5 free-agent linebackers for the Commanders to consider in 2023

Which free-agent linebackers should the Washington Commanders consider signing before the all-important 2023 season gets underway?

I recently wrote a piece about four pass catchers the Washington Commanders might keep their eye on should they become free agents. The consensus of reaction to that piece seemed to be “WE NEED LINEBACKERS!”

You’re right. We do need linebackers. I wasn’t trying to suggest anything to the contrary. So today, let’s talk linebackers.

At some point in early 2022, I gave up trying to understand what coaches Ron Rivera and Jack Del Rio were trying to do with their linebacking corps. But in 2020, things seemed relatively normal.

They were taking advantage of their high-pedigree defensive line, moving Montez Sweat to a permanent defensive end and switching to a classic 4-3 front. Behind the line, they had a legit strongside backer in Cole Holcomb and a solid weakside presence in Kevin Pierre-Louis. Jon Bostic was better suited to play inside in a 3-4 front, but he could get by in the middle. It was not a stand-out unit, but it made sense.

Then came 2021 and some flat-out strange decisions. They let Pierre-Louis walk and drafted Jamin Davis in the first round. But instead of playing the hyper-athletic but relatively inexperienced rookie on the weak side, where he seemed to be a natural fit, they stuck him in the middle and moved Bostic.

Davis was overwhelmed. Bostic was ill-suited to play in coverage, and Holcomb was left to clean up a lot of messes.

After Bostic got hurt, it appears that Del Rio gave up on trying to replace him with another linebacker. All the backups were essentially special team players. The Commanders began running more 4-2-5 sets, with struggling safety Landon Collins taking on a hybrid role.

By 2022, it was clear that this 4-2-5 was in fact the base defense, with Bobby McCain taking over for Collins. This year, with McCain playing for the New York Giants, I expect rookie Quan Martin to assume that role.

The six linebackers currently on the roster behind prospective starters Davis and Cody Barton have played a grand total of 484 defensive snaps for the Commanders over the past two seasons. And David Mayo accounts for more than 75 percent of those. So you’d think Washington would still be looking for help.

Who might Washington turn to at this late date?

They passed on the big names in free agency like Tremaine Edmunds and T.J. Edwards - both of whom landed with the Chicago Bears. Then they ignored the position in the draft. They signed five undrafted free-agent wide receivers but no linebackers. As of this writing, the only new linebacker they are considering is Merlin Robertson from Arizona State, who has been invited to rookie camp.

Should they be interested, there still are some intriguing linebacker prospects floating around unsigned as of now. They all come with caveats and limitations, but plucking one or two of these guys from limbo might bear some fruit later this season.

Let’s take a quick look at five such players.