Jer'Zhan Newton was regarded by many analysts as one of the best interior defensive linemen in the 2024 draft class. His size, quickness and knack for disrupting the pocket earned him Big Ten Defensive Players of the Year honors, and under normal circumstances a player with that kind of resume is almost a lock to be a first-round pick.

There's at least one player who falls in every draft class, and that distinction went to Newton this year. He was taken at No. 36 overall by the Washington Commanders, who were shocked that he was still available. Newton was surprised as well, and he has a message for all the teams that passed him up.

"When I play them, I'm going to baptize them," Newton told Bryan Colbert Jr. on an episode of "Raising Hail with the Rookies."

Newton isn't holding a grudge against the 31 other teams in the NFL; he knows the league is business, and teams have to do what they think is right for their situation. That doesn't mean he's going to forget about it. He believes he was still worthy of being a first-round pick, and he wants to show his worth during his rookie season.

Newton's goal is to be the "B.I.N." If you don't know what that means, get used to the acronym.

"Best in the nation," Newton said with a smile.

That's a lofty aspiration, but Newton at least has the tools to achieve it. He was a three-time all-conference selection, a two-time All-American and a finalist for the Nagurski Trophy, which is given to the best defensive player in college football. He racked up 7.5 sacks in 2023 while leading the FBS with four blocked kicks.

The Commanders believe they got a steal taking Newton with their first pick of the second round.

"He got the Commander tag and he's exactly who we want to bring in this building," said general manager Adam Peters. "We think he's an advanced player who can come in and play right away. Really a three-down player who you can play on the run downs, play on pass downs, skilled, hands and feet are tied together. And he arrives violently when he gets to the ball, and he plays just like we want him to play."

Newton hasn't said specifically that he's a steal, but he is confident in what he can bring to the Commanders' defensive line. "Dominant" was the word he used to describe himself.

"My football IQ is really high compared to other defensive linemen. I have a great pre-snap recognition. I know which plays coming at which down and distance, which formation brings which play. So, I just feel like my knowledge on the game is very high compared to other people."

At the same time, Newton knows he still has plenty to learn. That's one of the reasons why he's excited to work with Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne, who he referred to as "OGs" of the game. He remembers watching them in middle school as they dominated SEC offensive linemen at Alabama, and now he gets to learn how they managed to have successful professional careers.

Newton doesn't plan on wasting that opportunity.

"I can pick up an endless amount of game, pass rush, run stopping, how they watch film, how they recover, all that," Newton said.

The recovery part could be big for Newton since he's coming back from foot surgery that prevented him from participating in OTAs and mandatory minicamp. Allen had to come back from a foot injury as well, so the veteran can pass on some important tips to the rookie.

"Just picking up parts of the game from them," Newton said. "Just being under their wing."

When Newton does get on the field, he's going to be playing behind Allen and Payne in the rotation. Newton doesn't mind that, though; as long as he's able to show what he can do, he'll do whatever is asked of him.

"Y'all getting the best out of me," Newton said. "I'm coming in the game trying to take over. I'm not coming just to be another player on the team. I'm coming to take over."