Washington Defense: Early Look at Defensive Free Agents
February 2, 2024
by David Earl
Defensive Free Agents Washington Could Target
Last season was an absolute disaster for Washington’s defense, which that started when the team passed on Christian Gonzalez for Emmanuel Forbes in the 2023 draft. It’s not necessarily the player himself, although Gonzalez was the better prospect, but more so the decision process that defined Ron Rivera‘s roster construction. From over-drafting Jamin Davis and passing on the opportunity to draft Kyle Hamilton in a trade back to last year’s decision, they just wasted a talented defensive front four. Having no second-level disrupter at linebacker allowed teams such as Baltimore and San Francisco to expose the back end of the defense all season long. It is hindsight to think a player like Kyle Hamilton should have been drafted, but for three years in a row this team just failed to get the required talent needed behind their front four. Now, with the new regime in place, who could be targeted via free agency to help this defense out of the miserable abyss in which they’ve resided for some time now?
Edge Rushers
The trade of Chase Young and Montez Sweat opened a major hole on the edges but this year’s free agency class looks to be stacked. While Adam Peters will look at the draft to build this position, the available names will make it tough not to target a cornerstone piece. Jadeveon Clowney had one of his more productive years under Mike McDonald in Baltimore, registering 9.5 sacks and 19 quarterback hits. He could very well be a good veteran addition to pair withh a potential drafted edge rusher, especially with a projected market value of $7.2 million. As I find it hard to believe Jacksonville will allow Josh Allen to hit the open market, Carolina’s Brian Burns becomes a strong target on this list. Burns is very active off the edge, recording 8 sacks, 18 quarterback hits, 2 pass defenses, and 1 forced fumble on a defense that was void of talent up front. At 26 years old he is entering his prime years and, if lined up next to Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne, there is no reason why he wouldn’t flourish in Washington. His $21.7 million market value could be a potential deal breaker depending on Adam Peters’ direction but this will be one to watch. Of course, this assumes the team will address the major needs at linebacker, which I’ll discuss later.
| Player | Team | Age | 2023 AAV | 2024 Projected Market Value |
| Josh Allen | Jax | 27 | $5.8M | $23.9M |
| Brian Burns | Car | 26 | $3.4M | $21.7M |
| Danielle Hunter | Minn | 29 | $17M | NA |
| Bryce Huff | NYJ | 26 | $4.3M | $9.2M |
| Chase Young | 49ers | 25 | $8.6M | $13M |
| Jonathan Greenard | Hou | 27 | $1.4M | $13.4M |
| Jadeveon Clowney | Balt | 30 | $2.5M | $7.2M |
| Za’Darius Smith | Cle | 31 | $11.7M | $12.4M |
| Josh Uche | Pat | 25 | $1.3M | $8.3M |
Defensive Line
The defensive line, anchored by Allen and Payne, has depth and solid role players, so the need for another impact may not be a high priority. This could be an area addressed solely by the draft but a couple of free agents do make some sense too. Depending on how D.J. Reader returns from his quadricep injury, he could bring a strong interior force against the run. As a rotational piece and in short-yardage packages, he would strengthen a unit which gave up 4.5 yards per carry last season, ranked 26th. Because of his injury, his projected $14.9 million projected market value could come cheaper in a prove-it type deal or an incentive-laden contract. If the team decides to move on from Jonathan Allen, the player to watch is Justin Madubuike from Baltimore. He had 13.5 sacks last season, which is more than his previous 3 years combined and totaled 33 quarterback hits. He’s another guy I don’t see his team allowing to walk; plus, with Mike McDonald heading to Seattle, it could be a tough task to convince him to come to Washington.
| Player | Team | Age | 2023 AAV | 2024 Projected Market Value |
| Chris Jones | KC | 29 | $19.5M | $28.4M |
| Justin Madubuike | Balt | 26 | $1.2M | $20.3M |
| Christian Wilkins | Mia | 29 | $13.2M | $20.2M |
| D.J. Reader | Cinn | 26 | $4.3M | $14.9M |
| Grover Stewart | Ind | 30 | $10.2M | NA |
| Sheldon Rankins | Hou | 30 | $9.8M | $9.9M |
| Teair Tart | Hou | 27 | $4.3M | NA |
| Fletcher Cox | Phi | 33 | $10M | NA |
| DaQuan Jones | Buf | 32 | $7M | $6.8M |
Linebackers
Where do I start? Rhe only real legitimate starting linebacker Washington has is Jamin Davis and he is not a cornerstone piece. The team’s neglect of this position over the years was very prominent and this year’s free agent class could help immediately. The top name is Baltimore’s Patrick Queen but, like Justin Madubuike, Washington may have to contend with Seattle in potentially signing him. While his 3.5 sacks last season may not jump out, his play against the run and in-pass coverage is exactly what Washington’s defense is missing. His 77.6% completion percentage against and allowing 7.5 yards per is comparable to Fred Warner‘s 73.3% completion percentage against and 10 yards per reception. Only at 24 years old, Queen is a worthy of long-term investment at a projected market value of $18.5 million. Devin White, who is in his prime, would come at a cheaper market rate of $10.7 million but his impact would still be significant. With a stronger completion percentage against, at 67.4%, White is a player who produced well in the past. The only concern is his numbers in sacks, tackles, quarterback pressure rates, and impact against the run did drop from the previous season. This position will surely get heavy focus through the draft and free agency. All stat references are from Stathead.
