The Washington Commanders wasted no time in making Frankie Luvu a high-priority target in free agency. Head coach Dan Quinn and general manager Adam Peters wanted to find players capable of spearheading a supreme culture shift within the organization. This was exactly the sort of character they were seeking as part of their grand plans for progression.
Luvu was suitably intrigued, turning down a contract extension from the Carolina Panthers to link up with Quinn. The ferocious linebacker felt the Commanders' new defensive schematics being implemented could help take him into the elite category of second-level enforcers around the league. It's early days, but this objective is well on course to being met.
It was a slow start for Washington's defense overall. So many new faces took time to mesh and it showed. Once non-nonsense coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. simplified the calls to make things easier, the unit surged forward quickly.
The former undrafted free agent is a big part of that. Luvu has been nothing short of relentless, displaying the instinctive aggression that the Commanders envisaged when they gave him a three-year, $31 million deal with a $11.5 million signing bonus and $19.12 million guaranteed.
Frankie Luvu is inspiring the Commanders on and off the field
He took this to another level entirely in Week 5 against the Cleveland Browns. The Washington State product was dominant from the first whistle. He was always around the football and the coaching staff put him in positions to wreak havoc in the backfield. Deshaun Watson was under constant duress as another game got away from the struggling signal-caller. Luvu's exceptional performance was a big reason why.
Quinn gave Luvu the game ball following his outstanding efforts. He's racked up 37 tackles, three sacks, four quarterback hits, two tackles for loss, one pass breakup, and two fumble recoveries through five games. The versatile defender also has six pressures and is conceding a 79.2 passer rating when targeted en route to a creditable 71.6 grade from Pro Football Focus.
The hype surrounding Luvu is growing. He's an outstanding on-field performer who's forming a prolific partnership with perennial All-Pro linebacker Bobby Wagner. More importantly, his infectious enthusiasm and ability to inspire are having a positive impact in the locker room for good measure.
Peters made a ton of moves to immediately improve Washington's fortunes this offseason. The fact that Luvu was such a coveted target within a few hours of the legal tampering period beginning spoke volumes. There's a lot of football left, but this looks like a tremendous acquisition that can help the Commanders flourish this season and beyond.
Players like Luvu are hard to find. The Panthers wanted to keep him, but the player saw enough there over the last three years to determine it would be a long time before they were ready to compete. That's not the case in Washington following a sensational opening to the campaign that has fans dreaming of postseason football in Year 1 of Quinn's tenure.
If Luvu continues to inspire on and off the field, that goes from a dream to a genuine possibility if others meet their end of the bargain.
