3 linebackers Washington should aggressively pursue in free agency

1. Anthony Walker Jr.

Make no mistake, Anthony Walker should be Washington’s top priority at the linebacker position this offseason.

Another former fifth-round pick, Walker inked a one-year, $3 million contract with the Browns as a free agent last offseason. He might command more money this time around after logging his third 100-tackle season in four years, but Washington has plenty of cap space lying around and it’s not like he’ll cost the farm.

Simply put, Walker has a nose for the ball. His 287 solo tackles since 2018, his first as a full-time starter for the Colts (who drafted him), are the 12th-most among linebackers. Even more impressive is how reliable he is in coverage.

Across 40 targets, he didn’t allow a touchdown and gave up more than 50 yards in a game just once, all en route to earning a 78.2 grade from PFF. Only Kyle Van Noy, De’Vondre Campbell and Fred Warner received higher grades among LBs.

Walker wouldn’t be the splash signing fans are hoping for, but he’d go a long away towards anchoring a defensive interior that was left longing for consistency with Bostic and Davis manning the MLB position this season.

Better still? Walker’s last contract suggests he can be signed at a bargain. We’d love to see him starting up the middle for Washington in 2022.