Bobby Wagner has been one of the best at his craft almost from the moment he got into the league. The Washington Commanders linebacker shows no signs of slowing down, but he's also seeing something different in a young upstart teammate that could be a massive help to Joe Whitt Jr.'s defense in 2025.
Wagner deservedly got another one-year deal from the Commanders this offseason. The future Pro Football Hall of Famer earned second-team All-Pro honors, and he was an inspirational catalyst behind Washington's incredible locker room culture shift. This is also his 14th season, and the cerebral second-level enforcer is not going to be around forever.
The next generation must step up. That's the only way Washington's fleeting success is going to last long-term. And Wagner seems suitably impressed by the strides made by Jordan Magee entering Year 2 of his professional career.
Bobby Wagner believes comfort is helping Jordan Magee in Year 2 with Commanders
Wagner singled out Magee for special praise after the first training camp practice. He highlighted the added experience that's serving him well. He also noted the improved preparation and scheme familiarity as reasons why excitement continues to build.
He [Jordan Magee] is a guy that everyone is watching. Seeing his growth, understanding the defense. I think the biggest step for a younger guy, when you first come into the league, you don't know what to expect. You don't know the plays, you don't know how the league is, things of that nature. Then you get a full season, and you come in and just get to focus on being the best linebacker, not everything else that comes with the game. So, I think that's been the biggest thing, watching him prepare, watching him really get comfortable and confident within the defense, so I'm excited to see where he's going to take it.Bobby Wagner
Magee took off last offseason before a disappointing knee injury dented his chances of rookie involvement. He came back midway through the campaign but was utilized on special teams, for the most part. But make no mistake, the player and the coaching staff have much greater ambitions this time around.
Whitt has already declared his willingness to implement more three-linebacker sets next season when the situation dictates. The third spot is Magee's to lose, and the progress being made isn't going unnoticed.
The former Temple star has off-the-charts athleticism, which is always a solid foundation from which to build. Magee is violent at the contact point with the physical profile to match anyone. Once the technical refinements arrive, and he gets more in-game knowledge from a starting capacity, the Commanders will have a tremendous player on their hands.
Learning from someone with Wagner's credentials doesn't exactly hurt either. And the veteran will be pushing Magee every step of the way for as long as he's around.
That's a guarantee.
