Washington Commanders: 4 easiest roster decisions for the defense

1. Address Landon Collins’ cap hit

Doesn’t get much easier than this, right?

What if we told you that Landon Collins’ $16.2 million cap hit for 2022 ranks second at the safety position? That alone is a travesty, and it looks even worse considering he doesn’t even play the position on a full-time basis anymore!

After performing like one of the worst defenders in the league over the first two months of this season, the Commanders moved Collins closer to the line of scrimmage. To say his performances flipped a switch would be an understatement, but that astronomical cap hit needs to be addressed regardless.

The way we see it, Washington has three options: restructure the contract, sign him to an extension to lower the cap hit or simply cut him. Assuming they don’t want to lose a legit difference-maker on their defense, the most likely outcome here is a restructure.

They’ll have to be careful, though, because Collins is on the books for a $17.2 million cap charge next year. The last thing the Commanders need is to make that more expensive and reduce their potential savings ($11.8 million), because it’s far more likely the seven-year veteran gets released next offseason.

While Washington is financially equipped to meet Collins’ cap dues, $16.2 million is flat-out ridiculous for someone who was forced into a position change, and freeing up extra money, even if it’s just a few million, could end up paying huge dividends.

It’s non-negotiable.