The Washington Commanders have six picks in the first three rounds of this month’s 2024 NFL draft. While Washington is expected to take a quarterback at No. 2 overall, it must address other areas on the roster, too.
One of those positions is defensive end. The Commanders traded defensive ends Chase Young and Montez Sweat at the trade deadline last fall and allowed backups Casey Toohill and James Smith-Williams to depart via free agency.
Under new head coach Dan Quinn, Washington signed veterans Dorance Armstrong, Dante Fowler Jr. and Clelin Ferrell in free agency. They join a room that includes second-year edge rushers K.J. Henry and Andre Jones Jr.
With Ferrell and Fowler only signed to one-year deals, the Commanders could use some of their draft capital to address the position. One player Washington has shown interest in, according to NFL draft analyst Tony Pauline of Sportskeeda, is Western Michigan’s Marshawn Kneeland.
Pauline says Kneeland has 16 visits scheduled, with Washington being one of those visits.
Kneeland played in 37 career college games, and while he didn’t post eye-popping sack numbers, he was productive. A former high school tight end, Kneeland is athletic and is known more as a power rusher than a speed rusher.
The Commanders continue to focus on bringing in players on top-30 visits who have high-level traits. Kneeland is expected to be drafted on the second day of the draft.