After utilizing a draft pick on another edge rusher, former Tennessee product Joshua Josephs explains what he adds to the Washington Commanders
Maybe the most intriguing part of the Washington Commanders draft was the first pick on day three with former Tennessee edge rusher Joshua Josephs coming off the board, becoming another piece in the wave of reinforcements set to become impact pieces within the front seven.
The 6-foot-3, 242-pound Georgia native was projected as a fourth round pick before sliding into the early fifth round, giving assistant general manager Lance Newmark and the Commanders a chance to add a player who "had alignment on across the department" during the evaluation process after pointing to his success in run support.
"He's got excellent length. You can really feel his range in his upper body and his ability to affect the passer and impact the run game with just how long and rangy he is with his upper body," Newmark said after the pick.
Josephs gives the Commanders more of a project at the position where he will look to step into the rotation alongside Odafe Oweh and K'Lavon Chaisson, giving the Tennessee product time to materialize into an impact piece. With several players on a one year deal ahead of the 2026 season, Joseph also offers a long-term option to bolster the edge rotation.
For Josephs, who met with the Commanders on a top-30 visit, becoming a Commander wasn't much of a surprise.
"When I was on my [top] 30 visit, I felt like when I talked to [Adam Peters], I feel like we really connected well and I just had a great conversation with him and with all the coaches and my position coach, everything," he added.
Josephs arrives with an NBA-caliber wingspan after measuring in at 82 inches to pose the length that caught the eyes of so many. Newmark pointed to that length as impactful "whether it be tipping passes that create interceptions, whether it be stripping the quarterback, whether it be pursuing down the line of scrimmage and knocking a ball out from the backside chase."
Though he did lead Tennessee with three forced fumbles in 2024, Josephs has yet to register a multi-sack game despite starting in 16 games over his final two seasons. Scouts have pointed to Josephs as a stiff edge rusher with a chance to improve his strength and hand-eye coordination, yet the Tennessee product knows his wingspan is an asset.
"I can't say it's my biggest strength because the way I utilize it and the way I know I can utilize it even more is just crazy," Josephs added.
Yet after arriving in Washington, whether the coaching staff is able to develop the coveted measurable into an impactful NFL edge rusher is the biggest question after Josephs pointed to himself as "very ball savvy." Josephs amassed 104 total tackles, 22 TFLs and 9.5 sacks during his four seasons with the Vols, including his first career sack coming against then-LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels.
Whether he puts it all together will be something fans will track, yet what isn't a debate is Joseph's mom being a big fan of head coach Dan Quinn.
"When I got to a point of my age where football started to kind of take over, he was at the Falcons at the time and since she lived in Georgia, she just adopted that culture and she always believed he was an amazing coach and she just respected him and got a lot of appreciation towards him," Josephs added.