Position Group Breakdown 2022: Linebackers
June 17, 2022
by Steve Thomas
Welcome to The Hog Sty’s Position Group Breakdown series! This week, we’re going to tackle the Redskins’ Commanders’ Washington’s linebacker group. The team made an express choice to not make any big improvements to this group, letting starter Jonathan Bostic depart unsigned and failing to either sign any starter-level talent or spend a draft pick on a linebacker. It appears at first glance to be an unwise choice, as the team appears to be left with only two starter-level players and slew of others who are either backup-level, or very young players. How will this group perform? No one knows, but let’s take a shot at analyzing the situation.
The regulars:
LB1 – Jamin Davis (6’3” / 234):
Washington drafted Kentucky linebacker Jamin Davis with the 19th pick in round one of the 2021 NFL draft. Davis, who went to high school in Ludowici, Georgia, stands 6’4” and weighs 234 pounds. He spent 4 years at Kentucky, redshirting his freshman year, and played 25 games between 2018 and 2020, with a total of 144 tackles, including 66 solo and 5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, and 5 interceptions. In 2020, he played 10 games and made 102 tackles, including 48 solo and 4 for loss, 1.5 sacks, and 3 interceptions.
Davis had an extremely impressive pro day, running the 40 yard dash in unofficial times of 4.41 and 4.37 seconds, and jumping 42” in the vertical leap and 11’0” in the standing broad jump, which are all “off the charts” level measurements for a linebacker. His obvious strengths are his combination of size and athleticism, which made him a frequent impact player in college. Davis is known to have quality coverage and ball skills, and scouts project him to be best as a weakside linebacker in a 4 – 3 system. His principal weakness coming out of college was a lack of collegiate playing time and experience – Davis did not start until his senior year and was not a major name in pre-draft talk until his pro day.
Davis’ 2021 rookie year didn’t have many positives. There were occasional, brief flashes of Davis’ natural talent, but he was invisible and ineffective for long stretches. For reasons nobody but the coaching staff understood, the team initially believed him to be a middle linebacker, which was something that was blatantly obvious wasn’t going to work. In total, Davis played 16 games, starting 8, and made 76 total tackles, including 48 solo and 3 for loss, and had 1 sack. Late in the season, the team finally came to the belated realization that Davis is really an NFL outside linebacker, and indicated this offseason that he would remain in that role. Whether Davis can turn things around as an outside linebacker remains to be seen.
LB1 – Cole Holcomb (6’1” / 231):
Holcomb was drafted by Washington in the fifth round of the 2019 draft out of the University of North Carolina. He played 43 games in four seasons at North Carolina, and made a total of 327 tackles, including 171 solo and 156 assisted tackles, and 2.5 sacks. In 2018, he made 104 tackles, with 59 solo and 45 assisted tackles. He was the defensive signal caller for the Tar Heels. Holcomb did not attend the NFL Combine, but at the North Carolina pro day ran the 40 yard dash in 4.51 seconds, jumped 11’0” in the standing broad jump, and ran the 20 yard shuttle in 4.14 seconds and the 3 cone drill in 6.77 seconds. Since he’s been with Washington, Holcomb has played in 43 games, starting 41, and has a total of 319 tackles, including 202 solo and 14 for loss, 4.5 sacks, and 3 interceptions. Last season, he played and started 16 games, with 142 total tackles, including 83 solo and 2 for loss, plus 1 sack and 12interception. Holcomb is obviously a revelation as a fifth round pick, which is a point in the draft at which NFL starters are rare. He’s a natural strongside linebacker, as his talents lie more in run defense than on the backside in coverage. Holcomb appears to be ingrained as the middle linebacker this year, mostly by default, as head coach Ron Rivera negligently ignored the need. Ultimately, he’s a league-average player with the potential to be slightly better.
LB2 – David Mayo (6’2”/240):
Mayo was a fifth round draft pick by Rivera’s Panthers in 2015 from Texas St. Mayo is of average athleticism by NFL linebacker standards – at the Texas St. pro day, he ran the 40 yard dash in 4.74 seconds, jumped 34.5” inches in the vertical leap and 9’5” in the standing broad jump, and did 24 bench press reps. Mayo stayed with the Panthers through the 2018 season. He signed a two year contract with the San Francisco 49ers in the 2019 offseason but was released at the end of training camp that year. Mayo was signed by the New York Giants two days later, and he stayed with the Giants until being released this past March due to the Giants’ salary cap woes. Washington signed him to a one year, $990,000 contract two weeks later. In total, Mayo has played in 102 games, with 23 starts, and has a total of 201 tackles, including 129 solo and 10 for loss, plus 2 sacks. Last year for Washington, Mayo played in 16 games, with 4 starts, and made 28 tackles, including 20 solo and 2 for loss, and played 70% of his snaps on special teams. Mayo was a weakside inside linebacker in the Giants’ base 3 – 4 system. He is far more effective against the run than he is in coverage. That said, he’s the only proven linebacker on this roster beyond Holcomb who’s proven himself to be an NFL-level talent. Therefore, he could be a two down player who will be the backup to Washington’s starting middle linebacker, and possibly on the strong side as well.
The rest of them:
Milo Eifler (6’2”/225):
Eifler was a 2021 undrafted free agent out of the University of Illinois who was originally signed by the New York Jets, but was waived shortly before the start of the season. He was then picked up by the Dolphins to join their practice squad, then signed with Washington on December 7. Eifler re-signed with Washington this past offseason.
