The Washington Commanders came away with one of the best draft classes last weekend, from top to bottom. But, a big reason why it is so heralded is because the team managed to steal a guy many thought was a top-25 prospect in Jer’Zhan “Johhny” Newton.
The Commanders didn’t need to address the interior defensive line coming into the draft, or at least it wasn’t any where close to a priority. That all changed, however, when Newton fell out of Round 1. And, apparently, the Commanders were so excited at the idea of drafting the former Fighting Illini, they turned down trade offers from other teams trying to move up because of Newton’s potential availability at 36.
“We were ecstatic because after Thursday night, you look at your board, and Johnny was really an outlier on our board; and we’re looking at each other and we talked about it Thursday night and then again Friday morning,” Peters said on the most recent episode of Commanders.com’s Command Center. “We got a ton of phone calls Friday [from] guys looking to trade up and in the end we said, ‘If Johnny’s there we got to take him.’ Even though that wasn’t, maybe, the biggest position of need we had, he was clearly the highest player on our board.
“He’s a game-wrecker and he fits what we do perfectly. It’s everything that a Commander is, really. Just tough, smart, violent – everything you want. And he’s a team captain. So, we were happy to pull the trigger on that one.”
Newton’s fit in Washington is very intriguing and also very exciting
It’s not just the fact that the Commanders got a top-25 player at No. 36 that makes Newton’s presence so exciting – it’s the fact he joins Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne in the Commanders’ defensive line room.
Not only will this three-headed monster have an impact in 2024, Newton gets to learn from two of the game’s best, both on the field and off the field.
“Those guys are great examples to follow in terms of how they are as pros – the way they work, the way they go about their business,” said Peters. “So, anytime you can have that situation, it’s awesome. Johnny’s already pretty close to being like that, but to learn from those two guys, and really everybody else in the room, we have a lot of really good pros in that room.
“So, that, and then we can get them all on the field at the same time. That’s what’s really cool. DQ has a vision to get them all on the field at the same time. So it’s not like he’s going to be a backup and not playing a whole lot. He’s going to get on the field. He’s going to play [and] we’re going to rotate those guys [in order to] keep those guys fresh so they [can] get after it, too.”
The thought of Allen, Payne, and Newton all on the field at once is pretty scary for opposing offenses. Just imagine a 3rd and 2, where a team could easily run or throw the ball. Well, having those three on the field, plus a guy like Dorance Armstrong filling out that DE position, gives the Commanders enough size to defend the run, but also, a lot more pass rushing juice than what would typically be on the field, at the time.
There are plenty of other scenarios to think of, including a simple 1st and 10 (the one objective down where a team has a 50/50 shot at running or throwing the ball) where the Commanders are in a “base” defense that includes the aforementioned trio in the trenches.
Allen and Payne can both be moved around, as well. Yes, they primarily line up over the B gap in 2023, but per Pro Football Focus, both players also recorded over 245 snaps, each, lining up over tackle.
With Newton, there are so many options for Dan Quinn and Joe Whitt Jr. when it comes to the defensive front. The kid also brings youthful energy and passion to the defensive front, which should help it get back on track in 2024.
And, even better, Newton is has extra motivation to show the NFL it messed up by passing him by in Round 1. That in itself bodes well, especially when it’s coming from the reigning Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year.
“1,000 percent,” said Newton after he was asked if the first-round fall motivates him. “But I’m still happy that I got drafted. A lot of people don’t have this opportunity. Definitely fuel to my fire and a chip on my shoulder.”
