Commanders hit significant home run with Frankie Luvu signing

Washington Commanders general manager Adam Peters has pulled off a masterstroke with the signing of linebacker Frankie Luvu.

Finding upgrades at the linebacker position was a key priority for the Washington Commanders this offseason. This area of the field was almost completely ignored by Ron Rivera throughout his four-year tenure - a mistake the new regime wasn't going to make.

According to reports, the Commanders have pulled off a coup with the signing of Frankie Luvu. The former undrafted free agent out of Washington State joins the franchise after starring for the Carolina Panthers over the last three seasons. Simply put, he's exactly what this team has sorely lacked.

Commanders pull offf major coup with Frankie Luvu signing

For those unaware, I also have the dubious distinction of covering the Panthers along with the Commanders. I've watched every snap Luvu's taken over the last three years since his arrival in 2021 free agency from the New York Jets. He went from a special teams ace to an integral part of Carolina's defensive strategy. This is a home-run hit by Washington during their first recruitment period with Adam Peters leading the charge.

The Commanders are desperately thin of options at the defensive second level. Pairing Luvu with Jamin Davis instantly improves matters. This also looks like a tremendous fit in terms of the scheme Dan Quinn and Joe Whitt Jr. plan to implement.

There is nothing Luvu doesn't do well. He is a sideline-to-sideline presence against the run, boasting exceptional instincts to identify plays developing and getting to the contact point quickly with supreme aggression. There is also a lot to like about his ability to create pressure on opposing quarterbacks - something he accomplishes with a unique blend of explosiveness and ruthless aggression.

Luvu is also scheme versatile. He can line up on the edge with tremendous effectiveness. After Shaq Thompson went down with a season-ending injury, the Panthers switched him to the interior as part of Ejiro Evero's creative 3-4 base system. The transition was seamless en route to another outstanding year littered with memorable moments.

The Panthers might have been a two-win team last year, but that wasn't because of their defense. They performed well in difficult circumstances with key injuries everywhere. Derrick Brown was their best player. Luvu was their emotional leader and lynchpin.

He plays every down like it's his last. Luvu competes with a ferocity and underdog mentality that will make him a fan favorite in no time at all. The energy and infectious enthusiasm he brings to the table will have an incredibly positive effect on defensive teammates in Washington. He's also durable, missing just one game over three seasons in Carolina.

At the reported cost - which has a maximum value of $36 million - it could be a steal. Luvu will quickly emerge into the heartbeat of Washington's defense under Quinn and Whitt. There is still some work to do in pursuit of solidifying the secondary, but it's hard to envisage a scenario where this second-level enforcer doesn't make the Commanders' defense better.

One only has to look at the dismay within Carolina's fanbase on social media regarding Luvu to see the esteem in which he is held. Peters pulled off a masterstroke by bringing him into the fold. He's a tone-setter who'll give everything to the cause. More importantly, he will make everyone around him better.

A difference-maker in every sense of the word.