Story by
Three Commanders Defenders Auditioning for a New Contract in 2026
- Story by
- Three Commanders Defenders Auditioning for a New Contract in 2026
Washington's defense went from serviceable in 2024 to awful in 2025. After giving up the fifth-most passing yards and third-most rushing yards in the league , Washington drafted Sonny Styles with the seventh overall pick , but one player won't be enough to elevate the group from the bottom of the league.
Daron Payne , Dorance Armstrong and Frankie Luvu are all playing on contracts set to expire at the end of the year. With all three players 3 0 years old or older by the end of the year , they'll need to make a strong case for why they shouldn't be replaced by younger players next offseason .
Advertisement
Before a season-ending injury , Dorance Armstrong was living up to the hype as the disrupter he was brought in to be. Now, as he starts training camp on the PUP list , it's uncertain whether he can regain the strength and speed to maintain his starting role on the defensive line. Currently sitting at a $12.5 million cap hit, Armstrong could be brought back on a slightly cheaper deal, depending on his production and health — a move that would help develop a sense of cohesion on the roster for first-year coordinator Daronte Jones.
Dec 22, 2024; Landover, Maryland, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Kenny Pickett (7) runs the ball against Washington Commanders defensive end Dorance Armstrong (92) during the third quarter at Northwest Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-Imagn Images
Since his viral moment of purposefully jumping over the line of scrimmage in the 2024 NFC Championship Game , Frankie Luvu's impact on the defense has dwindled. After earning All-Pro honors in 2024 with eight sacks, seven pass deflections, an interception and one forced fumble, Luvu became a liability in coverage, as his age and lack of speed were constantly exposed. Entering his ninth NFL season and third with Washington, Luvu will be challenged to remain relevant as attention shifts toward Leo Chenal, K'Lavon Chaisson and rookie Sonny Styles as the primary three linebackers.
Advertisement
One of the last remaining players from the "Redskins" and "Washington Football Team" era, Daron Payne secured a massive contract extension after the 2022 season, in which he recorded 11.5 sacks, 64 total tackles and 20 quarterback hits. Since then, he's been a shell of his former self, as he hasn't come anywhere close to his breakout season in the last three years. Granted, he's missed only two games to injury since his extension, but he occupies 9.28% of the Commanders' cap space . Floated as a potential trade candidate with only one year left on his current deal , Payne will need to replicate the breakout year he had in 2022 to earn another contract in Washington.
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Jul 28, 2026, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
