Jer'Zhan Newton
Career Summary
Jer’Zhan Newton entered the NFL after four seasons at Illinois.
The defensive tackle became a second-round Washington selection in 2024.
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College Career
Newton was a team captain for Illinois in 2023.
He finished his four-year college career with 188 tackles and 18 sacks, including 7.5 sacks in his final season.
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Path to the NFL
Washington drafted Newton 36th overall in 2024.
The Commanders selected the Illinois defensive tackle in the second round.
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Career Accomplishments
Newton earned first-team All-America honors in 2023.
He also won Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and was a finalist for the Nagurski Trophy.
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Playing Style
Washington’s 2024 draft assessment emphasized Newton’s disruptive interior play.
The Commanders highlighted his ability to collapse the pocket while contributing against the run.
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30760, 00-0039906, 2002-08-31, Jer'Zhan Newton, Jer'Zhan, Newton
MFT PLAYER RANKINGS
Current player ranking
MFT Score: 83.7
2026 preseason baseline. Position-relative and updated through the site’s weekly review process.