Don’t expect the Commanders to get involved in a Roquan Smith trade

Everyone knows the Washington Commanders’ biggest weakness is the linebacker position. While Cole Holcomb has fans swooning after his breakout 2021, the other options, including last year’s first-round pick Jamin Davis, leave a lot to be desired.

Behind Holcomb and Davis — the projected starters — Washington has David Mayo, who’s shown promise against the run, recent signee Nathan Gerry, who was signed for his ability in coverage and 2020 fifth-rounder Khaleke Hudson.

Like we said, that rotation inspires next to no confidence and fans have been campaigning for the Commanders to add a proven commodity to the group. Unfortunately, the market doesn’t have many escape routes two weeks into camp, as Dont’a Hightower and Alexander Johnson are the top free agents still standing.

What if we told you an All-Pro just demanded a trade, though?

On Tuesday, NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport broke the news that Bears stud Roquan Smith has asked for a trade out of Chicago.

Don’t count on the Commanders trading for Bears linebacker Roquan Smith.

Smith is the definition of elite and would be a dream get for Washington, but this magnitude of trade just doesn’t fit the team’s profile. The front office bypassed several chances to upgrade the position in free agency and has double (even tripled) down on its conviction in the current group of linebackers.

Holcomb has been upgraded to the MIKE role after he served as the defense’s signal-caller in an off-ball role last season. Davis, meanwhile, will have more freedom to showcase his athleticism after moving from the inside to the outside.

Not to mention, the Commanders don’t run many three-linebacker sets. They run a ton of schemes that include five defensive linemen and one linebacker. Fresh off playing 99 percent of the snaps last season, it seems like Washington wants to give Holcomb every chance to prove he’s the future of the LB room.

That’s not to say the Commanders won’t sniff around a Smith trade, but giving up several assets (likely a player and second or third-round pick) for a player who’s going to demand top-of-the-market money when you already have multiple players due for extensions next offseason would be an audacious move.

Under Rivera, Washington has erred on the conservative side. The Carson Wentz trade marked the first sign of desperation from this regime. While linebacker is a glaring weakness, we get the sense Rivera and Co. are content with Holcomb as their top dog and banking on Davis to show marked improvement in Year 2.

That doesn’t make them right (or wrong), but don’t trick yourself into thinking Smith to Washington has legs just because they have a need at LB.

We’d love to be proven wrong, though.