Daronte Jones hire just made Adam Peters' first offseason move painfully obvious

"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."

"Peters needs to have a long conversation with Jones about the scheme he plans to run and what sort of players he's looking for. If it's anything like Brian Flores' concepts with the Minnesota Vikings, he'll need long, rangy pass-rushers capable of setting the edge and generating pressure consistently. Washington's front-office leader ignored the pass-rush last season, relying on aging veterans on short-term deals. It backfired horribly, and aside from Dorance Armstrong Jr., nobody else is guaranteed to return."

"Jones' system, which promises to use exotic blitz packages and disguised coverages, demands an elite-level game-wrecker with proven credentials. That means the Commanders must swing for the fences with a bold bid for Trey Hendrickson. The NFL's sack leader in 2023 and 2024 is arguably the hottest name set to enter free agency this spring. Hendrickson's time with the Cincinnati Bengals seems to have run its course, with a contract holdout last summer yielding only a pay increase, with no additional years added to his deal."

Daronte Jones' hire as defensive coordinator requires significant personnel changes to enable his complex scheme. The Commanders currently lack sufficient starting-caliber players and possess almost no legitimate depth, creating urgency for roster upgrades before the 2026 campaign. Adam Peters must align acquisitions with Jones' preferred scheme, emphasizing long, rangy pass-rushers who can set the edge and consistently generate pressure. The front office neglected the pass rush last season and relied on aging veterans, producing poor results aside from Dorance Armstrong Jr. Targeting Trey Hendrickson in free agency would be costly but could provide an immediate, game-changing pass-rush presence.

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