Washington spent over $100 million in the offseason to improve the edge rusher position in free agency. Will it make a difference?
The Washington Commanders had a litany of issues on defense last season, and the ability to get consistent pressure on the opposing quarterback was chief among them as they went on to record only 42 sacks as a team, with the 36-year-old Von Miller leading the charge with nine sacks. The Commanders signed former Ravens and Chargers edge rusher Odafe Oweh to a four-year, $100 million contract in March, as well as former Patriot K’Lavon Chaisson on a one-year, $11 million contract in free agency.
Oweh is a high-risk, high-reward signing for the Commanders due to his struggles with consistency throughout his career, especially in 2025 alone. He did not record a single sack in five games with the Baltimore Ravens; then he recorded 7.5 sacks after being traded to the Los Angeles Chargers in only four starts with both teams. Chaisson also recorded a career-high 7.5 sacks with the Patriots last season, playing on a one-year prove-it deal, which is essentially what he is on this season. The main holdover in the edge rusher group is Dorance Armstrong, who recorded 5.5 sacks last season in five starts before suffering a season-ending knee injury. Armstrong looked like he would be a key cog in the defensive scheme in Dan Quinn and Joe Whitt’s defense. Armstrong graded out at a 77.6 last season by Pro Football Focus in his 239 defensive snaps.
The balance of the depth chart consists of veteran journeymen Charles Omenihu, Deatrich Wise, and Javonte Jean-Baptiste, and rookie Joshua Josephs, a fifth-round draft pick out of Tennessee, a raw prospect with some upside who was used as a situational pass rusher in college.
Biggest training camp question: Can anyone in the room stay consistent through the season?
That is the $150 million question. Oweh has had one season of double-digit sacks in his career, and he was a no-show until he was traded to Los Angeles midseason. Chaisson was considered a bust with the Jacksonville Jaguars and Las Vegas Raiders, and Armstrong had his best season last year, but he is coming off a serious injury, and he should not be counted on to carry the load fully. Oweh is being brought on to be the team's top pass rusher, and his cap number backs up that. One potential scenario to look out for is inside linebacker Frankie Luvu coming in on passing situations and playing on the edge.
All in all, the Commanders have the depth and talent to have a very productive group, but they do not have a proven, consistent “war daddy” in the room heading into camp. New defensive coordinator Daronte Jones will have better pieces to work with than his predecessor Joe Whitt, but it is up to him to scheme his chess pieces on the board.
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