4 Commanders heading into make-or-break season in 2022

2. Landon Collins

Landon Collins is a unique case of the make-or-break clan.

After all, would it be a surprise if the Commanders were currently brainstorming ways to unload his contract? Absolutely not, especially when you consider that cutting him would save $6.48 million against the cap.

At the same time, though, Collins played like a game-changer in the latter half of the schedule after he was moved closer to the line of scrimmage.

That role, coined the Buffalo nickel position, allows Collins to be the best version of himself; one that blows up running plays, gets after the quarterback, and flies sideline to sideline waiting to deliver a hit stick on a ball-carrier.

The bottom line is Collins can still be a difference-maker for Washington. Our advice to the front office — since we’re obviously qualified — would be to restructure his contract and lower his $16.082 million cap hit.

Let him play out the season and see if he can contribute a full year of elite-level play in his preferred box linebacker position. If he comes up short in that regard and continues to struggle with injuries (he’s yet to play a full season with Washington), the franchise could save a whopping $11.8 million by cutting him in 2023.

That’s as make-or-break as it gets.