highs the last time he played on the final year of his contract after tallying 11.5 sacks and 18 TFLs in 2022, materializing into what was viewed to be an impact piece.

Whether he's able to replicate his 2022 production in another pivotal season is another question, but Payne admitted contract talks with the front office have not materialized with training camp roughly one month away. It's understandable why Washington would opt to stay patient with the veteran with inconsistent production paired with a question how Payne fits along the defensive line under new defensive coordinator Daronte Jones with a shift to more of a 3-4 than 4-3.

Washington also re-united with Tim Settle where he's expected to be a versatile piece inside while Johnny Newton and Javon Kinlaw return in 2026, giving position coach Eric Henderson a deep room. And while Payne enters his ninth season with the team with something to prove, he isn't the one who enters 2026 under the microscope the most.

That would be Odafe Oweh, who signed the fifth-biggest contract in free agency after inking a four year deal with $50.6 million guaranteed and up to $96 million.

Whether through free agency or the draft, the Washington Commanders will turn to several new pieces to become impact pieces and address the concerns that were magnified in 2025, but Oweh arrived as the key piece to upgrade the pass rush. Washington also turned to upgrade its depth with K'Lavon Chaisson an underrated addition alongside several returners, but for a player who struggled with consistent production, 2026 marks the year Oweh can live up to that.

The former first-round pick saw his trade value soar after registering 7.5 sacks in just 12 games with the Chargers - after being traded from Baltimore following zero sacks in five games. That's been the theme of Oweh's career after flashing in his first three seasons in Baltimore. His first multi-sack game materialized in week two of his final full season with the Ravens, the first of two games he notched 2.5 sacks, but he struggled to build on that after falling out of the rotation less than one month into the 2025 season and notching just ten total tackles.

Oweh's length and speed were what flashed during his short stint under Jesse Minter in San Diego where he proved to be capable of winning the one-on-one matchups he struggled with in Baltimore. Can Washington unlock that again in the multiple, complex scheme expected to be implemented?

For a Washington team that struggled to get after the quarterback, a point that general manager Adam Peters made crystal clear following the 2025 season, Oweh is the key to whether the defense can consistently add that element under Daronte Jones.

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