Commanders' Dan Quinn names a breakout player for 2026

· Yahoo Sports

The Washington Commanders are counting on several players from the 2024 rookie class to take a big leap this fall. It starts with quarterback Jayden Daniels, who is already outstanding, but must stay healthy. Washington wants to see players like defensive tackle Johnny Newton, cornerback Mike Sainristil, tight end Ben Sinnott, offensive lineman Brandon Coleman and wide receiver Luke McCaffrey all take a jump in 2026.

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At the NFL's annual league meeting on Tuesday, head coach Dan Quinn was asked to name one player who will take a leap in 2026. He chose one of those aforementioned 2024 draft picks: Newton.

"The first one that comes to mind is defensive tackle Johnny Newton," Quinn told Kevin Clark of This is Football. And his first year was injuries; he had foot injuries to come in. I think he’s a guy that’s about to just absolutely take off."

Why?

"As a defensive tackle, man, is he quick. Beating somebody to the spot. His ability as an interior rusher, I think he'll be somebody that, 'OK, I remember talking to Dan back in March or April or whatever it was and say this guy turned into a heavy hitter.'"

Newton was the No. 36 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Most expected him to go in the first round, but a foot injury dropped him down a bit. Washington gladly picked him, but he made a minimal impact as a rookie despite playing in 16 games. He played in every game last season, but it wasn't until the Christmas Day game against the Cowboys that everyone saw Newton's potential. He finished with nine tackles, three sacks, two tackles for loss and five quarterback hits. While it's impossible to produce like that each week, it gave a glimpse into what Washington saw in Newton.

It will be interesting to see how Newton fits in new defensive coordinator Daronte Jones' scheme. Washington has Daron Payne and Javon Kinlaw returning as starters, and signed Tim Settle to a three-year deal in free agency. Many believe that Jones will run a base 3-4. What will that mean for Newton? From Quinn's response, Washington still has big plans for the 2023 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year.

This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders: Dan Quinn picks his 2026 breakout player

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