With their first pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Washington Commanders addressed one of their major needs. With the No. 2 overall pick, they selected LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner.
With their second pick of the 2024 NFL Draft, the Commanders moved to the other side of the ball. Head coach Dan Quinn’s background is on the defensive side and he is getting an excellent player to add to the mix along the defensive line.
With the No. 36 overall pick and fourth selection of the second round, Washington selected Illinois defensive tackle Jer’Zhan Newton. Newton presents excellent value for the Commanders, as he was regarded as a first-round pick throughout the pre-draft process.
However, his fit for the Commanders is a bit of an odd one. They have committed major money in recent offseasons to defensive tackles Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne on extensions. Figuring out how Newton fits into the plans right now is tough to project, but there is no doubt that Washington has added a very good player to their roster.
How good can Newton be? In the opinion of an NFL scout who spoke to NFL Analysis Network, he has a lot of Javon Hargrave in his game. Hargrave, who signed with the San Francisco 49ers as a free agent in 2023, is one of the top interior defensive linemen in the NFL.
“The Commanders are getting a Javon Hargrove type of defensive tackle with this pick. Jer’Zhan Newton is 6-2 and a shade over 300 pounds, but he’s extremely athletic. At the NFL level, he’s going to be a more than capable pass-rusher and a disruptor on the line. Great pick for Washington.”
Newton was the 2023 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and an All-American. He registered 8.5 tackles for loss during the 2023 season along with 7.5 sacks. His numbers getting after the quarterback increased every season he was with the Fighting Illini, as he has strong pass-rushing traits to go along with his incredible run defense.
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