Byron Cowart Gives Commanders Needed Defensive Line Depth

Washington added veteran defensive tackle Byron Cowart after DJ Davidson retired, a practical move designed to protect the interior rotation before the preseason begins. Cowart missed the 2025 season because of an ankle injury, so the signing is not simply about past experience. It is a live evaluation of whether a healthy veteran can supply early down strength, pocket push, and dependable snaps behind the Commanders’ primary defensive linemen.

What Cowart has shown

Cowart’s most recent full season came with Chicago in 2024, when he recorded 26 tackles, 2.5 sacks, five tackles for loss, and four quarterback hits. Across his career he has 67 tackles and 3.5 sacks in 51 games, including 21 starts. Those are rotational numbers, but rotations matter when injuries, heat, and game tempo test the front.

The immediate question is his movement after the ankle injury. Washington needs to see whether Cowart can anchor against double teams, redirect laterally on zone runs, and finish rushes without losing balance. If those traits are intact, he can reduce the number of heavy snaps assigned to the starters.

Why the signing matters

Interior depth affects more than the defensive tackle room. If Washington can stay firm inside with four rushers, linebackers remain cleaner and the secondary does not have to survive as many extended plays. A reliable tackle also helps the defense avoid becoming predictable when it rotates personnel.

The Commanders released guard Sala Aumavae Laulu and safety Rob McDaniel as part of the corresponding roster work. That signals a direct choice to prioritize defensive line stability. Cowart now has a short runway to prove that the 2025 absence did not erase the functional power that kept him in NFL rotations.

What to watch next

Watch Cowart’s first two steps and his ability to hold his ground. Sack totals are not the best preseason measurement for an interior defender. More useful signs are whether the run is forced sideways, whether the quarterback has to move off the spot, and whether Cowart can play multiple consecutive snaps without his pad level rising.

Football Nation bottom line: this is not a headline signing, but it can solve a real problem. Washington needs healthy, trustworthy interior snaps. If Cowart’s ankle responds and his power returns, he can earn a meaningful role before Week 1.