Poll questions!!
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NFL. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Washington Commanders fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
This week we have two related questions in the Reacts survey that focus on three position groups that some sports writers and fans have expressed concerns about this offseason.
Cornerback
At cornerback, the Commanders have brought back the three starters they finished the 2024 season with: Marshon Lattimore, Mikey Sainristil and Noah Igbinoghene. In free agency, the team added Jonathan Jones, a nine-year New England Patriots veteran and 2-time Super Bowl champion who started 44 games over the past three seasons. Washington also drafted Trey Amos 61st overall — a selection that GM Adam Peters said made him feel like the Commanders had gotten two first round picks. While the group looks deep on paper, concerns have been expressed about the age of the veterans and Lattimore’s injury history and uneven play last season. Some are also concerned about the lack of consisten size and length in this group or about the possible need to rely heavily on a rookie cornerback.
Safety & Linebacker
Last season, two veteran linebackers — Bobby Wagner (99%) and Frankie Luvu (98%) — played nearly every defensive snap of the season, and were nearly the only linebackers to get on the field with the defense in ‘24. Defensive Coordinator Joe Whitt relied much more on 3-safety looks than 3-linebacker looks in his inaugural season in Washington.
In fact, Dan Quinn and Joe Whitt seem to be working toward a defensive system in which the distinction between linebacker and safety is so blurred that it is hard to define the position for certain players who seem to have characteristics of each. Last year’s fifth-round pick Dominique Hampton (listed 6’3”, 220) is listed as a safety on the team roster, but is routinely referred to as a linebacker by fans and media. Due to injury, he did not play a defensive snap last season, leaving the question open to discussion. This year’s 6th-round pick, Kain Medrano (listed 6’3”, 230), is listed as a linebacker on the team website, but Joe Whitt talked openly about giving him looks at safety to determine if he’s “Frankie Luvu” or “Jeremy Chinn”.
Even the distinction between linebacker and edge rusher is a bit muddy, with Luvu spending much of his time rushing the passer from standup 5-tech (LEO) position.
It feels like the Commanders want to field two linebackers, two safeties, and a hybrid player who is able to tackle and cover in order to create added flexibility in scheme and matchups.
In the end, the team’s top three linebackers appear to be Wagner, Luvu, and Jordan Magee, while the top safeties appear to be Quan Martin, Will Harris, Jeremy Reaves, and Tyler Owens.
In today’s survey, we ask you to identify which of these three position groups you are most and least confident about.
Comments & Results
Of course, we invite you to answer the survey questions below, but also feel free to expand on your answers and provide nuance in the comments section. I rely on those comments when discussing the results of the survey when they are posted in a separate article the next few days.