Washington defensive tackle Phidarian Mathis hasn’t exactly lived up to expectations since being picked No. 47 overall in the 2022 NFL draft.
As a rookie, Mathis injured his knee on the third play of his NFL career and missed the remainder of the season. In 2023, a calf injury cost him seven games. Through two NFL seasons, Mathis has played a total of 206 defensive snaps.
In his 206 snaps, Mathis has just eight tackles and no sacks.
With a new general manager in town and new coaches to follow, Mathis must produce in 2024 to stick around. He’s no longer viewed as a second-round pick. He understands the urgency and plans on having a strong offseason.
“I just want to come back next year and just have a full year and turn everything around,” Mathis said, per commanders.com. “Mentally, it took a toll on me bad. You’ve got people who have expectations for you. You got family expectations, you’ve got expectations for yourself. It’s kind of overwhelming because you know what you can do, and you keep having setbacks after setbacks; it’s kind of a mental game for me. It kind of took me into a deep depression. I was kind of down all year long just knowing I was supposed to be out there, and I wasn’t able to be out there.”
Mathis plans on coming back as a different player beginning in the spring.
“I just want to improve all around, my game. I want to come back a different person, have a different mindset, a different mentality. I just want to come back a different guy. I know I’m gonna come back a different guy, and I’m gonna put more on tape. I’m going to work so hard until I can’t no more. I know this is an important year for me just to show everybody who I really am.”
Mathis, and fellow third-year defensive tackle John Ridgeway are under contract for two more seasons. Starters Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne also return, although there is speculation Allen could be traded. Regardless of Allen’s status, 2024 is a make-or-break year for Mathis.