NFL insider says quiet part out loud about Commanders' fatal flaw

After a season in which the Washington Commanders stunned the NFL world, improving their record by eight games to go 12-5 and reach the NFC Championship, they largely have done everything right this offseason to capitalize on that success.

They beefed up their offensive line by trading for Laremy Tunsil and drafting Josh Conerly Jr. They gave Jayden Daniels a quality No. 2 receiving option in Deebo Samuel Sr. They added rookie Trey Amos and veteran Jonathan Jones to their secondary and brought back key locker room leaders such as Bobby Wagner and Zach Ertz.

One area they did not address with enough urgency was the defensive line, particularly on the edge. There's still time to fix that with someone like Jadeveon Clowney, but according to Albert Breer from Sports Illustrated, Washington might have to go with what they've got.

Commanders may need to live with harsh pass-rushing reality this season

Currently, Washington's depth chart at the defensive end spot consists of Dorance Armstrong Jr., Jacob Martin, Deatrich Wise Jr., and Clelin Ferrell. Breer seems to think that's not going to change before Week 1 against the New York Giants arrives.

I think for right now, they are where they are at those positions, with Dorance Armstrong, Deatrich Wise and Clelin Ferrell forming a professional, workmanlike group. I think the job they’ve done reworking so many premium positions over Dan Quinn and Adam Peters’s first 16 months (receiver, left tackle, corner, quarterback) has been remarkable. But it’s tough to take care of all of it at once.Albert Breer

Breer goes on to indicate that Washington could potentially make an in-season move for some help on the unit, just as the team did for cornerback Marshon Lattimore last year. However, that will be trickier given the Commanders don't have as many draft picks to leverage this time around.

There's also the chance that all this hand-wringing over Washington's pass-rush woes is premature. For all we know, the unit could punch above its weight, or a hidden gem could emerge from the defensive line depth. After all, not many expected Frankie Luvu to become one of the Commanders' top contributors on defense last year.

That said, if Washington's lack of pressure in opposing backfields becomes the type of problem that holds the rest of the team back, then Adam Peters will certainly be rethinking his decision not to more aggressively find answers. The Commanders can't afford to go backward right now.

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