The opinions expressed in this article do not reflect those of the team.
Don't look now, but the new league year is just around the corner, which means that NFL teams will have their first opportunity to improve their roster with the start of free agency.
The Washington Commanders, who finished the 2025 season with a 5-12 record, have plenty of work to do between now and training camp. They have the most important position locked up with Jayden Daniels returning for his third season, but there will be an extensive rebuild for the defense and retooling at positions like wide receiver and running back, which have just four total players under contract for 2026. The Commanders will have some of the most projected available cap space this year, and a significant portion of that will be dedicated to getting the team back into the playoff discussion.
So, Commanders.com will spend the next week breaking down the outlook for several positions ahead of free agency beginning on March 11 at 4 p.m. ET. Today, we're highlighting the linebackers.
Devin Lloyd, Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars will likely try to keep him, but Lloyd is a quality tackler with three seasons of at least 100 stops in the last four years. He's also made progress in coverage with five interceptions last season, which helped him earn a Pro Bowl and Second Team All-Pro selection. Pro Football Focus gave him best the pass coverage grade of his career (81.1), and he allowed a career-low passer rating of 69.2.
Leo Chenal, Kansas City Chiefs
Chenal is not great at anything but is a solid player at almost everything on the field. He's been a consistent starter on the Chiefs' defense for the last three seasons and has put up decent numbers with 218 total tackles, six pass breakups, seven sacks and an interception. He also checks the versatility box, as the Chiefs moved him up and down the line of scrimmage.
Quay Walker, Green Bay Packers
Walker has plenty of speed and can use it to move sideline-to-sideline in coverage. He only has one interception in the last four seasons, which he did return for a touchdown, but he has great pursuit when tracking ball carriers and doesn't miss many tackles.
Justin Strnad, Denver Broncos
Strnad has never been a full-time starter in his career, but that might change with a new team. It seems like he's started to gain his footing as a pass-rusher with 7.5 sacks over the last two seasons. We'll see what his market is, but he could be a player with several productive years in front of him.
Devin Bush, Cleveland Browns
After several seasons of putting up middling numbers over the last five seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Seattle Seahawks and Cleveland Browns, Bush finally had a performance resembling his rookie campaign with 125 tackles and eight pass deflections. He also led the league in both interception yards and defensive touchdowns last season, as he took two of his three interceptions to the end zone.
Eric Wilson, Minnesota Vikings
Wilson will be 32 for the 2026 season, so he won't do much to help lower the Commanders' average age. However, he's found ways to be a productive player with 115 tackles and 6.5 sacks in 2025. It also helps that he's worked with defensive coordinator Daronte Jones on three separate occasions, so he has a working knowledge of Jones' philosophy and system.
Bobby Wagner, Washington Commanders
Wagner has been a strong leader for the Commanders since he arrived in the DMV in 2024. There are some limitations to his skill set as one of the oldest active players in the NFL, but he still knows how to play downhill and dissect offenses better than almost any defender in the league. He's also within reach of surpassing Ray Lewis for the most tackles in NFL history, which would add another accolade to what's already considered a Hall of Fame resume.
Nakobe Dean, Philadelphia Eagles
Dean has only played 47 games in four seasons, so there's a clear issue with injuries, but he's great when he's on the field. He was at his best in 2024, when he recorded 128 tackles with an interception, three sacks and four pass breakups. If he can stay healthy, he could be one of the better pickups this offseason.
Demario Davis, New Orleans Saints
Like Wagner, Davis is an older linebacker who is clearly in the twilight of his career, but you wouldn't know that based on his stats. He's recorded nine consecutive 100-tackle seasons and posted his best numbers in the last seven years with five straight All-Pro team nods. Davis would be a temporary fix, but he's proven that he can still be effective.
Kaden Elliss, Atlanta Falcons
Elliss is older, but he's had his best seasons in his late 20s with three straight 100-tackle seasons and at least four sacks every year since 2022. He's also a disruptor at the line of scrimmage with 29 tackles for a loss over the last three years.
