Photo by The Washington Commanders’ linebacker corps has been a glaring weakness on defense for the past four years. However, with the new regime in place, the national perception has changed. The Commanders have bolstered their linebacker corps by signing veterans Bobby Wagner and Frankie Luvu, as well as drafting Jordan Magee in the fifth round of the NFL Draft.
The Commanders’ new-look linebacker corps
These moves have gotten the attention of ESPN’s Mike Clay, who ranked Washington’s linebackers as the league’s best heading into the upcoming season. The Commanders were the only team to get a perfect grade (4.0) at linebacker from Clay in his position-by-position rankings, beating out the San Francisco 49ers (3.9), Jacksonville Jaguars (3.8), and New York Jets (3.6).
“Wagner remains one of the top linebackers in the NFL, recording a 91.1-plus PFF run-defense grade in each of the past two seasons.” - John Kosko, Pro Football Focus
Wagner, who has the most tackles in the league among active players, is at the center of that effort. Despite being one of the oldest active linebackers, he led the NFL with 183 stops last season and has recorded at least 100 tackles in each of his 12 seasons.
Bobby Wagner, the heart of the Commanders’ linebacker corps
Luvu, who spent the last three seasons with the Carolina Panthers, might not have the same resume as Wagner, but it didn’t take long for his new coaches and teammates to appreciate the impact he could have in the DMV. In the two years that Luvu was a full-time starter for the Panthers, he racked up 136 tackles and 12.5 sacks.
“He is the heartbeat of what competitive hardnosed, defensive football’s about.” - Joe Whitt Jr., defensive coordinator
While it is unknown just how much Magee will contribute during his rookie season, there’s no doubt that he knows how to be productive. A former captain for the Temple Owls, Magee got a lot of good experience while at Temple, rising as a starter in 2021.
Jordan Magee, the rookie linebacker with a lot to prove
There’s also Jamin Davis, who has gradually improved since his rookie season in 2021. Davis was third on the team with 89 tackles in 2023, but the new regime is trying him out at different spots on the field to maximize his skill set.
“And we’re trying to really push him specifically on the versatility.” - Dan Quinn, head coach
Despite the work they did to improve the roster overall, the Commanders still have several questions to answer, particularly when it comes to their defense, which was ranked last in almost every category in 2023. If the Commanders have any hopes of improving upon their 4-13 finish from a year ago, they must find a way to stop making things easy for opposing offenses.
The Commanders’ defense has a lot to prove in the upcoming season
Offseason rankings don’t win games in September, but at least on paper, the Commanders look better at a position that has been a sore spot for years. With Wagner, Luvu, and Magee leading the charge, the Commanders’ linebacker corps is finally looking like a strength rather than a weakness.
