I updated my Commanders offensive State of the Roster essay at the end of last week, evaluating the free agency changes and determining the current status of the roster as the draft draws near. The defense is in the lead today. You can read my post from a few weeks ago, before free agency, about the defense’s current state here if you missed it. But keeping that in mind, let’s take a look at the defense now that the majority of the free agent movements have been completed and attempt to gauge the situation before the draft.
Similar to defensive end, the Commanders had a great need at linebacker going into free agency. Jamin Davis was the only linebacker on the roster prior to the start of the new league year, and he has continuously struggled to play the Mike (middle) linebacker role in the NFL. As a result, the team needed to add multiple linebackers who could fill different roles and add depth to the position at the same time. Adam Peters deserves credit for leading the Commanders in this regard.Bobby Wagner is a big addition because he instantly takes over Mike’s linebacker position and offers a significant improvement above whatever the Commanders have had there in recent years. Although he may not have the same pace as he did during his peak playing years in the league, his mental acuity is unmatched, and he excels at correctly lining up players, managing calls and checks at the line of scrimmage, and accurately predicting the offensive team’s play. He frequently finds himself in the best position to make a play when you see him play the run game. Any physical degeneration is more than offset by his exceptional mental acuity, which allows him to read and comprehend exactly what is coming.Perhaps the most entertaining addition to watch among the Commanders’ free agent additions is Frankie Luvu. His playstyle is captivating, and his blitzer skills are alluring. He filled in as a Mike linebacker for the Panthers last season and may do so again for Washington this year if necessary, but now that Wagner is signed, Quinn and Whitt can employ him anyway they see right. Given his versatility and ability to line up wherever across the front and join the rush, I have a feeling they’ll use him as a rusher regularly. They can easily line him up outside on the perimeter and let him come in, or he can line up over the center or the guard and blitz inside.
