After a difficult 2021 season, Washington Commanders bounced back to have one of the NFL’s better defenses in 2022.
While scoring points was sometimes a struggle for Washington, the defense was stingy, often led by the defensive line of Jonathan Allen, Daron Payne and Montez Sweat.
Washington’s defense struggled out of the gate last season without safety Kamren Curl but tightened up in Week 3 and beyond. Cornerback Kendall Fuller had a bounceback season, while second-year running mate Benjamin St-Juste looked like a future star at times.
Curl and Darrick Forrest formed one of the NFL’s best young safety tandems, and defensive end Chase Young finally returned from injury in Week 16.
As we look ahead to 2023, Arif Hasan of Pro Football Network recently ranked every NFL defense. Hasan has Washington ranked No. 4 — behind only the New York Jets, San Francisco and Dallas.
The Commanders finished seventh in points last year and fifth in EPA per play allowed but aren’t considered a high-level defense. They should be. They added to the secondary with a first- and second-round pick at cornerback and have a capable safety in Kamren Curl. They have a fantastic interior and should have high-level EDGE play, even if Chase Young isn’t completely healthy the entire season.
Hasan is correct. The Commanders don’t often receive the credit they deserve for their defense. If Young returns healthy and resembles his former self, Washington’s defense has an opportunity to be elite in 2023.
