The Washington Commanders finished the 2022 season with one of the top defenses in the NFL. They did this despite losing starting linebacker Cole Holcomb for the rest of the season after Week 7.
Linebacker Jamin Davis — a first-round pick in 2021 — made strides in his second NFL season. However, in Holcomb’s spot, the Commanders used a plethora of players.
Heading into a critical offseason, Holcomb is also a free agent. Will the Commanders bring him back? Or either opt to replace him with a veteran free agent or look to the 2023 NFL draft?
In the latest mock draft from The Athletic, Diante Lee has the Commanders selecting linebacker Trenton Simpson from Clemson at No. 16 overall.
Washington can pick the best player available and feel good about it, but linebacker is a definite need. Trenton Simpson is another Clemson linebacker with elite speed, and the Tigers used him similarly to Isaiah Simmons (short of lining him up as a deep safety). Simpson was the best tackler, blitzer and slot defender Clemson had, and his range will help him solve problems as he focuses on a more specific role at the next level.
While a good prospect, this doesn’t make a ton of sense. If the Commanders look for a linebacker, it will likely be from the third round or later. Simpson’s versatility is exciting, but doesn’t solve Washington’s biggest problems.