Washington Commanders linebacker Bobby Wagner is 34 years old and coming off a season where he dealt with plenty of bumps and bruises.
As the captain of the Commanders on defense, Wagner's impact on the roster goes well beyond the expectations on the field. He remains a locker room anchor and someone the rest of the organization looks up to.
That doesn't mean Washington should avoid looking ahead regarding his situation, though.
With his age, the Commanders need to address the linebacker position behind Wagner. Drafting a rookie made a lot of sense to play behind Wagner and learn from one of the best.
Washington feels they found a player like that in Day 3 of the April NFL Draft with Kain Medrano.
Pro Football Focus writer Mason Cameron named Medrano as the draft pick to watch for the Commanders and someone who could eventually look to replace Wagner.
"Medrano is built more like a strong safety than a true linebacker, but he tested out as an elite athlete with outstanding speed and explosiveness," Cameron said. "However, his struggles as a tackler will be an issue, with his 20.7% career missed tackle rate charting in the last percentile.
"Play strength will always be a question, but Medrano can match up against tight ends in man coverage, which could be his ticket to sticking on the roster. But that also relies largely on his ability to make an impact on special teams."
Medrano can be seen as a steal for Washington this year. So, he's the succession plan behind Wagner.
But ...
Most sixth-round rookies don't make a major impact on the team at all, let alone be an instant player right away.
It's why Washington's succession plan at linebacker is a work in progress ... and why it's a good thing Wagner is still playing good ball, so the need for a replacement isn't quite there just yet.