
Cole Holcomb was a fan favorite the moment Washington drafted him in the fifth round of the 2019 NFL draft. Washington was terrible that season, but the rookie linebacker from North Carolina was a bright spot, playing all 16 games and making 15 starts.
When new head coach Ron Rivera and defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio came aboard in 2020, Holcomb remained in the starting lineup, a key piece of Washington’s new defense. Even better for Holcomb, Rivera and Del Rio were former standout NFL linebackers, which boded well for his development.