Washington added two defenders this week in Byron Cowart and Curtis Jacobs. One of them is a good local flavored story.
Cowart Joins the Interior Line
The Commanders signed defensive tackle Byron Cowart Tuesday morning, filling a hole created by D.J. Davidson’s surprise retirement. Cowart, 30, is a well-traveled veteran â a fifth-round pick of the Patriots back in 2019.
He’s since had stints with the Colts, Chiefs, Texans, Dolphins practice squad, and Bears. He recently spent 2025 on the Jets’ injured reserve without appearing in a game. His best NFL season came in 2024 with Chicago. He posted 26 tackles, five tackles for loss, and 2.5 sacks across 15 games.
Cowart was signed following DJ Davidson’s unexpected retirement
He was one of eight defensive players Washington brought in for a workout Monday, alongside fellow defensive linemen Fabien Lovett, Justin Rogers, and Carlos Watkins, plus linebackers Amari Burney, Power Echols, Devin Harper, and Curtis Jacobs. Washington liked what it saw enough to sign two of them.
Jacobs Comes Home
The Commanders also added linebacker Curtis Jacobs. “We have signed LB Curtis Jacobs,” the team announced on X.
For Jacobs, it’s a homecoming of sorts. The Glen Burnie, Maryland native played high school ball at McDonogh before starring at Penn State,. He racked up 171 tackles and 9.5 sacks over four seasons and earned a Butkus Award semifinalist nod.
He signed with the Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 2024, then bounced through brief stops with the Patriots, Titans, and Giants without sticking on an active roster. His most recent football came locally, with the UFL’s DC Defenders, where he posted 42 tackles, a sack, and a fumble recovery across 10 games this past season.
The Defenders marked the occasion themselves, posting “Staying in DC” with a fist emoji to celebrate the signing.
Jacobs joins a linebacker room that already includes Sonny Styles, Leo Chenal, Frankie Luvu, Jordan Magee, Kain Medrano, and Ale Kaho. He’ll compete for a depth role and special-teams reps.
The Bigger Picture
Neither move is headline-grabbing on its own, but together they show Washington staying active on the roster’s edges even after the bulk of free agency and the draft are behind them.
Cowart could provide proven NFL experience up front; while Jacobs adds athletic upside and a hometown story.
Both will need to earn their way onto the 53-man roster the hard way, through August.