The Washington Commanders are pleased to have acquired linebacker Frankie Luvu, and there’s one NFC South player who shares their enthusiasm.
Commanders’ GM Adam Peters has emphasized his strategy of bolstering the team primarily through the NFL Draft, supplemented by external acquisitions.
Taking charge of a team with only four wins and aiming to transform its ethos demanded significant changes this offseason. This involved bringing in over two dozen new players to refresh the locker room atmosphere.
One of them, linebacker Frankie Luvu, joins Washington after a stint of three seasons with the Carolina Panthers. And it seems at least one former NFC South opponent is relieved to see him leave.
“Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Rachaad White expressed his relief about Luvu’s departure from Carolina, stating, ‘Thank God he’s out of Carolina,’ during a recent appearance on the Hear The Cannons podcast. White explained, ‘I see him a lot in the offseason. We talk a lot. We both respect each other’s game. He’s basically like a big brother to me. So I was happy he was gone…his game needed to be respected more.'”
White and Luvu are not only connected through their agent but have also faced off twice a year during White’s two NFL seasons, fostering a deep familiarity with both the person and the player.
When a former adversary celebrates a competitor’s exit, it indicates a positive sign for the team acquiring him.
Luvu spent his first three NFL seasons with the New York Jets before gaining more consistent starting opportunities in 2022 with the Panthers. His inaugural year as a regular starter saw him tally seven sacks and 111 combined tackles, followed by another productive season in 2023 with 5.5 additional sacks and 125 tackles.
