"Adam Peters took the former Illinois star at No. 36 overall, and the plaudits started flooding in. The Commanders got a first-round talent who had only fallen due to injury concerns. He had separate surgeries on both feet in college, but the prognosis looked good. His development might be slightly delayed, but if a team were willing to wait, they would be getting a star."
"With a new defensive coordinator in town and potential scheme changes in the works, he may be running out of chances. Newton had his best game as a pro in Week 17 against the Dallas Cowboys last season. He played 56 snaps, the most in his career. He was credited with nine tackles, three sacks, and five quarterback hits. He was a menace."
Johnny Newton was selected No. 36 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft after a standout college career at Illinois, including two-time All-American honors and Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year. He underwent separate surgeries on both feet in college and entered the NFL with health concerns but high upside. Newton has so far been an average rotational defensive lineman rather than a foundational starter. He showed a breakout Week 17 performance with nine tackles, three sacks and five quarterback hits, but that game appears to be an outlier. He was out-snapped by veteran Eddie Goldman through the first 14 weeks. A new defensive coordinator and potential scheme changes may limit his remaining opportunities.
Read at Riggo's Rag
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