NFC East pass rushes ranked from worst to best in 2023

3. Washington Commanders

Daron Payne, Montez Sweat, Jonathan Allen, Chase Young

It's not for lack of trying that the Washington Commanders don't have one of the top pass rushes in the entire NFL. They finished one spot ahead of the Giants last year with 43 combined sacks but they know they have enough talent for that number to climb much higher.

Washington has spent first-round picks on Jonathan Allen (No. 17 in 2017), Daron Payne (No. 13 in 2018), Montez Sweat (No. 26 in 2019), and Chase Young (No. 2 in 2020). All four have done well, with Payne just landing a massive extension this offseason.

The rest of their picks have made their mark with Allen recording 33.5 sacks in six seasons, Young winning the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2020, and Sweat putting up 29 sacks in four years.

However, Payne is the only one in the group to ever top double-digits in a single season as the defensive tackle had 11.5 in 2022. On top of that, they can't keep Young on the field. The Ohio State product has played in just 12 games the past two years and has 1.5 sacks in that same span.

The talent is there but until they put it all together, this unit stays at No. 3 in the NFC East.