The Washington Commanders didnât just reload this offseason; they rebuilt their defensive front with a purpose. After several years of inconsistency, injuries, and unmet expectations along the defensive line, Washington enters the 2025 NFL season with a deep, versatile, and physically imposing group of linemen thatâs could draw comparisons to the elite trenches of teams like the Philadelphia Eagles and San Francisco 49ers.
With the NFC East once again shaping up as a physical warzone and the Eaglesâ dominant offensive line still setting the standard, Washington is betting big that their revamped defensive front can change the narrative, control the line of scrimmage, and become the foundation of a playoff-caliber defense.
Building Depth and Disruption: Washington’s Defensive Line Overhaul
One look at the Commandersâ potential 2025 defensive line depth chart tells the story: size, speed, experience, and upside now live across all four spots up front.
Returning stars like Daron Payne and Dorrance Armstrong anchor the unit. Payne, still one of the leagueâs most physically dominant interior linemen, is expected to return to form after battling nagging injuries last season. The former Alabama star is in a contract season and the last time that happened, Payne played inspired football.
Armstrong, who followed head coach Dan Quinn from Dallas, brings speed off the edge and a motor that never quits. He posted 8.5 sacks last season and is expected to start again at defensive end.
Washington also brought in several high-impact veterans to deepen the rotation and challenge for starting roles. Javon Kinlaw, the former first-round pick of the 49ers, arrives in Ashburn on a prove-it deal. When healthy, Kinlaw is a game-wrecker with elite size (6â5â, 319 lbs) and violent hands. Heâs joined by Eddie Goldman, a former Pro Bowl-caliber run-stopper who adds beef and savvy to the interior, and Deatrich Wise Jr., a longtime Patriots edge rusher with a reputation for doing the dirty work and setting the edge.
Quinn and defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. will have plenty of chess pieces to rotate. JerâZhan Newton, a 2024 second-round pick out of Illinois, could be the real wildcard. Known for his quick first step and disruptive nature, Newton is drawing rave reviews from coaches for his minicamp performance and could carve out a key role along the line.
And thatâs not all.
Jacob Martin, Clelin Ferrell, Sheldon Day, and Jalyn Holmes bring experience and position flexibility, while Andre Jones Jr. and Javonte Jean-Baptiste provide length, athleticism, and upside as rotational edge rushers. In a league where defensive linemen wear down late in games, especially in the cold-weather playoff months, this kind of depth matters.
NFC East Test Ahead: Can Washington Hang with Philly in the Trenches?
To win in the NFC East, you have to win up front. Thatâs been true for decades, and the Philadelphia Eagles have made a habit of bullying opponents in the trenches on both sides of the ball. Washington knows this, and their moves this offseason clearly reflect a desire to build a unit capable of punching back and winning.
Philadelphia still boasts All-Pros across its offensive line, but the Commanders are closing the gap. Few teams in the league now have the rotational depth that Washington has assembled. The goal is to keep bodies fresh, unleash waves of pressure, and create chaos, especially against quarterbacks like Jalen Hurts and Dak Prescott.
Quinnâs defense is predicated on disruption, speed, and versatility, and this defensive line group appears to check all three boxes. By pairing pass-rushers like Armstrong, Kinlaw, and Wise with high-effort gap stuffers like Payne, Newton, and Goldman, the Commanders can now adapt to any offensive front they face. Theyâll also be more capable of generating pressure with just four down linemen, a massive advantage in todayâs NFL, where blitz-heavy defenses often get burned.
Even beyond the division, the Commandersâ defensive front stacks up surprisingly well against NFC contenders. Teams like the 49ers and Lions, all rely on physical offensive lines, and Washington now has the tools to challenge and, in some matchups, overwhelm those units.
For years, the Commanders had first-round draft picks and promise on the defensive line, but lacked consistency and durability. Now, with a mix of savvy veterans, ascending young players, and a defensive-minded coaching staff that knows how to use them, Washington may finally be ready to control games from the inside out.
This group may not yet have the name recognition of the Eaglesâ front, but that could change fast. If the new-look defensive line stays healthy and plays to its potential, donât be surprised if itâs Washington and not just Philly that’s setting the tone in the NFC East.
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