Adam Peters has laid his cards on the table. The general manager was not satisfied with the defensive efforts last season, and rightfully so. He’s doing whatever it takes to make sure the Washington Commanders are in a better position to improve under new coordinator Daronte Jones.

Aside from pass-catching tight end Chig Okonkwo, every signing has been on the defensive side of the football. No fan should be complaining about that, and the signing of Charles Omenihu is the third versatile defensive lineman to join the ranks in recent days.

NFL insider Jordan Schultz confirmed that Omenihu has agreed to a one-year, $4 million deal that could be worth up to $7 million with incentives. It’s a low-risk move with high rewards attached, giving the Commanders a versatile chess piece capable of lining up in multiple spots.

Commanders’ defensive overhaul puts Johnny Newton firmly on notice

This also raises the stakes exponentially for a once highly-touted draft pick who has yet to meet expectations.

There was enormous fanfare when defensive lineman Johnny Newton slipped through the cracks and into Washington’s lap at No. 36 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft. It’s been a slow burn over the first two seasons of his professional career, so the jury is still out regarding his long-term outlook.

Newton has flashed. His three-sack outing against the Dallas Cowboys on Christmas Day is an example of what he could bring to the table when firing on all cylinders. But the consistency is nowhere near the level required, and his lack of run-stopping prowess remains an ongoing frustration.

Omenihu can line up almost anywhere on the front. He’s got the size, length, and power to potentially rush from the interior, which is Newton’s specialty. Peters is not going to give up on the Illinois product by any stretch of the imagination. Even so, these arrivals to the defensive front seven, with potentially more on the way, turn up the heat in no uncertain terms.

This won’t be lost on Newton. He’s dealt with some injury problems over his first two offseasons in Washington, so he’ll be hoping for a better run of luck this time around. If he can do that and embrace the new defensive scheme being deployed by Jones, all hope is not lost for the player entering a critical third campaign.

The likes of Omenihu, Odafe Oweh, and K’Lavon Chaisson haven’t been brought in to sit on the sidelines. What that means for Newton and others remains to be seen, but Peters had to take drastic measures to turn the tide.

How Newton responds could make or break his time in Washington.