Johnny Newton arrived in Washington with the kind of draft capital that usually buys patience. The Commanders took him No. 36 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft, and Dan Quinn even pointed to him as a player who could break out this season. But deep into preparations for the 2026 campaign, the wait is still on.
What’s making this situation uncomfortable is that the same issues keep showing up. Newton has flashed enough pass-rush juice to keep people interested, but his effort against the Miami Dolphins in Washington’s preseason opener brought the familiar concern back into focus: the play strength just isn’t there yet.
That matters even more now because Daronte Jones has shifted the defensive front to a 3-4 base, and that system asks a lot more from the interior. Washington needs linemen who can hold up, take on blocks, and keep things clean behind them. So far, the Illinois product hasn’t shown he can do that consistently.
Right now, the front looks crowded ahead of him. Daron Payne, Javon Kinlaw, and free-agent addition Tim Settle Jr. are the starters in the trenches, and all three have the size and experience to fit what Jones wants. Behind them, Charles Omenihu and Deatrich Wise Jr. are expected to stick as depth options when healthy.
That leaves Newton fighting for a role he was supposed to be in position to claim. Instead, Shy Tuttle and Ricky Barber both outplayed him against Miami, with Barber drawing notable praise for what he brought overall.
It’s not a simple call to put either Tuttle or Barber ahead of Newton, especially with general manager Adam Peters having invested a high-end Day 2 pick in him. But the longer Newton stays one-dimensional, the harder it becomes to defend his standing.
The upside is still there. Newton’s three-sack game against the Dallas Cowboys last season is proof enough that he can wreck a play in a hurry.
The problem is that those bursts aren’t enough anymore. Washington needs more than moments.
For now, Newton’s roster spot is safe. But if his place keeps slipping, Peters could eventually have to consider a trade before final cuts. That would be a drastic turn, but this is where things stand: even big investments hit a tipping point.
Newton is at that kind of crossroads now. Washington bet on him in the 2024 draft, and he has to keep pace or risk being left behind.
If that happens, the label attached to him gets ugly fast. Nobody in Washington wants to be talking about draft bust territory, but that’s the danger if he doesn’t turn this around.
In Other News...
Sam Hartmans Commanders Roster Fight Already Looks Much Tougher
Sam Hartman is back in another Washington Commanders offseason, and the path hes trying to carve out at quarterback looks steeper than it did a few weeks ago. Entering his third summer with the organization, Hartman is still trying to turn familiarity into staying power, but the room around him has changed enough to make every rep matter. Washingtons latest addition at the position has only tightened the competition and pushed Hartman into a more precarious place on the roster.
Hartman now sits at the bottom of the quarterback depth chart, which is never a comfortable spot for a player trying to prove he belongs. The Commanders still have time to sort out the position battle, but the early signs suggest Hartmans margin for error is slim and his clearest path may not even be to the active roster. For a player entering his third offseason with the team, the fight is no longer just about beating out another quarterback, its about avoiding being squeezed out entirely. [Read more 🡒]
Dan Quinn Just Sharpened Washingtons Biggest Camp Battles
Marcus Mariotas MCL sprain was one of the main injury notes Dan Quinn walked through in his latest press conference, but the Commanders sounded encouraged about the quarterbacks timeline as camp moves toward the regular season. Quinn also gave updates on Trey Amos recovery progress and Nick Allegrettis return to practice, while making clear that Washington is still in the middle of sorting out some important roster spots before the real games begin.
The biggest competition remains at center, where the reps are still being sorted out and every practice matters as the staff evaluates who can handle the job. Quinn also touched on linebacker Sonny Styles development and the teams communication across the board, a reminder that Washingtons training camp is less about finishing answers than building toward them. [Read more 🡒]