Eifler originally attended the University of Washington, and redshirted his 2016 season before transferring to Illinois. He played a total of 24 games in 3 seasons for the Fighting Illini, making a total of 96 tackles, including 62 solo and 13.5 for loss, and 3 sacks. At his Pro Day, he ran the 40 yard dash in 4.58 seconds, jumped 37 inches in the vertical leap and 10’6” in the standing broad jump, but did not bench press.
Last year in Washington, Eifler was active for 3 games, mostly on special teams, but did not record any stats. Whether he is a legitimate, long-term NFL contributor is anyone’s guess.
Ferrod Gardner (6’0”/216):
Gardner played his 2015 freshman year in college at the University of Missouri before transferring to the Louisiana at Lafeyette. He played for the Ragin’ Cajuns from 2018 to 2021, participating in a total of 45 games, and made a total of 237 tackles, including 128 solo, and had 6.5 sacks. Gardner didn’t participate in the NFL Combine, and had a hamstring injury that kept him from performing drills at his Pro Day. That having been said, his 40 time is projected to be in the 4.74 second range. Gardner’s weight probably keeps him from being a full-time NFL linebacker, so if he makes it to the roster, it’s probably either in a hybrid linebacker safety role, or purely as a safety. Washington has him listed as a linebacker for now.
De’Jon Harris (6’0”/244):
Harris is a 2020 undrafted free agent from the University of Arkansas, where he played 45 games in 4 seasons, making a total of 371 tackles, including 198 solo and 26 for loss, and 7.5 sacks. He was originally signed by the Patriots, but was cut before the start of the 2020 season. He then spent most of the season on the Green Bay Packers practice squad, but was elevated to the active roster for two games. The Packers released him prior to the start of the 2021 season and was signed to Washington’s practice squad this past October. Washington then re-signed him this offseason. In total, he’s played in 7 games, and made 4 solo tackles and 1 sack, all last season. At the 2020 NFL Combine, he ran the 40 yard dash in 4.69 seconds, did 18 bench press reps at 225 pounds, and jumped 33 inches in the vertical leap and 9’3” in the standing broad jump. Harris probably has a leg up over the other 2022 undrafted signees simply because the Washington coaching staff already watched him for half a season.
Khaleke Hudson (5’11”/224):
Hudson was a fifth round pick by Washington last year. He played a total of 44 games in four years at Michigan, with 225 tackles, including 114 solo tackles and 23 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, and 2 interceptions. In 2019, Hudson played 13 games, making 101 tackles, including 45 solo and 3 tackles for loss. He earned Third Team All-Big Ten honors in 2017 and Second Team All-Big Ten Honors in 2019. At the NFL Combine, Hudson ran the 40 yard dash in 4.56 seconds, did an impressive 30 reps on the bench press, and jumped 33 inches in the vertical leap and 10’0” in the standing broad jump. In two years, with Washington, Hudson has played in 28 games, starting 3, and made 23 total tackles, including 12 solo and 2 for loss. Last season, Hudson played in 12 games, with 1 start, and made 9 total tackles, including 4 solo. Hudson is more of a tweener, linebacker / safety hybrid, having played in Michigan’s “Viper” role, which is essentially an in-the-box safety / linebacker hybrid. In some respects, he’s of the same mold as Landon Collins. Hudson has played 82% of his snaps on special teams. He may be able to carve out a role in nickel or dime situations rather than in the team’s base 4 – 3.
Bryce Notree (6’3”/225):
Notree, a 2022 undrafted free agent signee, spent 6 full years at Southern Illinois. He redshirted his freshman year in 2016, then played a total of 46 games from 2017 through 2021, with a total of 247 tackles and 6 sacks. Notree missed most of the 2019 due to injury. He did not attend the 2022 NFL Combine, but is projected to run the 40 yard dash in 4.85 seconds, and did 22 bench press reps at 225 pounds, and jumped 34 inches in the vertical leap and 9’8” in the standing broad jump. Notree has the size to play a more traditional linebacker role for Washington. He’s probably not speedy enough to be overly effective in coverage, so his best shot either may be in the middle or on the strong side.
Tre Walker (6’1”/230):
Walker is a 2022 undrafted free agent signee from the University of Idaho. He played in a total of 38 games in four seasons at Idaho, with 29 starts, making a total of 338 tackles, including 172 solo, plus 3.5 sacks. Last season, he played and started 11 games, and had 105 total tackles, including 46 solo. Walker’s 40 time is projected to be in the mid-4.7 second range. He did 18 bench press reps at 225 pounds and jumped 29.5 inches in the vertical leap and 9’6” in the standing broad jump. Walker is built like a traditional NFL inside linebacker and he’s not overly athletic by NFL standards, so he’ll have to compete for a spot beyond a hybrid role.
Drew White (6’0”/228):
White is a 2022 undrafted free agent from Notre Dame. He played in a total of 39 games in 4 seasons for the Fighting Irish, and had a total of 199 tackles, including 109 solo and 21.5 for loss, 5 sacks, and 1 interception. At his Pro Day, he ran one 40 yard dash in 4.77 seconds, but suffered a hamstring injury and didn’t run again. White did 22 bench press reps and jumped 29 inches in the vertical leap. White’s build and profile suggests that he’s another candidate to play a traditional linebacker role.
Needless to say, all of these players beyond Davis, Holcomb, and Mayo need to prove themselves on special teams in order to make the active roster. Washington kept 5 linebackers to start the 2021 season, so if that holds true this year, only two of “the rest of them” category will make the roster. Hudson certainly has a leg up, but it’s a crap shoot for the remaining players.