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Commanders' Free Agent Signing Tipped To Be Biggest 'Bust'

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Adam Schultz | Last updated Jul 12, 2025 9:49 AM ET

The Washington Commanders' defense has been the subject of much debate this offseason, with some thinking that Joe Whitt Jr.'s unit will be the reason the franchise doesn't return to the NFC Championship.

Surprisingly, the franchise let Dante Fowler Jr. go in free agency, after leading the team in sacks last year, and in came New York Jets defender Javon Kinlaw on a three-year, $45 million deal, which some are still shaking their heads at.

Starting all 17 games for the Jets last season, just 4.5 sacks were produced, which is a career high, but isn't enough to warrant the contract he got for some.

And when naming each team's bust candidate, Bleacher Report named Kinlaw as Washington's.

"Simply put, the Washington Commanders probably overpaid to land defensive lineman Javon Kinlaw," Bleacher Report writes. "The 2020 first-round pick had a good year with the Jets in 2024, finishing with 40 tackles and 4.5 sacks. However, Washington gave him high-end starter money.

"The Commanders were clearly eager to replace Jonathan Allen, who was released just before the start of free agency. However, Kinlaw, who had just five tackles for loss and 12 QB pressures in 2024, is unlikely to play up to his $15 million-per-year contract."

Now, the Jets weren't exactly a settled organization last season, so the move away might do Kinlaw some good, but there's no doubting he has to see an uptick in his sack numbers.

Just 4.5 won't get it done in 2025, considering the Commanders already had trouble getting after the quarterback with Fowler Jr., and now he and his double-digit sacks aren't there, someone has to step up.

That has to be Kinlaw, along with Daron Payne, but Javon was the big free agency addition, and if the Commanders are to go deep into the playoffs, the defensive line has to come to the party.

We know what the offense will do, but as far as Kinlaw and the defense? We have to see it with real NFL bullets flying.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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