Commanders are running out of time to make the move everyone expects

Just weeks away from training camp, the Washington Commanders have largely set what will be their 2025 roster. After making major improvements to the offensive depth chart, the Commanders still have a few holes on a defense that vastly outperformed expectations in 2024.

Though pickings are slim at this point in the offseason, one pass rusher with the potential to make a major impact for Washington is still sitting in free agency. If the Commanders don't sign him soon, they'll likely miss their chance..

Commanders must act quickly to sign Jadeveon Clowney

The Washington Commanders had no right to be as productive as they were on defense in 2024. Dan Quinn took a lineup of NFL journeymen and unproven young players and turned it into a competent unit.

Washington ranked comfortably within the top half of the NFL in yardage allowed last year. Even with a mystery box group of edge rushers, they ranked 12th in the league in total sacks through the regular season.

But, with Dante Fowler and Jonathan Allen finding new homes in free agency, over a quarter of the Commanders' sack production is gone.

Washington brought in Deatrich Wise Jr. to fill in on the edge, but that may not be enough to form a competent group. As training camp approaches, a Jadeveon Clowney signing makes perfect sense for this team.

Jadeveon Clowney has been an NFL mercenary for the majority of his career. After failing to meet the astronomical expectations set for him as the No. 1 overall pick back in 2014, Clowney has floated around the league, filling in wherever necessary as a quality pass rusher.

Even with his unique role, Clowney has been a productive player. He's totaled 63 sacks in his career, including double-digit sack numbers in two of the last four seasons.

Clowney has played for six teams in the last seven years. If they act quickly, the Commanders could become the seventh.

Outside of Deatrich Wise Jr. and Dorance Armstrong, Washington is sorely lacking quality edge rushers. Clelin Ferrell can take some snaps, and new addition Jacob Martin might be decent, but there are few players at the position that the team can truly rely on.

At this point in his career, Jadeveon Clowney might not be an ace pass rusher. He might even be limited in his total snap volume. But he'd step in as one of the Commanders' top three edge rushers immediately, with a chance to win a starting job in training camp.

After the meteoric rise of Jayden Daniels, the Washington Commanders are Super Bowl contenders in a crowded NFC. The current defensive depth chart may be good enough for a middling team hoping to sneak into the playoffs, but it's far from being enough to truly compete for championships.

Signing Jadeveon Clowney might not be enough to solidify Washington's defense as a top-ten unit, but it's a step in the right direction. If the Commanders don't make this move now, they may end up regretting it in the playoffs.