For the better part of the last decade, the Washington Commanders had an underrated duo along their defensive line. Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne were two of the best defensive tackles in the game.
Things have changed, though.
Allen was released in a salary cap move this offseason and has since signed with the Minnesota Vikings. Along the way, Washington has struggled to add quality pass rushers to their team along the edge - with Dallas' Dorance Armstrong coming over a year ago considered the big addition in free agency.
With questions surrounding the interior of their defensive line, Commanders head coach made it abundantly clear that the team was still very confident in what they have built along the group.
"I'm really excited about competition, and it really does kind of foster an environment where it's so competitive and you're pushing for it. The best teams that I’ve been a part of have that. And at the line of scrimmage that's so important of how we want to go and how we want to play," Quinn said.
"And so, I love the guys that we've added, we certainly did a lot of research on who they were, not just as ball players, but as men and teammates. And so that was really important for us, how important our locker room and our attitude and who we are and what we want to be.
"That was really important part of it too. So, we're excited to add these guys to the crew."
Another year in Quinn's scheme could certainly help the Commanders defensive line in their development.
But it's also fair to point out the group easily got worse with Allen's departure as well.
