The Washington Commanders believe they have a roster that is good enough to win a Super Bowl. That doesn't mean they are a complete team at this point.
If there was one position group that team still needs to figure out, it's along their defensive line.
Washington lost their top edge rusher in Dante Fowler Jr. to free agency this offseason. ... inexplicably letting him walk back to the Dallas Cowboys. While the organization did add top players like Laremy Tunsil and Deebo Samuel to the team, the organization's answer following the departure of Fowler is something they haven't been able to figure out just yet.
And NFL.com writer Nick Shook believes Fowler's absence will have a big impact on Washington's defense this season.
"Fowler was a tremendous value last season, racking up a team-high 10.5 sacks for Dan Quinn’s defense while playing on a one-year deal for less than $5 million," Shook wrote.
"Fowler was due for a raise and received one from the Cowboys this offseason, while Washington is hoping Dorance Armstrong can step up in his second year with the team after signing a three-year, $33 million deal last offseason. If Armstrong can produce like Fowler did, the change won’t matter much, but Armstrong has never cracked double-digit sacks in his seven-year career."
Armstrong - another Cowboys ex - is not a bad player. He has been a serviceable starter throughout his career.
But compared to Fowler, at least in terms of big-time sack numbers, Armstrong is not necessarily a top player to rely on going into the 2025 season.
Having a good defensive line is important for any star unit in the league. The Commanders being one of the few to not have that, though, could be a sign that they may not be as good or dominant as many would expect.