#washington-commanders

#washington-commanders

Daronte Jones decided that he had no use for Ryan Kerrigan on his defensive staff. His status in Washington Commanders folklore will always be remembered fondly as a player and coach, but this scenario was always likely under a new regime. Kerrigan survived when head coach Dan Quinn replaced Ron Rivera. The assistant linebackers coach and pass-rush specialist wasn't as fortunate when Jones took charge, and his illustrious stint with the franchise has now come to an end.

The Commanders have already made significant alterations on the defensive side of the ball. Daronte Jones will lead the unit after impressing during the interview process, replacing fired coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. Several assistant coaches have been let go, and Jason Simmons has taken a job with the Pittsburgh Steelers. This could merely be the tip of the iceberg. Peters must aggressively attack free agency, especially with only two selections in the first four rounds of the 2026 NFL Draft.

Quinn took a supreme leap of faith by making David Blough their offensive coordinator. He's got no play-calling experience and was only a position coach for a few weeks. However, the Commanders believe he can provide the modern-day concepts needed to help take quarterback Jayden Daniels' game to new heights. New defensive coordinator Daronte Jones fits into a similar mold. He's also a first-time play-caller. But unlike Blough, his coaching credentials are vast and revered in equal measure.

Daronte Jones has already begun to implement his strategy for the Washington Commanders' defense. Several assistants, including team legend Ryan Kerrigan, have been made surplus to requirements on the staffing side. There will also be numerous changes to the playing personnel in the weeks and months ahead. Not many should be guaranteed a place in the plans. Washington's defense was nothing short of abysmal in 2025, leading to Joe Whitt Jr.'s firing.

There is a lot going on with the Minnesota Vikings right now. They shocked the NFL world by firing general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah extremely late in the hiring cycle, and they will not be seeking a permanent replacement until after the 2026 NFL Draft. Not the conventional approach, but those in power believed it was necessary. Rumors of a disconnect on how to move forward at the quarterback position were rife in the firing's immediate aftermath.

Defensive coordinator Daronte Jones should run a more creative, aggressive scheme. For that to work, the Washington Commanders desperately need to improve the personnel at their disposal. The Commanders believe Jones has the coaching prowess and schematic ideas to take this failing unit forward. While the bar isn't exactly high for that after two years of inept production under the previous defensive coordinator, Joe Whitt Jr., this gamble has to go well for head coach Dan Quinn. Otherwise, he'll be on the chopping block this time next year.

Daronte Jones' arrival as defensive coordinator represents a supreme leap of faith for the Washington Commanders. For this to work, general manager Adam Peters must put the correct personnel in place to enhance the play-caller's chances of a smooth transition. The Commanders' defense is currently lacking sufficient starting-caliber players. It's got almost no legitimate depth whatsoever, so it's not hard to see why Peters has his work cut out in the coming months before preparations for the 2026 campaign gather pace.

When Peters completed the trade for Tunsil, it was the clearest of several signs that he was pushing all his chips in on 2025. The blindside enforcer had been selected to the Pro Bowl in five of his six seasons with the Houston Texans. He was 30 years old and still playing at a very high level, but the AFC South club seemed eager to rebuild its offensive line with younger players.

Biadasz is a solid player. He's been a dependable presence over the last two seasons, communicating pre-snap and effectively blending run blocking and pass protection. While the former Wisconsin standout isn't a world-beater by any stretch, the Commanders could do a lot worse. At 28, Biadasz has a lot of good football left. Dan Quinn knows him well from their time together on the Dallas Cowboys, and he made the lineman one of his most pressing targets in 2024 free agency.

[Joe] Whitt's defense looked completely overmatched as early as Week 2 in their loss at Green Bay. They couldn't cover anyone, especially a TE with Whitt leading the defense. The defense in 2024 was never 'good' either. It was so bad this season that Dan Quinn had to cut loose his friend, Whitt.