In 2024, the Washington Commanders made a deep playoff run all the way to the NFC Championship Game, and they did it with a defense that defied easy classification. Ask a dozen analysts what their base defense was, and you might get a dozen different answers. That’s because Washington didn’t stick to one look-they built a scheme around versatility, fluidity, and matchup flexibility.
At a glance, it often looked like a 4-2-5 alignment, with two linebackers on the field-Bobby Wagner and Frankie Luvu-anchoring the second level. But depending on the personnel and situation, that could shift into a 3-3-5, a 4-3, or even a 3-4 front.
What made it so hard to pin down was the presence of hybrid players like edge rusher Dante Fowler Jr. and big nickel safety Jeremy Chinn. Both floated between roles, giving defensive coordinator Ron Rivera (and later interim staff) the ability to disguise coverages and fronts without changing personnel.
That kind of flexibility helped Washington punch above its weight defensively in 2024. But as the team turns the page to 2026 under new defensive coordinator Daronte Jones, the question isn’t just what the scheme will look like-it’s whether they have the players to run it.
The Linebacker Room Needs an Overhaul
Let’s be blunt: Washington’s linebacker group took a step back in 2025. Wagner, a future Hall of Famer, still racked up tackles but showed signs of age.
Luvu, who thrived in 2024, struggled when asked to take on a more versatile role. The Commanders had two second-team All-Pros at linebacker just a season ago.
A year later, neither was close to that level.
Now, with Wagner likely heading elsewhere in free agency, the Commanders are thin at a critical position-especially if Jones leans into the 3-4 looks many expect. The 3-4 can be a game-changer, but it lives and dies with the linebackers.
You need rangy, instinctive, physical playmakers who can cover ground, shed blocks, and get after the quarterback. Right now, Washington’s roster doesn’t check enough of those boxes.
Luvu has the tools to be an inside linebacker in a 3-4. Jordan Magee, a young player with upside, might fit that mold too.
But beyond those two, it’s a developmental group. Kain Medrano and Ale Kaho are intriguing athletes, but expecting either to step into a full-time role next season is a stretch.
The Commanders need proven talent at the second level, and they need it fast.
Why the 3-4 Demands More
The appeal of the 3-4 front is clear: it creates flexibility, disguises pressure, and allows for creative coverage schemes. But it also puts a lot on the shoulders of the linebackers. The defensive line-especially the nose tackle and ends-often play sacrificial roles, eating up blockers so the linebackers can fly to the ball.
Look at what the Seahawks did en route to their Super Bowl LX win. Their defense constantly shifted looks, but it worked because they had elite talent at linebacker.
Or take Jordyn Brooks, who led the NFL in tackles in 2025 playing in a 3-4 scheme in Miami. Or Nik Bonitto in Denver, who terrorized quarterbacks as a first-team All-Pro outside linebacker.
Those defenses didn’t just have a good scheme-they had the right guys to execute it.
Washington doesn’t have that right now. And if Jones wants to install more 3-4 principles, that’s going to have to change.
Who Could Fit-and Who Might Not
Luvu and Magee could form a solid interior duo if they develop chemistry and stay healthy. Jacob Martin, if re-signed, is an interesting piece as an outside linebacker. He’s undersized for a traditional defensive end role, but in a 3-4, he could thrive playing off a bigger edge-setter, using his quickness to rush the passer or drop into coverage.
But again-these are maybes, not guarantees. The Commanders can’t bank on potential alone. They need to invest in linebacker talent this offseason, whether that’s through free agency, the draft, or both.
Draft Clues on the Horizon
We’ll get a better sense of Daronte Jones’ vision when the Commanders make their first-round pick in April. The names linked to Washington in early mock drafts-edge rusher David Bailey, safety Caleb Downs, and linebacker Sonny Styles-offer some insight into the possible direction.
If Styles is the pick, that’s a pretty clear signal that Jones wants to build his defense around the 3-4. Styles is a versatile, physical linebacker who can play inside or out, and his presence would immediately raise the ceiling of the unit. He’s the kind of player who can make a scheme work-not the other way around.
The Bottom Line
The Commanders’ defense in 2024 was a shape-shifting, matchup-based unit that thrived on flexibility. But heading into 2026, flexibility won’t be enough.
If Daronte Jones is going to lean into a 3-4 front-or even continue with a hybrid approach-he’s going to need better linebackers to make it work. The scheme can be creative.
It can be unpredictable. But without talent at the second level, it won’t matter.
The Commanders have a foundation. Now they need to build on it-with players who can turn schematic possibilities into on-field production.