Commanders Defense 'Very Sound'; Top 5 Unit?
The Washington Commanders continue to pride themselves on the defensive side of the ball.
After drafting cornerback Emmanuel Forbes with the No. 16 pick, he became the sixth member of the projected starting lineup to be a Washington first-round pick.
By compiling all of these high picks, the Commanders' defense has continued to rise up the ranks. Bleacher Report tabbed Washington with the fourth-best defense in the NFL.
"Led by arguably the league's best defensive line—Montez Sweat, Daron Payne, Jonathan Allen and Chase Young—Washington is powerful up front and very sound overall. If [Emmanuel] Forbes and fellow rookie Jartavius Martin help in the turnover department, this will be the sort of unit that keeps opposing coaches up at night," Bleacher Report writes.
The only teams to rank ahead of the Commanders were the New York Jets, Philadelphia Eagles and San Francisco 49ers.
Washington is built through the defense, and the hope is that it will alleviate some pressure for second-year quarterback Sam Howell, who started just one game in his rookie season.
The way Washington can move up the rankings is by turning the ball over. That's why Forbes, the NCAA record holder for pick-sixes, makes a lot of sense as the team's first pick. Should Forbes' game translate to the NFL level, it could make the Commanders defense the best unit in the league.
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