The Commanders simply had to improve their defense. Mostly because it couldn’t have performed worse in 2025.
That unit ranked dead last in yards per game (384.4 ypg), No. 31 in takeaways (10), No. 31 in red-zone defense (67.7%) and No. 27 in scoring defense (26.5 ppg).
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That led to a complete overhaul, starting with coordinator Joe Whitt Jr.’s firing after the season. Daronte Jones replaced him, bringing excitement and hope that he can bring elements of Brian Flores’ defense in Minnesota catered to Washington’s talent level and specific player skill sets.
The overall talent level had to rise significantly and general manager Adam Peters knew it. He invested heavily in its improvement, vowing to get younger and faster on the defensive side of the ball.
That objective was clear in the signings made, looking to younger, ascending players to step in and make a difference. That effort continued with the No. 7 overall NFL draft pick, which gleaned elite Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles.
Some major acquisitions were added to this Commanders defense that should improve performance at every level.
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Which defensive player will make the greatest impact on the unit overall?
We’ll discuss that in a bit. Before we do, here’s a refresher of that defensive haul:
Free agency
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EDGE K’Lavon Chaisson
NFL Draft
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LB Sonny Styles (No. 7 overall)
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EDGE Joshua Josephs (No. 147)
That’s a good mix of depth additions and every-down players. Guys like Tim Settle, Charles Omenihu and Amik Robertson will make Washington’s defense better in low-key ways, but Washington will need the higher profile players to make a profound impact.
While one of these four will shine brightest in the spotlight?
EDGE Odafe Oweh
Peters paid the former Ravens and Chargers edge rusher massive amounts of cash this spring, signing the 27-year-old to a four-year, $100 million contract. He doesn’t have the name recognition of other high-profile edge rushers but has been productive in his role, with 10 sacks in 2024 and all 7.5 of his 2025 total after a trade to the Chargers.
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His quarterback pressure rate was up to 15.8% in 2025, a solid sum that suggests he can efficiently get after the quarterback. His snap count was 494 last season and generally hovers somewhere in the 500s. How will he fare when that number naturally ticks up, even if he’s part of a larger rotation? He’ll still be the frontman of the group and will be expected to deliver complete-package performances.
The Commanders clearly believe he can handle the responsibility. I tend to agree.
LB Sonny Styles
Expectations are always sky-high for first-round NFL draft picks, especially those taken in the top 10. It’s that way for Sonny Styles, who’s expected to be an every-down player who will move around the formation causing havoc and is in the conversation to wear the green dot.
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All that is marked for a player who hasn’t taken an NFL snap and has only played linebacker for two seasons. That’s a lot. It’s also not outside the realm of possibility for an athletic freak with a passion for the game and a high football IQ. It will be interesting to see how Jones uses him as a rookie and how much pre-snap processing he asks of the young player.
There’s enough talent around Styles to lift that weight a little bit, but it’s unfair to assume he’ll be all-world as a rookie. Pretty darn good should be okay in 2026, as he continues to develop over time.
S Nick Cross
The Commanders need stability on the back end. While Cross shouldn’t be considered an elite safety, he’s a three-down player who can keep things organized and make some plays in the back. Washington will take that in a heartbeat.
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The defense will also take his quality run defense and abilities working from the box, where he lined up a ton for the Colts last season. While Jones may ask him for some different things, Cross can make a real impact on the field and in the locker room.
LB Leo Chenal
Adding Chenal was a big deal in March and it remains so after the Styles draft pick. Chenal’s another quick, athletic off-the-ball linebacker who can defend the run and cover well. He hasn’t exceeded 527 defensive snaps to this point, but his workload’s surely going up in another Peters bet on an ascending player. How he handles that, and his partnership with Styles, will be key for the Commanders defense.
This all-around player will have a chance to assume a major role in this defense, even with Frankie Luvu expected to be heavily involved. The Commanders have a dynamic linebacker corps and will be counting on Chenal a ton in 2026.
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Which new defensive player will have the biggest impact on the 2026 season. Let us know in the article comments and in the Feed poll below. Feel free to add a write-in candidate in the Feed poll replies.
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