Does Washington's Defensive Strategy Deserve Criticism?

The Washington Commanders saw their season end at the hands of the Philadelphia Eagles, who embarrassingly turned them into fodder for a Super Bowl championship. Down the stretch, it seemed like quarterback Jayden Daniels had the hearts of football fans around the country behind him. It wasn’t enough to stave off a 55-23 drubbing.

It may have ended ugly, but the Commanders’ magical season thrust open a competitive window. Such a development demands investment from the front-office, pushing them to acquire proven talents with its surplus of cap space to help get Daniels to that Super Bowl.

Offensively, general manager Adam Peters met the moment. In trading for San Francisco 49ers receiver Deebo Samuel and Houston Texans left tackle Laremy Tunsil, he added veteran talent to a unit that needed reinforcement alongside Daniels and receiver Terry McLaurin.

The other side of the ball didn’t get the same attention. The Commanders' defense was criticized by Sportsnaut after an underwhelming free agent, posing the question of whether Washington can contain the competitive offenses it hopes to play in January.

“The Washington Commanders defense greatly exceeded our expectations last season and that’s a credit to Dan Quinn,” Matt Johnson wrote. “While we don’t expect this to be one of the worst NFL defenses in 2025, we’re skeptical of it recapturing its success from last season. The Commanders grossly overpaid for defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw in free agency and we’re suspect of a 35-year-old Bobby Wagner maintaining his level of play. Throw in a below-average pass rush with question marks at cornerback – Jonathan Jones and Marshon Lattimore – you can find reasons to be concerned.

“With that said, Quinn already proved us wrong once and he could certainly maximize this roster for a top-20 defense this fall.”

Kinlaw struggled with the New York Jets in 2024, making his $15 million annual salary among the worst contracts of the offseason. Both Kinlaw and Wagner, though, represent a theoretical shift for the Commanders.

They may not be the most productive, or the most athletic, or the best-value contracts signed in free agency. But both make Washington’s defense more physical, which might be the blueprint to taking down an Eagles team that dominated in the trenches on the way to a championship.

The Commanders ranked 24th in Sportsnaut’s rankings, an entirely justifiable placement, especially given the high-octane offenses the unit isn’t well-suited to limit. In a passing league, several teams could give them trouble. If they can take down Philadelphia when it matters, Peters’ gamble will have paid off.