A team insider expects the Washington Commanders to soon cut a pair of starting-level offensive linemen, including a one-time All-Pro after June 1 to gain over $12 million in needed cap space.
The Washington Commanders organization is in the midst of an offseason that is seeing a huge amount of change on multiple levels. While last season’s 8-8-1 result wasn’t a disaster, it was far from what they were hoping for, and why there have been changes to their overall structure over the last couple of months.
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Beyond the record-breaking amount a new ownership group is about to pay to purchase the team, the Washington Commanders have a new offensive coordinator in Eric Bieniemy. Sam Howell is expected to take over the starting quarterback spot from Carson Wentz and will have journeyman Jacoby Brissett backing him up.
They also used their two selections in the top 50 of the NFL Draft to add new life to their secondary for 2023. However, the team is still cash-strapped and will be above the salary cap after signing their new batch of rookies. And it seems the offensive line is going to be sacrificed to get under the cap.
Washington Commanders record (2022): 8-8-1
On Thursday, The Athletic’s Washington Commanders writer Ben Standig took a look at the organization’s cap situation and potential casualties for post-June 1 designations. And it seems one of the first victims could be one-time All-Pro Andrew Norwell.
Standig mentions the fact that head coach Ron Rivera has consistently not mentioned him when speaking about offensive line battles in camp, and fourth-round pick Braeden Daniels seems to be the nine-year veteran’s likely replacement. Cutting Norwell would land them just over $4 million in cap space.
The next likely victim could be six-year Washington Commanders veteran Chase Roullier. After making 53 starts in his first four seasons, he has only made 10 since due to injuries, and cutting him after June 1 could land the team a little over $8 million in extra salary. The organization used their pick in Round 3 on Arkansas center Ricky Stromberg.
While there are still a few weeks before they make decisions it seems very likely the Washington Commanders used the draft to find a new and cheaper interior for their O-line in 2023.