Javon Kinlaw Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

Commanders' free-agent gamble showed up to camp looking like a different player

Originally posted on Riggo's Rag | By Dean Jones | Last updated Jul 24, 2025 1:04 PM ET

The Washington Commanders didn't make many splashes in free agency this spring. Adam Peters focused his big investments on the trade market, opting to find more one-year deals for proven veterans with plenty of NFL experience in high-stakes situations.

Peters did make one huge financial outlay, but it wasn't exactly well-received.

Washington released Pro Bowl defensive lineman Jonathan Allen this offseason when no willing trade suitor came forward. This was an inevitable outcome, but Peters had a contingency plan ready to go immediately.

That was Javon Kinlaw. The Commanders gave the free-agent lineman a three-year, $45 million deal with $30 million guaranteed. This was instantly blasted as an overpay by analysts and fans, which only motivated the former first-round pick further in the weeks leading into training camp.

Javon Kinlaw looks lean and explosive over the early stages of Commanders training camp

And he showed up at Ashburn looking like a different player.

It's not hard to miss Kinlaw. He's 6-foot-5 with a muscular, large frame that represents an imposing figure. But the South Carolina product looked much leaner than his documented 319-pound weight suggests.

Javon Kinlaw with a fresh cut… of his practice jersey. pic.twitter.com/S34W8XPfZj
— John Keim (@john_keim) July 24, 2025

There's no way Kinlaw is that now. He's been working exceptionally hard away from the team, and it shows. The No. 14 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft looked explosive during drills, and there's a renewed focus to his approach that bodes well for his chances in Washington.

Training camp is still in its infancy. However, this was exactly what Peters had in mind when he gave Kinlaw a financial commitment not many thought he deserved.

Kinlaw firing. That’s a big man pic.twitter.com/jRtrFfn9Fy
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) July 24, 2025

Kinlaw looks highly motivated. He's got full belief in his capabilities, and he's made no secret about his desire to repay the faith shown in him by Peters. Looking at his more slender frame and improved attitude, optimism is growing around his potential impact on Washington's defensive front.

The Commanders have stated this offseason that the plan is to move Kinlaw around. He'll spend some time on the interior. He'll also spend some time on the edge, which could be why he's tightened up his physique slightly. Whatever defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. can do to exploit mismatches in the new signing's favor, he will implement without a second thought.

There's always a risk that this goes wrong. Not every signing pans out, although Peters has a pretty good strike rate over his first two years in charge. And if he hits on Kinlaw, it's got the scope to be a game-changer in no uncertain terms.

So far, so good on that front.