3 top priorities for Commanders with newfound cap flexibility

2. Sign a Linebacker

No excuses anymore. It’s time for Ron Rivera and Co. to stop pinching their pennies and address the biggest weakness on the roster.

Banking on Jamin Davis to rebound after a disappointing rookie year is fine. Asking Cole Holcomb to transition to the MIKE role after his breakout 2021 where he finished sixth in the NFL in tackles is fine. Some (me) would even say exciting. But signing an extra linebacker to the rotation has been long overdue. With nearly $20 million in cap space to work with now, it has to happen.

Another benefit of Holcomb moving to the middle linebacker role? It allows Washington to pursue off-ball free agents. With the MIKE market all but dried up save a few veterans, the front office should have more options to choose from.

Alexander Johnson and Kwon Alexander are both intriguing options. While we’ve spoken at length about Johnson this offseason, Alexander is a fresh face.

A Pro Bowler in 2017, Alexander has missed 35 games in his career, so that’s a concern, but he was quietly productive for the Saints in 2022. In 12 games, he managed 50 tackles, a career-high 3.5 sacks and an interception. Better still? He logged seven games with a coverage grade of 70.0 or higher from PFF.

Washington linebackers’ struggles in coverage in 2021 were well-documented and Alexander would go a long way towards flipping that narrative. Regardless, signing a linebacker is no longer up for discussion following Collins’ release.