| Player | Team | Age | 2023 AAV | 2024 Projected Market Value |
| Frankie Luvu | Car | 27 | $4.5M | $11.2M |
| LaVonte David | TB | 34 | $4.5M | NA |
| Patrick Queen | Bal | 24 | $3M | $18.5M |
| Jordyn Brooks | Sea | 26 | $3M | $11.3M |
| Bobby Wagner | Sea | 34 | $5.5M | NA |
| Azeez Al-Shaair | Ten | 26 | $9.8M | $9.9M |
| Devin White | TB | 26 | $7.3M | $10.7M |
| Josey Jewell | Den | 29 | $5.5M | $7.6M |
| Blake Cashman | Hou | 27 | $1.1M | NA |
Secondary
Outside of Kamren Curl, who I’d imagine the allegedly newly hired Dan Quinn will want back, Washiongton’s secondary has been pedestrian at the very best. The struggles of this team certainly apply to each level of the defense but this secondary has negated any pressure the front seven has ever applied during the first half of the season. Through the first 8 games of the season, before Chase Young and Montez Sweat trades, Washington’s pass rush was among the top 10 in sack percentage, at 8.36%, and sacks per game, at 3.1. During that time the secondary ranked dead last in yards per completion, at 11.8 and 26th in first down percentage, at 59.89% off completed passes. For the season as a whole, this secondary contributed to the following numbers (via Team Rankings):
- Ranked 32nd in points allowed per game (28.4)
- Ranked 31st in yards per pass attempt (7.5)
- Ranked 32nd opponent passer rating allowed (105.7)
- Ranked 23rd in completion percentage against (66.22%)
The defense was essentially historically bad and saw their top two draft picks, cornerback Emmanuel Forbes and cornerback/safety Quan Martin, have very minimal impact in 2023 which is not ideal. Washington will certainly have some in-house decisions to make, such as Benjamin St-Juste possibly asking for an extension heading into his final season plus a 29 year-old Kendall Fuller being a free agent at a projected market value of $14.1 million. This is yet another position Adam Peters may decide to invest heavily through free agency as opposed to just simply supplementing after the drat.
We will do a more extensive dive into free agency later this offseason, but 2 names jump out immediately are Jaylon Johnson and Antoine Winfield Jr. They present not only much needed help but their youth to provide a potential long-term solution. Winfield Jr. presents the most value of the two as he’s grown into a very versatile player. He can line up in the box, take on receivers in the slot, and play as a roaming deep-third free safety, finding success in single-high. Pairing him with Kamren Curl will allow Quinn to maintain a diverse defense between a Cover 2 style and man-to-man provided Washington can nail down a capable number one corner.
Cornerbacks:
| Player | Team | Age | 2023 AAV | 2024 Projected Market Value |
| Jaylon Johnson | Chi | 25 | $1.6M | $15.7M |
| L’Jarius Sneed | KC | 27 | $982K | $16.3M |
| Kendall Fuller | Was | 29 | $10M | $14.1M |
| Chidobe Awuzie | Cin | 29 | $7.2M | NA |
| Stephon Gilmore | Dal | 33 | $10M | $11.1M |
| Steven Nelson | Hou | 31 | $4.5M | $10.2 |
| Kenny Moore II | Ind | 28 | $8.3M | NA |
| Adoree’ Jackson | NYG | 28 | $13M | $11.3M |
| Keisean Nixon | GB | 27 | $4M | $1.7M |
Safeties:
| Player | Team | Age | 2023 AAV | 2024 Projected Market Value |
| Antoine Winfield Jr | TB | 26 | $1.8M | $18.4M |
| Kyle Dugger | Pat | 28 | $2.1M | $16.5M |
| Kamren Curl | Was | 25 | $853K | $14.4M |
| Geno Stone | Bal | 25 | $1.8M | $7.2M |
| Xavier McKinney | NYG | 25 | $2.1M | 10.4 |
| Jordan Fuller | LAR | 26 | $866K | NA |
| Jordan Whitehead | NYJ | 27 | $5.3M | NA |
| C.J. Gardner-Johnson | Det | 26 | $6.5M | NA |
| Julian Blackmon | Ind | 26 | $1.2M | NA |
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