3 potential cap casualties Commanders could target in free agency

1. Blake Martinez

The Commanders’ need for an inside linebacker goes without saying at this point. While Cole Holcomb is open to the idea of shifting from an off-ball role and possesses the necessary athletic traits to play the position, it’s pretty clear Ron Rivera thinks the former fifth-rounder is best suited as an outside backer.

The same can be said for Jamin Davis, who’s kind of the reason Washington is in this position to begin with. The Kentucky product was drafted (No. 19 overall) to be the solution to the team’s linebacker woes, but he didn’t read the game the way Rivera had hoped as a rookie and he was moved to an off-ball role.

The good news is Davis showed promise in the new position and he could take a massive leap as a sophomore. Of course, that doesn’t change the issue at hand, which brings us to New York Giants starter Blake Martinez.

A former fourth-round pick of the Packers, Martinez had a fantastic first season with the Giants, earning a career-high 75.9 player grade from PFF. He picked up right where he left off with Green Bay, posting 151 tackles, nine (!) tackles for loss, three sacks, six QB hits, five passes defended, an interception and 58 run stops.

If you look at Martinez’s career stats, he’s posted similar numbers in all of his five seasons. Between making splash plays in the backfield, knowing which gaps to fill against the run and holding his own in coverage, Martinez is everything the Commanders have been searching for in an inside LB.

The only caveat is he’s coming off a torn ACL, but as long as Washington is encouraged by his recovery, then they should look into signing him. Of course, they’ll need the Giants to cut him first, but New York is short on talent and money, so new GM Joe Schoen could look to get Martinez’s $8.425 million salary off the books.

If that happens, Washington should have an offer at the ready.