4 Commanders players who could potentially regress in 2024

Bobby Wagner - Commanders LB

Bobby Wagner's arrival instantly legitimized the Washington Commanders' plans for progress. The perennial All-Pro linebacker is one of the greatest ever at his position. There's no doubt he'll be a first-ballot Pro Football Hall of Famer one day. The prospect of linking back up with Dan Quinn and Ken Norton was enough to join this ambitious project.

Wagner might be firmly in his career twilight, but he showed no signs of slowing down last season. The former second-round selection gained 183 tackles - a career-high from an illustrious time in the league - with the Seattle Seahawks in 2023. If the second-level enforcer can get anywhere close to this tally in Washington, it'll be a tremendous piece of business.

Placing Wagner next to fellow free-agent signing Frankie Luvu is a mouth-watering tandem. Couple this with Jamin Davis' scope for improvement and rookie Jordan Magee's promising transition over early offseason workouts, the Commanders' linebacking corps could go from an area of weakness to a potential strength if everyone stays clear of injury.

The nine-time Pro Bowler wasted no time in making his presence felt. Wagner helped teammates get to grips with Quinn's new schematic concepts on defense. He provided advice to offensive linemen about tells they were displaying pre-snap. How he performs between the lines will be critical, but the player's influence goes way beyond the gridiron based on first impressions.

Wagner hasn't come to make up the numbers and help with the early stages of Quinn's rebuild. He thinks the Commanders can put things together quickly en route to potential improvements. The Utah State product's role will be integral, but the concern surrounding potential regression cannot be overlooked.

Although Wagner was impactful against the run last season, his coverage abilities waned. Wagner just turned 34 years old, so the end is coming. The Commanders will be hoping they can get another year of good production from the veteran before deciding on the next steps.

Even if Wagner's stay in the nation's capital is short-lived, he can make sure the Commanders are in good hands long after he's gone.