The Washington Commanders are rolling out plenty of new pieces on defense, but Javon Kinlaw remains one of the biggest wild cards in the group.
His first year in Washington was rough - the kind of season that made the three-year, $45 million deal with $30 million guaranteed look every bit as risky as critics feared. Kinlaw brought the usual confidence in game-week talk, but that swagger never translated into enough production on Sundays.
Now he’s back for Year 2, and the Commanders are still betting there’s something to salvage. Keeping him on the roster made the most financial sense, and there’s at least a path for him to fit as a 3-4 defensive end in new coordinator Daronte Jones’ projected scheme. Kinlaw has been saying the right things during Washington’s early offseason work, but the pressure is obvious: if the results don’t follow, the leash gets a lot shorter.
The numbers from last season tell the story. Kinlaw didn’t record a sack, though he did show some promise against the run. That’s not nearly enough for a player on this contract, especially one who has always had the physical tools to be more disruptive.
Washington hasn’t closed the door on him, but the patience here is clearly not unlimited. His deal becomes much easier to move on from after this season, which adds another layer to what is already a crucial year.
There is optimism around the defensive line overall. Pro Bowl lineman Daron Payne is still in the picture, even if an early extension is not happening.
The team added Tim Settle Jr. in free agency, and he could end up as the starting nose tackle. Head coach Dan Quinn is also expecting more from Johnny Newton in Year 3, although Newton still needs to sharpen up as a run stopper to earn a bigger role.
Kinlaw, though, is the name with the loudest warning label. General manager Adam Peters, who was part of the San Francisco 49ers front office that drafted him, still believes in him. That faith matters, because this is the kind of season where a player either starts paying off the investment or starts running out of runway.
For Kinlaw, the stakes are high. For the Commanders, they are too. If he doesn’t deliver, this could end up being his last stop in Washington.
In Other News...
Commanders Fans May Be Reconsidering That $96 Million Oweh Gamble
The Commanders did not hesitate when they handed Odafe Oweh a four-year, $96 million contract in free agency, betting big on an edge rusher they believe can lift a pass rush that needed more bite. Former tight end and team analyst Logan Paulsen came away impressed with what he saw during the offseason program, and that kind of internal buzz matters when Washington is trying to reshape the front under new defensive coordinator Daronte Jones.
Owehs early impression has only added to the optimism around a pass-rush group that has been reinforced in other spots as well. Washington brought in more help to chase quarterbacks, but the real question now is whether Oweh can turn those encouraging spring signs into the kind of consistent pressure that makes the rest of the defense work the way the Commanders envisioned when they made the deal. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders May Finally Have The Right Moment For Ben Sinnott
Washingtons offense is heading into a different phase after David Blough was promoted to offensive coordinator in place of Kliff Kingsbury, and that shift could matter for players beyond the obvious names like Terry McLaurin. Ben Sinnott is one of the more interesting watchpoints, because the second-year tight end is positioned to have a larger role as the Commanders adjust what they want to do structurally and how they want to feature the middle of the field.
Former tight end Logan Paulsen sees a path for Sinnott to benefit from the change in scenery and the change in scheme, even with Chig Okonkwo now in the building. He pointed to the way Trey McBrides role grew after coaching changes in Arizona, which is the kind of comp that hints at opportunity without guaranteeing it. For Sinnott, the question now is less about whether the opening exists and more about how quickly Washington turns it into real production. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Offensive Line Suddenly Has Fans Second Guessing Everything
The Commanders offensive line is drawing a fresh round of scrutiny after a recent all-32 ranking slotted the group 22nd in the league, a reminder that even with some major investment up front, the picture is still a work in progress. Washington has made Laremy Tunsil the highest-paid offensive lineman in the NFL, and that kind of commitment usually signals stability, but the rest of the unit has been in more of a shuffle than a finished state.
Nick Allegretti is now positioned to handle center after getting a one-year extension, Chris Paul is back on another one-year deal and set to battle Brandon Coleman for the left guard spot, and the front office has clearly left itself room to keep sorting things out. The biggest question for the Commanders is whether the current mix can become a reliable five-man group quickly enough, because the evaluation of this line still seems to hinge on what happens next rather than what has already been settled. [Read more 🡒]