“With the 36th pick in the 2024 NFL draft, the Washington Commanders select Jer’Zhan Newton, defensive tackle, Illinois.”
Immediately, there was a surprise in the DMV. If Washington was going to select a tackle at No. 36 overall, certainly it would be an offensive tackle, correct? That’s true for teams when they panic and start drafting for need. But for Adam Peters, he saw the highest-rated player on his board still available, so defensive tackle it was.
A lot has changed since the second night of the draft. Everyone in the DMV who knows Newton refers to him as “Johnny.” In addition, Newton underwent foot surgery for a Jones fracture and, as a result, missed the preseason games.
The Commanders do return two of their better starters on the team: defensive tackles Daron Payne and Jonathan Allen. Ironically, the duo accumulated 53 tackles in 2023. Payne led in tackles for a loss 13-10, while Allen led in quarterback hits 19-11 and quarterback sacks 5.5-4.0.
Newton was drafted to provide these two needed rest during games and to become a starter in the future. Newton missed valuable reps and game action in the preseason. Yet, defensive tackle does not have the same learning curve as offensive tackle, where Brandon Coleman also missed the preseason games.
So, if healthy and ready, Newton could still supply some needed snaps in games early. How much of a factor Newton will be in his rookie season is completely up in the air. Not having played any in the preseason, the coaches’ expectations may already be descending.
His college film reveals that one of Newton’s issues at Illinois was keeping his lanes and overrunning some plays. Hopefully, he has been listening closely to Allen and Payne about what is expected of him when he begins getting game snaps.
John Ridgeway was traded to the Saints last week, while Phidarian Mathis apparently outplayed Ridgeway for a roster spot, making Ridgeway expendable. Mathis (age 26) has suffered injuries in each of his first two NFL seasons, accumulating only eight tackles thus far.
How do we feel about Phidarian Mathis Commanders Fam? I honestly think he might not make the roster and will be a surprise cut 🤷♂️ Never healthy, very minimal highlights 😂 @Commanders #RaiseHail pic.twitter.com/4IjuRwmDKM
— DLacks21 (@Cheddarbob804) June 13, 2024
The Commanders also have two men on the practice squad who, if needed, would be called upon to help at defensive tackle: Haggai Ndubuisi, age 23 (6-6, 298), and Carlos Watkins, age 30 (6-3, 305). Ndubuisi is part of the International Pathway program, and Watkins, from Clemson, played for Dan Quinn in 2021 and 2022.
