The likely reason Commanders haven’t signed a linebacker in free agency

Washington Commanders fans are losing their patience as it pertains to the team’s unwillingness to sign a linebacker in free agency.

As of this writing, there’s still some intriguing names looking for work, including Bobby Wagner, Dont’a Hightower and Alexander Johnson.

On the flip side, though, the Commanders have let a plethora of a shoe-in starters sign elsewhere, including Anthony Walker, Jordan Hicks, Myles Jack and Ja’Whaun Bentley and Kyzir White, who inked a one-year deal with the Eagles.

With Jermaine Carter Jr., who played under Ron Rivera in Carolina, off the board after signing with the Chiefs, it’s unclear where Washington goes. After all, the team had reportedly kicked the tires on signing the young linebacker.

So what gives? Why haven’t Rivera and the team’s braintrust addressed what is currently the biggest hole on the roster? If you asked GM Martin Mayhew, he’d tell you the solution might already be on the roster.

Is the Commanders’ solution at middle linebacker already on the roster? Martin Mayhew likes to think so.

Yes, we’re referring to Cole Holcomb, who was adamant after the season about wanting to be entrusted in the middle linebacker role. Never short on confidence, Holcomb believes he’d make a seamless transition kicking inside.

If Mayhew had any say in the matter (fair to say he does) Holcomb will at least be considered for the position. In Palm Beach for the Annual League Meeting, Mayhew gave Holcomb a ringing endorsement to the media.

"We feel like Cole Holcomb has a chance to go in there and play mike for us, so there’s not a tremendous urgency to go and do something right there. He did a good job when he was in there. He kind of grew in that position last year when he got an opportunity to play some mike. We’ll see how it plays out."

It’s worth noting Holcomb didn’t get an extensive look at middle linebacker and is likely best-suited in an off-ball role, which gives him the freedom to roam sideline-to-sideline and wreak havoc with his freakish athleticism. The mike role requires more discipline, calling plays and making pre-snap adjustments.

If there’s anyone on the roster who’s built for the mike role, though, it’s definitely the former fifth-round pick. Rivera isn’t as sold as Mayhew with Holcomb kicking side, but the head coach is seemingly open to the experiment.

Oh really?

In 2021 Holcomb morphed into a do-it-all linebacker after largely being tackle dependent over his first two seasons. He started 16 games and played 99 percent of the snaps and tallied career-highs in tackles (142), which led the team, passes defended (seven), and interceptions (two), which tied for second.

Based on his natural football instincts and ability to hold is own in coverage, there’s reason to believe he could handle the position switch without a hitch.

That doesn’t mean the Commanders shouldn’t add reinforcements at the position because the unit is extremely thin, but Mayhew and Rivera certainly made it seem like Holcomb will get every opportunity to grab the MLB role by the scruff of the neck during OTAs, mandatory minicamp and training camp.

What say you, Washington fans? Do you endorse the idea of Holcomb transitioning from an off-ball role to middle linebacker?