The One Thing Jordan Magee Must Show to Earn a Real Role in Washington’s Defense
The One Thing Jordan Magee Must Show to Earn a Real Role in Washington’s Defense
Jordan Magee is no longer the developmental heir apparent in Washington. With a revamped front seven, this training camp is about proving he still belongs in the defensive plans.Philip Hughes|
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Jordan Magee will not enter training camp with a defined role in the Washington Commanders' linebacker room. In years past, he was treated as a developmental piece with upside, which can still ring true, but the Commanders no longer view him as a possible replacement for Bobby Wagner. That title, along with the green dot that goes with it, now belongs to Sonny Styles.
Washington did not use the number 7 overall pick in April's NFL Draft on Styles just to see where he fits. He was brought in to be a long-term leader and central piece of the defense. That changes the roster math for everyone else.
By no means does Styles' being drafted eliminate Magee's opportunity, but it does shift things into a more specific role. No longer is Magee just a young linebacker showing promise. Now he will be trying to prove he still has a clear place in a room that includes an established playmaker in Frankie Luvu, a premium rookie investment in Styles, and a veteran free agent addition in Leo Chenal.
That makes this summer especially important. For Magee, it is not a question of showing he has pure talent; no one is denying his abilities. To remain part of Washington's plans, he must show enough to be considered reliable.
The new and improved Commanders linebackers room.
— Scott Abraham (@Scott7news) May 28, 2026
Young and fast.
Jordan Magee said on Wednesday that both Sonny Styles and Leo Chenal are "athletic freaks."
On the LB's, Magee said, "right now we are competing, helping each other get better. Iron sharpens iron." pic.twitter.com/y9lD14e1rL
Where Things Stand for Jordan Magee
The new path for Magee is complicated, but not closed. As a top-10 draft pick with big expectations, Styles changes the room immediately. The team is not treating him like a developmental lottery ticket. He was brought in to lead that room.
Luvu already has a clearly defined role in Washington's front seven as he enters the final year of his contract, but he will be 30 in September. Kain Medrano brings youth and represents Magee's biggest competition in the room. Nick Bellore and Ale Kaho will also factor into certain defensive roles in 2026. Bellore has been one of the better special teams players in the league for years, but Father Time is catching up to him as he turned 37 in May. Keeping Bellore may no longer be an option when the roster math starts churning the bubble players.
That leaves Magee in an interesting spot. With his role currently undefined and the team coming off a major investment in his position, he has to prove to the staff why he still belongs in the defensive plan.
The One Thing That Matters Most
The main thing that truly matters for Magee when he gets on the field is overall trust in his abilities. Getting real snaps is the separator here. Having athletic ability and special teams value helps a player tremendously. But just like his draft status, none of those things will guarantee him a defensive role now that the room has become more competitive. For Magee to remain part of the plan, he needs to stick to his basic linebacker principles and avoid becoming a liability in space.
Linebackers work off the trust factor; it is literally everything to them. A player can move well and still arrive late. He can hit harder than anyone on the field and still fill the wrong gap. Hesitation will kill even the best footwork in open space. That is why Magee cannot base his summer on just energy or athletic traits alone. It has to be about command.
If he wants to be involved, he needs to diagnose plays faster. Washington needs to see him handle assignments without hesitation. He has to appear comfortable enough on the field that the defense does not have to shrink when he is playing. That is how Magee can separate himself from the pack.
What Changes If Magee Shows It
It is up to Magee to prove to new defensive coordinator Daronte Jones that he can be trusted in the scheme. Once that happens, the linebacker room is deeper instantly, and Magee becomes more than just another name on the depth chart.
That will matter over the long course of the NFL season. For defenses to be successful, they need more than just starters. Jones' new system will aim to get as much as they can from as many angles as possible. They are going to need injury insurance at the position, as well as players who contribute on special teams but can handle real snaps as well.
Overall, they will need players who can grow into bigger roles on the roster without forcing the coaching staff to hide them. That is the lane Magee should be searching for success in.
