4 former Commanders players who surprisingly remain unsigned in 2023
By Dean Jones
Matt Ioannidis - Former Commanders DL
When the Washington Commanders deemed Matt Ioannidis a salary-cap casualty during the 2022 offseason, there were no surprises for guessing where the defensive tackle would end up next. His former college coach Matt Rhule wasted no time in bringing him to the Carolina Panthers on a one-year deal worth $8 million, which is a move that paid off after a decent-enough campaign for the veteran.
The under-pressure Rhule only lasted five games working with Ioannidis again before he was fired after a torrid home loss to the San Francisco 49ers. But the interior presence performed well throughout aside from one or two injury complications.
Ioannidis' presence and leadership also played a significant role in Derrick Brown's breakout campaign alongside him on the defensive front. However, with a new coaching regime coming into the fold and the Panthers switching to a 3-4 base scheme under Ejiro Evero, the Temple product was surplus to requirements.
That's all part of the game, unfortunately. What's more surprising is the fact nobody else has taken a chance on Ioannidis heading into the business end of the preparation period.
There are some injury issues that deserve acknowledgment. But Ioannidis' production is proven and something that could be of use to a team looking for assistance on their defensive line.