"Rebuilding the roster with experienced players paid off handsomely for the Washington Commanders in 2024, with 30-plus-year-old middle linebacker Bobby Wagner the most notable success story. Sadly, the 35-year-old is starting to show his age at the quarter mark of his second campaign. At a surface level, Wagner remains a highly respected veteran who fits the credible plan executed by Adam Peters. The latter deserves credit for offsetting the risk of signing ageing players by acknowledging the greater value of proven commodities."
"Peters flipped the script when he decided Wagner still had enough left in the tank following a second tour with McCloughan's former team, the Seattle Seahawks. The gamble paid off, but the future Pro Football Hall of Famer's limitations are becoming more than a mere talking point in 2025. They are a symbol of the alarming rot that's already set in on defense this season."
"Dire performances from cornerbacks aren't the only reason the Commanders are being lacerated through the air every week. The inability of linebackers to track receivers in space is a significant problem, with Wagner being the main culprit. Wagner can't keep pace with dynamic playmakers after the catch. The way Atlanta Falcons' star running back Bijan Robinson burned the on-field signal-caller for Washington's defense in Week 4 was a brutal example of Wagner's most glaring issue."
Washington rebuilt its roster with experienced players, and veteran middle linebacker Bobby Wagner initially provided high value in 2024. Wagner, now 35, is beginning to show age-related decline early in his second campaign with the team. Adam Peters prioritized proven commodities and accepted the risk of signing aging veterans to accelerate roster competitiveness. That strategy delivered short-term benefit but exposed underlying defensive weaknesses in 2025. Cornerback breakdowns and linebackers' inability to track receivers in space have compounded issues. Wagner's decreasing ability to keep pace with dynamic playmakers after the catch has produced game-changing plays and highlighted broader defensive rot.
Read at Riggo's Rag
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