Commanders named ideal landing spot for former No. 1 overall pick

Have the Washington Commanders done enough to fix one of the NFL’s worst defenses this offseason?

While much of the talk this offseason was about whether Washington did enough on offense to help quarterback Jayden Daniels, the same could be said of the defense. The Commanders spent significant resources to upgrade the front seven, with the additions of Odafe Oweh, K’Lavon Chaisson, Tim Settle, Sonny Styles, Leo Chenal, and others. Some wonder if they need to add more help at cornerback.

The Commanders signed Amik Robertson to start at one of their cornerback positions in 2026. That means Robertson, Mike Sainristil and Trey Amos are Washington’s top three cornerbacks. Safety Quan Martin could see snaps at cornerback, too. The Commanders hope and believe that upgrades to the pass rush will help the corners.

Speaking of the pass rush, Karl Rasmussen of Sports Illustrated recently played matchmaker for four of the top remaining free-agent pass rushers. He liked former No. 1 overall pick Jadeveon Clowney as an option for the Commanders.

The Commanders need a buff on the edge of their defensive line after opting not to re-sign Miller. Clowney could be a low-risk option for Washington in an area of need. He led the Cowboys in sacks last season with 8.5, while adding 10 QB hits and 12 tackles for loss, despite only playing in 13 games. Clowney is 33 and has bounced around the league over the past half a decade, though he has generally been productive regardless of what team he’s playing for.

The Commanders need a buff on the edge of their defensive line after opting not to re-sign Miller. Clowney could be a low-risk option for Washington in an area of need. He led the Cowboys in sacks last season with 8.5, while adding 10 QB hits and 12 tackles for loss, despite only playing in 13 games. Clowney is 33 and has bounced around the league over the past half a decade, though he has generally been productive regardless of what team he’s playing for.

While Clowney never quite lived up to being the No. 1 overall pick, he’s been a very good player. The 33-year-old has played for seven teams in his 12 NFL seasons. He remains a quality pass rusher, and he’s also no slouch against the run. Clowney could be an excellent rotational pass rusher, alongside Oweh, Chaisson, Charles Omenihu and Dorance Armstrong.

This doesn’t feel like a move Washington would make. Maybe last year, but not now. The Commanders addressed the edge position early in free agency, targeting Oweh, Chaisson and Omenihu. Armstrong was having an excellent season one year ago before a knee injury sidelined him for the final 10 games.

Furthermore, Clowney is likely to pick a team where he has a chance to start. That’s not happening in Washington.