Washington Commanders still need to address their linebacker problem

The Washington Commanders didn’t address their linebacker problem in the draft. Where do they go from here?

It was ironic that the Washington Commanders had London Fletcher announce picks at an NFL draft where they needed linebacker help and didn’t draft a single one.

Washington had a solid draft, all things considered. They selected two defensive backs (Emmanuel Forbes and Jartavius Martin) with their first two picks. Each should be able to contribute immediately and have a nice upside.

Next were two offensive linemen (Ricky Stromberg and Braeden Daniels). Don’t be shocked if Stromberg finds plenty of playing time.

Edge rusher K.J. Henry was next, followed by running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. and defensive end Andre Jones.

All-in-all, that’s a good haul. There’s a glaring omission, though.

The Commanders have very little going for them when it comes to linebackers. The two top linebackers on the team are Jamin Davis and Cody Barton. That’s a solid start, two younger talents with the potential to get even better.

You’re banking on both of them taking another step forward if you really want the unit to succeed, though. After them, David Mayo is the best linebacker on the team. Mayo’s a serviceable player and a great depth piece. But having him as your number three is tough, especially when the two better linebackers ahead of him are both coming off their first “good” seasons.

The NFL Draft was the perfect time for the Commanders to add to their linebacker ranks. Pick up a guy that you feel could help on day one, or find a project to work on. Instead, they steered clear of the position. So where do they go from here?

If Washington still wants to bolster the position, they’ll look to free agency or trade opportunities. There are a few ways to go with both of those options, so I’ll throw one out from each category.
If you’re looking for a trade, luckily one name may have just popped up.

The Baltimore Ravens are stacked at linebacker. Roquan Smith might be the top LB in the NFL. David Ojabo was a second-round pick last season, while Trenton Simpson and Tavius Robinson were third and fourth-round selections this year. Throw in some veterans, and it’s hard to see them paying Patrick Queen.

With that in mind, is Queen on the trade block? It wouldn’t hurt Washington to give Baltimore a call and see what they can offer. He’s had 100 tackles in two of three seasons, missing by only two tackles in the other year. Last season Queen had five sacks, two interceptions, and nine tackles for loss.

Queen is a phenomenal all-around talent already, and he’s only 23. So you could add someone that could contribute now who you can lock up for years to come.
When you look at free agency, a few names jump out at you. Myles Jack is at the top of the list, though.

Jack’s maybe been a little underwhelming to this point in his career. Coming out of College, he was seen as this freakish talent that could do things few linebackers could do. He’s never had more than 2.5 sacks, one interception, or one forced fumble. Still, Jack has three straight seasons with 100-plus tackles. He’s a few years south of 30 and has that can-do-anything-at-any-time potential.

We’re past the NFL Draft now, so prices have potentially come down on the remaining free agents as they look for new homes. Jack shouldn’t be too expensive and gives you a talented linebacker for a few years while you build up the position.