4 high-profile Commanders players who might not make the team in 2023
By Dean Jones
Kendall Fuller – Commanders CB
This would be a shock given Kendall Fuller is perhaps the only proven cornerback on the Washington Commanders right now. Benjamin St-Juste and the recently acquired Cameron Dantzler Sr. have high upside, but neither boasts the credentials and career production of the team’s current No. 1 option.
Fuller was solid if not spectacular for the Commanders last season. There were times when his shutdown capabilities were evident, but teams often targeted the player effectively once they got their desired mismatch.
The Commanders are going to get their hands on one of the top college cornerbacks via the 2023 NFL Draft. That’s almost guaranteed, but it’s whether this comes at No. 16 overall or a little further down the pecking order that’s the big question currently.
If the Commanders get lucky with someone like Christian Gonzalez and Joey Porter Jr., Fuller’s role might diminish. Should St-Juste and Dantzler perform better than anticipated, then a scenario could emerge where Washington makes the former third-round pick out of Virginia Tech a salary-cap casualty – however unlikely it might seem.
Releasing Fuller with a post-June 1 designation saves $8.5 million and comes with $3.12 million in dead money. While the chances are remote, the notion cannot be dismissed entirely.