2025 Position Review – Interior Defensive Line
May 21, 2025
By Noonefromtampa
Background
The team moved on from long-time, former first round pick Jonathan Allen. They then invested heavily in Javon Kinlaw, a former first round pick of the San Francisco 49ers, who underperformed in his one year with the New York Jets. Daron Payne is probably in his last year with the team as his dead cap number drops to an acceptable level after this season.
Washington did not draft any defensive linemen this year.
Returning Players
Johnny Newton, 2024 2nd round pick
Daron Payne, 2018 1st round pick
Norell Pollard, 2024 Undrafted free agent, returning from injured reserve
Re-signed Sheldon Day, 2024 free agent, 1 year contract, $1.3 million
Players Lost
Jonathan Allen signed with Minnesota
Free Agents Signed
Javon Kinlaw, 3 years, $45 million
Eddie Goldman, 1 year, $1.25 million
Draft Picks
None
Undrafted Free Agents
Ricky Barber, UCF, 6-3, 295 lbs
Thoughts
Payne has the highest salary cap number on the team at $26.2 million and he is going to really need to increase his production if he has any chance of remaining with the team.
Kinlaw is basically on a 2-year contract with a potential out after 2026 season as a result of his $6.6 million dead cap number.
Newton has two years remaining on his cap friendly, rookie deal.
Journeymen Day and Goldman were signed to one-year contracts. Pollard and Barber round out the interior defensive line position.
Last season, Washington kept five interior defensive linemen on the roster. The primary rotation will likely be Payne, Kinlaw and Newton. Goldman and Day are experienced veterans, probably leaving Pollard and Barber fighting for a spot on the practice squad.
Adam Peters will be watching the list of players released at the end of training camp looking to improve the defensive line group.
2024 Stats
| Player | Snaps | Tackles | Sacks | QB Hits | TFL | PD |
| Payne | 742 (69%) | 42 | 4 | 7 | 5 | 2 |
| Newton | 515 (48%) | 44 | 2 | 7 | 6 | 1 |
| Kinlaw | 697 (61%) | 40 | 4.5 | 6 | 4 | 0 |
| Day | 272 (25%) | 24 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Goldman | 331 (30%) | 16 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 |