The Washington Commanders have agreed to sign Carolina Panthers linebacker Frankie Luvu, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.
It’s a three-year deal worth up to $36 million.
Luvu is coming off of a 2023 campaign in which he played every game and racked up 125 tackles, 5.5 sacks, a couple of forced fumbles and five passes defended.
The 27-year-old, who played his collegiate football at Washington State, went undrafted but eventually landed with the New York Jets in 2018.
He appeared in 14 contests during his rookie campaign, logging 22 tackles and three sacks. He then took a step back the following year, totaling just 12 tackles and one sack. Luvu spent one more season with the Jets, posting 25 tackles, a couple of sacks and a forced fumble.
Luvu then went on to join the Panthers in 2021, and in his first season with the club, his role began to grow, as he finished with 43 tackles, 1.5 sacks, a forced fumble and three fumble recoveries.
Then, in 2022, Luvu broke out, rattling off 111 tackles, seven sacks, an interception, a forced fumble, four passes defended and a defensive touchdown.
The Commanders entered the offseason in dire need of defensive assistance, as they finished last in the league in yards allowed and scoring defense in 2023. The good news is that they also went into free agency with expansive cap room, so they have plenty of money at their disposal to address these issues.
Getting Frankie Luvu is certainly a good start, but Washington still has a long way to go in order to fully fix its defensive struggles.
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