He is not going to beat out Styles, nor does he need to. He just needs to show he still belongs in the plan. That is the difference between being just another piece on the roster and being a defensive piece that fits.
For Jordan Magee, that is the one thing that matters most now.
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PHILIP HUGHESPhilip Hughes covers the Washington Commanders with a focus on daily news, film analysis, roster construction, player development, and the fan culture surrounding one of the NFL’s most scrutinized teams. A longtime sports writer and content creator, Hughes has spent more than 20 years building football audiences across the interwebs and following the daily beat of the NFC East. email: [email protected]
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Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price subsidising their life by livestreaming
Venezuela Fury and her husband Noah Price look to be making their own way in the world by raking it in from their lucrative social media accounts.
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury, 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year.
Since getting married and moving in together the couple have been earning thousands of pounds a month, livestreaming their life as newlyweds in their static caravan in the East Riding of Yorkshire.
And fans can't get enough of their regular life updates on TikTok and Kick, which have proved to be very profitable for the pair.
They look to be supporting themselves after Noah denied that he was given £5million by Venezuela's family as a wedding gift.
Despite his wife's huge family wealth, an estimated combined £160 million, Noah recently told his Kick followers that he 'pays for everything' for the couple.
Making light of the claims about Venezuela's millionaire financial status, Noah said: 'I actually pay for everything unfortunately. You'd expect the millionaire to pay for it wouldn't you.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price are earning thousands livestreaming their caravan life - after her new groom insisted he pays all the bills and denied he had £5m handout from her dad
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury , 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year
Venezuela then asked their fans: 'Do you think I am a millionaire?'
Noah joked: 'She isn't a secret millionaire guys', before she broke into song and sang: 'But I live like a millionaire!'
But it seems according to estimated calculations from their social media work, Noah and Venezuela can more than afford to support themselves.
Noah has been livestreaming on platforms such as Kick and TikTok, where viewers can send paid gifts or donations.
He was previously encouraging viewers to send gifts on his honeymoon during livestreams, suggesting this is one revenue stream.
Both Noah and Venezuela have built substantial followings on Instagram and TikTok. They can potentially earn money through sponsored posts, brand collaborations, affiliate links and creator payouts.
Kick allows its creators to take home 95 per cent of the £4.99 subscription cost that fans pay.
Streamers keep 100 per cent of direct tips and donations, minus minor standard payment processing fees.
It is unclear how many subscribers Noah currently has because this information is hidden, but he does have 7,200 followers which is publicly viewable.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million
In one video on their honeymoon, Noah asked his followers if they'd give them some more gifts now that they were married.
In a TikTok live viewed by 20,000 he said: 'Keep liking our videos people, keep sending gifts.'
After saying thank you to several of his followers he joked they should stick around on the livestream and 'watch Venezuela punch me in the mouth'.
The other half of the honeymooning couple said: 'I am, honestly!'
Noah previously confirmed that the pair don't share their finances after they were asked whether they have a shared bank account.
'She earns her money, I earn mine,' said Noah, as Venezuela joked: 'Yeah, what you gonna do about it.'
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'.
Meanwhile Venezuela is being eyed up by executives for a fly on the wall TV series.
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'
Boasting 1.3 million TikTok followers, Venezuela is already entertaining fans with her honest musings and candid moments, from cooking to kitting out her and Noah's static caravan home.
And following the success of the Netflix series At Home With The Furys, it is no wonder bosses are wanting to draw on the Fury popularity.
A TV insider said: 'The couple are not A-list celebrities but everyone has become obsessed with their love story.
'People are genuinely intrigued by them. Whether it’s the fact they have married so young, Venezuela’s famous family or their gypsy lifestyle, they have the ‘X factor'.
'Several TV executives think a proper fly-on-the-wall series following their lives as newlyweds in the gypsy community would be fascinating,' they told The Sun.
It is thought Netflix would be likely to produce the series due to their already established relationship with the Furys.
Venezuela's representatives told The Daily Mail: 'We have many offers on the table regarding Venezuela which we are discussing.'
