Washington Commanders draft Johnny Newton: How he fits, pick grade and scouting intel

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Washington Commanders draft Johnny Newton: How he fits, pick grade and scouting intel

The Washington Commanders selected defensive tackle Johnny Newton at No. 36 in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft.

Newton, 21, watched his pass-rush numbers improve incrementally in his four seasons at Illinois. The 6-foot-1, 305-pound defensive tackle earned first-team All-American honors in 2023, as well as being named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year.

Durability has been key for Newton as he never missed a game in his four-year college career.

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‘The Beast’ breakdown

Newton ranked No. 28 in Dane Brugler’s Top 300 big board. Here’s what Brugler had to say about him in his annual NFL Draft guide:

“Newton’s undersized, compact frame will be a turn-off for some teams, but he is tough to block one-on-one, because of his gap quickness, natural power and nose for the ball. He projects as a dependable starting three-technique in the NFL.”

Coaching intel

What anonymous coaches had to say about Newton in Bruce Feldman’s mock draft:

“He is crafty and slick with some good moves and heavy hands. He’s just got a great feel for things in there. This guy is a stud.”

“Great block-destruction guy. Really friggin’ twitchy.”

Why he’s a second-round pick

Numbers-wise, Newton shines brighter than Texas’ Byron Murphy II, who was dubbed as the top interior defensive line draft prospect this year. Newton accumulated 187 total tackles (28 tackles for loss) and 18 sacks during his 45 games at Illinois. He also combined for 103 pressures in the past two seasons, which was the most by any FBS interior defensive lineman in that span.

Nick Baumgardner grades the pick

A versatile and powerful interior pocket pusher who can play nose or three-tech, Newton showed dominant stretches of disruption at Illinois and was a first-rounder on a few boards this year. His impact wasn’t as consistent as you’d like and his length is less than ideal — meaning he’ll have to flash dominant power far more often. Washington really needs help up front. I like Newton. I’d have liked a tackle more. Grade: B

Ted Nguyen’s assessment

The Commanders desperately need some offensive tackles, but with the big tackle run in the first round, they likely felt there was no one worth taking early in the second round. Newton was seen as a first-round pick, so he was the best player available. The team’s O-line is a big concern. This is a very bad situation for Jayden Daniels, who can get antsy and resort to scrambling against pressure.

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