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Five Defensive Washington Commanders with Most to Prove in 2026
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- Five Defensive Washington Commanders with Most to Prove in 2026
(© Geoff Burke-Imagn Images)
The Washington Commanders enter 2026 with plenty of questions on both sides of the ball. After diving into the questions on offense , we take a look at the five players on defense with the most to prove ahead of training camp.
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After tearing his ACL in the week seven loss against the Dallas Cowboys , Armstrong will look to get back to where he left off. Armstrong notched 5.5 sacks in just six games before his injury with his absence felt within a lackluster pass rush, but now entering the third year of his three-year deal, Armstrong will look to cement his value in a deeper front seven. Head coach Dan Quinn expressed content with Armstrong's progress this offseason with no clear timeframe for a return, but as part of the deeper solution to address the pass rush in 2026, Armstrong has a chance to showcase himself as an impact piece.
DL Javon Kinlaw
DL Johnny Newton was nearly the pick given his three sack performance against Dallas nearly renewed a season's filled with lost confidence in the former second round pick. It's been sporadic flashes from Newton, a former possible first-round candidate out of Illinois who was tabbed as a potential interior pass rush specialist. While he also enters the season with an added chip on his shoulder, the case for Kinlaw could be stronger.
The veteran is coming off a season where he registered zero sacks, the third time in his last six NFL seasons. The good is his five TFLs matched his 2024 total that reset his career high, giving him a total of 14 over his last three seasons with the Niners, Jets and Commanders. Now preparing for year two of a three year, $45 million deal, Washington would face nearly $6.6 million in dead cap if the front office opts to move on from Kinlaw next season. In a defensive tackle room with several questions and multiple pieces looking to take a step forward, Kinlaw will need to live up to that contract in 2026.
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LB Jordan Magee
Magee now faces an uphill battle for a clearer path to playing time as a byproduct of the offseason moves. Yet the former fifth-round pick has been an integral part of the unit's development this offseason with LBs coach Ken Norton leaning on Magee to shoulder a larger share of responsibilities in practice, like taking the 'green dot' in the spring. His potential as a three-down linebacker is evident after flashing in eight games and appearing in all 17 in 2025, totaling 54 tackles and three TFLs. While he elevates the end of the rotation, Magee offers versatility in a front seven as new defensive coordinator Daronte Jones has stressed the players learn more than just their roles. Does that loom larger for Magee in 2026 ahead of year three of his rookie deal?
DL Daron Payne
Arguably no player on the roster faces no pressure on the Commanders' roster than Payne ahead of 2026. Now entering his second contract season with Washington, Payne will have a lot to prove as a likely starter in a deeper room than a season ago. Adding to production questions is how effective he becomes under Daronte Jones with a chance for more three than four-down fronts expected. Payne was open about the fact that contract negotiations have not started with the front office with a question around whether a third contract with Washington materializes, but the former first-round pick will look change the narrative in 2026.
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After a stellar rookie 2024 season then letdown 2025, Sainristil enters year three looking to show which season was the outlier in his early NFL career. The Michigan product offers a natural fit as a slot corner where he thrives, but injuries pushed Sainristil outside where the struggles began to become more apparent. Washington's addition of Rasul Douglas allows Sainristil to be a versatile piece in the secondary with a chance to play both spots, but similar to Magee, his ability to play multiple roles adds a different element to the secondary. But the question is where will he thrive? With Amik Robertson also arriving as a possible upgrade as a nickel, Sainristil will look to stabilize at the unit with his play potentially what elevates the outlook of the position. There's reason to be confident that coordinator Daronte Jones can be the one to spark a bounceback in 2026.
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