Desperate times call for desperate measures. That’s true as it concerns the Washington Commanders, who brought back former starting linebacker Jon Bostic last week to provide depth behind Cole Holcomb in 2022.
Bostic is a respected veteran who his coaches and teammates love. He knows the defense and will understand his role as a backup.
However, that still means you are one play away from Bostic as Washington’s starting mike linebacker, and we’ve been down that road before.
There is an upgrade on the free-agent market if the Commanders are interested — and they should know him well. The New York Giants released veteran linebacker Blake Martinez last week. It was determined to be a mutual decision, with some citing Martinez’s fit in the defense and his salary as the primary reasons for his departure.
Martinez, 28, is a six-year NFL veteran that has played in 80 career games, with 76 starts. He tied for the NFL lead in tackles in 2017. Martinez was a four-year starter with the Packers before signing as a free agent with the Giants in 2020. He played in only three games last season after tearing his ACL in Week 3.
Martinez figures to have some interest from around the NFL after Week 1.
One would think the Commanders make perfect sense, right? Martinez represents an upgrade from Bostic and the rest of Washington’s reserve linebackers. The problem is would Martinez want to sign with the Commanders knowing he’d be a backup behind Holcomb?
Washington is committed to Holcomb as the starting mike linebacker for 2022. Second-year pro Jamin Davis will start on the outside. The Commanders, like most NFL teams, play in a lot of nickel packages where there are often only two linebackers on the field.
Martinez would likely want to wait to see if there are any starting opportunities for him. The problem is most teams have their starters. At this point, Martinez may want to sit out and wait for a team who lost a starting middle linebacker to injury.
Martinez is similar to Bostic in the sense that pass coverage isn’t his strength. Bostic knows and understands his role in Washington is to be a backup. Martinez feels he should still be starting, and rightfully so.
While it makes sense on paper for the Commanders to pursue Martinez, it appears unlikely. The two sides would have different ideas about what his role would be in 2022.
Martinez is not starting over Holcomb. Holcomb isn’t an All-Pro linebacker, but his continued growth throughout each of his first three seasons is an encouraging sign.
So, for now, it’s hard to envision Washington and Martinez working together, but that doesn’t mean the Commanders shouldn’t try.
