Teams around the league are busy making the moves needed to put themselves in a more profitable position before free agency. And for one former Washington Commanders fan favorite, he was among the sacrifices elsewhere.
The Cleveland Browns confirmed that offensive tackle Cornelius Lucas has been released with one year remaining on his deal. And a surprising trade that raised eyebrows across the NFL may have been the catalyst for his early exit.
The popular figure opted to leave the Commanders in free agency last year after the team traded for five-time Pro Bowl blindside force Laremy Tunsil. They later drafted Josh Conerly Jr. at No. 29 overall, so the chance of him seeing the field in Washington was slim.
Cornelius Lucas is out in Cleveland just one year after Commanders departure
That said, Lucas became a core part of the rotation. He was a decent swing tackle, capable of slotting in on either side of the line and performing well. That didn't go unnoticed by the Browns, who gave him a two-year deal soon after the legal tampering window opened to get this deal over the line.
Lucas saw this as a chance to potentially cement a starting role at a relatively late stage of his playing career. Things did not go well.
He missed seven games due to injury and played just 48 percent of the team's offensive snaps when active. The typically consistent production Lucas displayed with the Commanders wasn't at the same level, which was deeply disappointing.
All of Cleveland's starting offensive linemen were free agents, but the team's trade for Tytus Howard, coupled with the lucrative contract extension given to the right tackle after the deal was rubber-stamped, meant the writing was firmly on the wall for Lucas. And his release saves the Browns $1.83 million in cap space.
What the future holds for Lucas is unclear. He's not getting any younger, and his production dip last season may be the start of a slide to irrelevancy. At the same time, teams value versatility in their offensive line backups. That should ensure he gets the chance to make a 53-man roster elsewhere in 2026, at the very least.
It would be surprising if that opportunity arrived in Washington.
Tunsil and Conerly are the focal points. Andrew Wylie was re-signed, and he can play anywhere along the protection. The Commanders also extended Nick Allegretti ahead of time, giving him a chance to compete for the starting center spot vacated by Tyler Biadasz.
If Lucas was willing to accept the veteran's minimum with no guarantees of his roster status, it might be something the Commanders should consider. But for now, his abrupt departure from Cleveland brings far more questions than answers about his aspirations in 2026.