Commanders fuel hype around breakout year for overlooked LB

One of the Washington Commanders' strongest units was the linebacker position last season. While the defensive line struggled, Dante Fowler Jr. and Frankie Luvu stepped up to lead the team in sacks, all while the ageless Bobby Wagner put together the 11th consecutive All-Pro campaign of his future Pro Football Hall of Fame career.

Fowler is gone, having defected back to the Dallas Cowboys in free agency. Wagner, though it hasn't happened yet, comes with the risk of a decline in production at any moment given his age. Behind them, most of Washington's backups don't jump out as significant contributors.

That said, there could be a diamond in the rough.

Commanders plan to get Jordan Magee more involved in 2025

Jordan Magee was a fifth-round pick by the Commanders in 2024 but didn't see the field very much as a rookie. He appeared in only eight games due to injury, recording nine tackles and no other statistics. He did enough to impress defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr., who wants to get the second-year player from Temple more involved in 2025.

Magee figures to compete with Nick Bellore, Dominique Hampton, Kain Medrano, and more for backup snaps at linebacker in Whitt's defense, which generally runs a 4-2-5 scheme. There's certainly room for him to find a regular place on the field. Should Wagner or Luvu be forced to miss time due to injuries, the player's role would become even more crucial.

Whitt says that even last year, he wanted to get Magee more reps. However, it was hard to give him a proper acclimation to the NFL after he missed the first seven games of Washington's season with a knee issue that required surgery. He also notes that the Commanders could utilize more three-linebacker sets this upcoming campaign.

Most importantly, as Whitt mentions, is that Magee has an excellent teacher to learn from in Wagner.

The perennial Pro Bowler was brought to Washington just as much to make an impact in the locker room as he was to contribute on the field. In that regard, Wagner has been everything the Commanders hoped for and then some.

Given the perceived lack of depth and Wagner's age, Washington's future at linebacker looks fairly bleak as it stands. But if all goes according to plan, the team might have the Utah State graduate's eventual replacement already on the roster.

If you're looking for an under-the-radar breakout candidate on the Commanders to make a major jump in production in 2025, look no further than Magee.

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