Washington Football Team: 15 key roster decisions team will soon make

Long Term Deals: Defense

On defense, there is one relatively simple situation and another very complicated one to resolve. Let’s take the simple one first.

Cole Holcomb is the best all-around linebacker on a team sorely in need of linebacking help. Like McLaurin, he is not due to hit free agency until 2023, so no decision needs to be made immediately. The question is whether they have seen enough of him to know he is one of the long-term answers.

Under normal circumstances, I’d be skeptical of rushing to judgment. Unlike McLaurin, I am not convinced Holcomb will be a stand-out player for years to come. But they have no sure things at linebacker right now. Given that, I think maybe they should be more inclined to lock in at least one piece for three or four years.

More from Riggo's Rag

• What will Emmanuel Forbes bring to the Washington Commanders?
• Highlighting the best Commanders 2023 NFL Draft betting props
• 3 late Commanders rumors drawing buzz ahead of the 2023 NFL Draft
• 4 bold predictions for the Commanders 2023 NFL Draft
• Commanders News: Chase Young trade, draft day, CB riser and Sam Howell

Here’s where it gets complicated. All four interior linemen will hit free agency over the next couple of years. Jonathan Allen and Tim Settle in 2022, and Daron Payne and Matt Ioannidis in 2023. Some all-inclusive strategy needs to be in the works for this position group.

WFT will not be able to keep all of them. Allen and Payne will get big offers. Ioannidis would have if not for his injury this year. Settle is stepping up in Ioannidis’ absence and no doubt getting some attention from other scouting departments.

Since his contract is up first, the team should be talking to Jonathan Allen right now. I have heard some criticism of his production, but quite frankly, I think that is unwarranted. Allen will never be Aaron Donald or Cameron Heyward, but he is a team leader who is a quality, versatile lineman. I believe he is playing out position – he is better suited to playing defensive end in a 3-4 front – but you win games with players like Jonathan Allen.

If Allen’s contract demands are too high, it’s nice to have a fallback like Tim Settle. Settle should be a cheaper option who is more classically suited as a 4-3 tackle. He has yet to perform as an every-down player, but he shows every indication of being able to take on a larger role.

Matt Ioannidis’ disappointing injury early in 2020 may have a long-range silver lining for Washington, because it may allow them to keep him at a reduced price. This decision is all about judging his recovery. If he is making good progress, inking him to a multi-year extension this offseason would give the team plenty of flexibility in moving forward. Like Allen, he is a dynamic, versatile player who is equally at home inside or outside.

Payne may end up being the odd man out, but the entire situation is obviously fluid. In an ideal world, WFT would lock up both Allen and Ioannidis and have the middle of their line in place for years to come.

The team needs to address this relatively soon because they will be having similar conversations about edge rushers Montez Sweat and Chase Young in another year or two. They are under contract for several more years but based on their current productivity, you’d like to ink them to deals before they ever hit free agency in 2024 and 2025 respectively.