NFL
By: Ryan Cooley
*All stats/grades are via PFF
The Washington Commanders currently have $7.35 million in cap space heading into the 2023 offseason. Rivera and the front office will have decisions to make on certain players. If they don’t feel they have/will live up to their contract, releasing them is likely.
In this article, I look at players that could be cap casualties. Some will be fairly obvious, while others not so much.
Carson Wentz ($26.17 million savings)
Let’s start with the most obvious cut. Releasing Wentz will save over $26 million. His salary next season would account for 11.35% of Washington’s cap space. Wentz’s time with the Commanders went about as poorly as it could have. After a lackluster start, Carson broke his finger and lost the starting job to Taylor Heinicke.
Wentz was given one last chance to prove himself in week 17. He ended up throwing 3 INTs and 0 TDs. The loss to the 6-9 Browns ended the Commander’s season, knocking them out of the playoffs. Cutting Wentz will give Washington $33.52 total in cap space.
Logan Thomas ($5.17 million savings)
Thomas burst onto the scene in 2020 with 77 receptions for 744 yards and 6 TDs. This earned him a nice 3-year/$24.06 million contract. Since then, Thomas has struggled to stay healthy, missing 14 games the past two seasons.
When healthy this season, he failed to make much of an impact. He finished 2022 with 39 receptions for 323 yards and 1 TD. He also only managed a 37 run-blocking grade. It’s hard to imagine Thomas will be a part of the Commanders in 2023.
Chase Roullier ($4.32 million savings)
Roullier has only played 10 games in the past two seasons. When healthy, he was a top-10 center. Sadly, I am not sure he will be that same player even if he could stay healthy. Due to the uncertainty, Rivera might want to move off of him and find his replacement in the draft or sign a more reliable center in free agency.
Andrew Norwell ($2.28 million savings)
This signing last off-season made sense. Norwell’s $5 million salary was half of Ereck Flowers’ salary. Norwell and Flowers were both viewed as decent but not great guards, but one was much cheaper. However, his 59.8 grade in 2022 was the lowest of his career and created a hole in the offensive line.
Unless they believe Norwell can bounce back or be a solid depth piece in 2023, it is unlikely he returns.
J.D. McKissic ($1.23 million savings)
McKissic isn’t taking up too much cap space, but there could still be cheaper and younger options. After agreeing to sign with Buffalo, he quickly changed his mind and returned to Washington. He only played in eight games before injuring his neck in week 8, which ended his season. He also missed six games in 2021.
I would suggest possibly taking a 3rd down/receiving back late in the draft. Though, with Robinson and Gibson, I am not sure there is a huge need for a 3rd down back.
James Smith-Williams ($2.745 million savings)
Smith-Williams is a depth piece on the defensive line. He got a chance to prove himself while Young was rehabbing his knee for most of the season. While he had some flash moments, he couldn’t put them together consistently.
With Young being back fully in 2023, I am not sure paying Smith-Williams nearly $3 million is smart. I believe there can be cheaper options by looking in the mid to late rounds of the draft.
Total cap space after cuts: $49.26 million
