The Washington Commanders have spent the offseason reshaping their defense, and the linebacker room has been hit hardest of all. Under new coordinator Daronte Jones, Washington is expected to lean on a 3-4 look, with the edge rushers folding into a linebacker group that now includes first-round rookie Sonny Styles and the versatile Leo Chenal. Frankie Luvu is still in the mix, and the hope is that he can get back to his 2024 second-team All-Pro level after playing much of last season out of position.
That kind of turnover creates a problem: somebody is going to get squeezed. And one of the players caught in the middle is a name plenty of fans had circled as a breakout candidate.
Jordan Magee has already shown he can force his way into the conversation. Last season, while much of Washington’s 2024 NFL Draft class fell short of Year 2 expectations, Magee stood out. The fifth-round pick, who battled injuries as a rookie, worked his way into a regular starting role late in the year and brought speed and energy to a defense that badly needed both.
For a stretch, Magee looked like the natural successor to Bobby Wagner at middle linebacker and one of the safer defensive building blocks Washington could count on heading into 2026. Then the offseason changed the picture. The Temple University product now has to earn everything again.
He should still be a strong candidate to make the roster and factor into the linebacker rotation, but the bigger question is how much he’ll actually play once the season starts. Luvu and Styles are the likeliest starters, while Chenal figures to be the ultimate utility piece. That leaves Magee in a crowded fight for snaps.
It’s been that kind of road for him from the start. For a Day 3 pick, simply sticking around is no small feat - and Washington’s other linebacker from that same round in that same year, Dominique Hampton, is already out of the league. Magee has already outperformed the expectations that came with his draft slot.
Even so, he’s not content with just surviving. And based on the way this defense has been rebuilt, Commanders fans shouldn’t be either.
In Other News...
Commanders Finally Made The Uniform Change Fans Have Been Waiting For
The Commanders are leaning into a look their fans have wanted back for years, moving their Super Bowl-era throwback design into the primary uniform role for 2026. Along with the refreshed standard set, the team is adding a new all-black alternate called the Hail Raiser, a sharper, more modern look that still fits the franchises recent push to connect its present-day brand with its past.
Owner Josh Harris framed the changes as a way to honor the teams heritage while updating the overall identity, and the early reaction has been strong enough to draw national notice. Sports Illustrated even placed Washingtons 2026 uniform set at No. 8 in the league, a sign that this makeover is landing well beyond the fan base that had been waiting on it. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders May Have Finally Fixed One Of Their Most Frustrating Problems
The Commanders have spent enough time searching for small offensive edges that a better screen game almost feels overdue, and this weeks additions are aimed squarely at that problem. Bringing in Rachaad White and Chig Okonkwo gives Washington two athletic options who can stress defenses in ways the unit has not consistently done, especially in the short passing game where the team has needed more help from its backs and tight ends.
For a young quarterback like Jayden Daniels, the appeal is obvious because cleaner, faster answers can help the offense stay on schedule and force defenses to defend every blade of grass. ESPNs John Keim has pointed to the possibility that these moves could make the attack more diverse, but the real test will come when Washington starts finding out whether those new pieces can turn a long-frustrating area into a reliable part of the plan. [Read more 🡒]