Contracts Commanders Must Consider Cutting in 2023 Offseason

The Washington Commanders can use the NFL offseason to move on from their mistake of bringing in Carson Wentz.

The quarterback's disappointing performance and string of injuries followed him to Washington from the Indianapolis Colts.

The 30-year-old does not have any guaranteed money left on the contract he initially signed with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Washington can make the decision to move on from Wentz and start anew with a rookie quarterback, a veteran who could be available as a free agent or through a trade or keep going with Taylor Heinicke.

Wentz is the marquee name on the list of potential offseason cuts by the Commanders. The NFC East side needs to make more room on the books to improve its roster in an attempt to contend with the three playoff squads that came out of its division.

Washington enters the offseason with $6.8 million in salary-cap space, per Spotrac, but it can make more room by shedding a few expensive deals.

Carson Wentz

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LANDOVER, MD - JANUARY 01: Washington Commanders quarterback Carson Wentz (11) throws a pass from the pocket during the Cleveland Browns game versus the Washington Commanders on January 01, 2023, at FedEx Field in Landover, MD. (Photo by Lee Coleman/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Carson Wentz is who he is as a quarterback at this stage of his career.

He produced 11 touchdowns and nine interceptions as a perfectly average option at the position in eight starts for the Commanders in 2022.

The North Dakota State product did not take Washington's offense to new heights, and he ended up with a worse record as the starter than Taylor Heinicke. Wentz was 2-6, and Heinicke was 5-3-1.

The former Philadelphia and Indianapolis player should be looking for his fourth team in four years because the Commanders can't justify paying him $20 million next season.

All of the guaranteed money attached to Wentz's current contract has been paid out, so the Commanders will not face a financial penalty if they let go of him.

His release would open up $26.1 million on the salary cap for the 2023 season. That was the cap hit attached to the quarterback's deal, per Spotrac.

The move would force the Commanders to get involved in another quarterback search, but that should be the preferred option instead of hoping Wentz throws for more than 30 touchdowns for the first time since 2017.

Logan Thomas

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - DECEMBER 04: Logan Thomas #82 of the Washington Commanders runs with the ball in the first quarter of a game against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium on December 04, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Logan Thomas' age and injury history make him an easy candidate to cut in the offseason.

The 31-year-old has played only 20 games over the last two seasons, and he is scheduled to make $6.2 million in 2023 with a salary-cap hit of $8.6 million, per Spotrac.

Washington can't afford Thomas to go through another season of low production and injuries in a crucial year for the offense's development.

The Commanders have some great young pieces in the form of running back Brian Robinson and wide receiver Jahan Dotson who can partner with Terry McLaurin to provide the quarterback with some solid targets.

Thomas produced his lowest catch-rate percentage in three seasons in a Washington jersey in the 2022 campaign and only found the end zone once.

The veteran tight end was not as involved in the offense as he was two years ago, when he caught six touchdowns and had career highs of 72 receptions and 670 receiving yards.

Thomas could still be a productive tight end in the NFL, but at his current cost and age, the Commanders can't justify keeping him when that money can be allocated to different areas of the roster.

Washington can rely more on John Bates at tight end and go after a younger player in the draft. That should be Washington's strategy at tight end as it attempts to compete with the Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC East.

Chase Roullier

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DETROIT, MI - SEPTEMBER 18: Chase Roullier #73 of the Washington Commanders blocks during an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on September 18, 2022 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)

Chase Roullier's injuries have to come to mind when the Washington front office discusses the center's potential cut.

The 29-year-old has played 10 games over the last two years after suffering a season-ending leg injury in Week 2 of the 2022 campaign.

The Commanders could follow a similar path at center as they could at tight end by cutting a veteran player with an injury history and chasing a younger option in the NFL draft.

Roullier is scheduled to make over $8 million in each of the next two seasons. A potential draft pick at center would make far less than that, especially if the player is chosen in the later rounds.

That scenario would allow the Commanders to start with a clean slate at quarterback and center with younger, inexpensive options in a year that will feature a new offensive coordinator and may be vital to Ron Rivera's future as head coach.