Which Washington Commanders players find their jobs in jeopardy after a fascinating 2023 NFL Draft for the franchise?
Now that the 2023 NFL Draft heads into the rearview mirror, attention turns to on-field preparations and the level of excitement that will emerge once the team's sale is officially confirmed. This is an interesting time for almost everyone associated with the franchise, but head coach Ron Rivera is keen to focus on the task at hand and worry about what comes next later.
The Commanders managed to acquire seven new prospects from the college ranks from eight initial selections. This solved problem position groups and hopefully, some lower down the pecking order can step up and make their presence felt sooner than anticipated.
Adding fresh faces is always positive. However, for some already on the books, it casts further doubt on what their respective roles might be heading into the new campaign.
With this in mind, here are five Commanders players whose jobs are in jeopardy following the 2023 NFL Draft.
Player No. 1
William Bradley-King - Commanders DE
With Andre Jones Jr. and K.J. Henry acquired during the draft, the Washington Commanders made strengthening their pass-rushing options a priority on Day 3. This provides the team with an insurance policy or two in the event Chase Young suffers more injury struggles entering Year 4 of his professional career.
At least from the outside looking in, this is bad news for William Bradley-King. The former seventh-round pick out of Baylor has featured just four times in two seasons, which indicates a distinct lack of confidence in a player they released in 2022 before bringing back to the practice squad.
Andrew Norwell - Commanders OL
It's no secret that the Washington Commanders needed further assistance on their offensive line heading into the 2023 NFL Draft. Andrew Wylie and Nick Gates were decent enough signings in free agency, but it was not enough to install confidence that progress could arrive after such a lackluster season last time around.
While help didn't arrive immediately, it did come late on Day 2 and early on Day 3. Ricky Stromberg and Braeden Daniels were the picks, which adds athletic upside to the interior and increases the level of competition when training camp rolls around.
What the means for Andrew Norwell's immediate future is unclear. The former All-Pro reunited with Ron Rivera last season but failed to fill the void left by Brandon Scherff, which leaves his 2023 prospects hanging in the balance unless major strides are made.
Perhaps Norwell is a little long in the tooth to improve to such a degree. The Commanders also need to save money, which means releasing the veteran interior protector cannot be dismissed despite his close association with Rivera.
Cutting Norwell with a post-June 1 designation saves the Commanders $4.38 million against their cap with just $700,000 in dead money. All things considered, this might be the most likely scenario when push comes to shove.
Shaka Toney - Commanders DE
As stated previously, the Washington Commanders were leaving nothing to chance regarding their pass-rushing options heading into the new season. There's also the small matter of lucrative contract extensions regarding Chase Young and Montez Sweat to consider if both perform well in 2023.
Keeping both might be difficult. But landing K.J. Henry and Andre Jones Jr. could spell the end for Shaka Toney in the wake of recent developments.
Toney was suspended indefinitely by the NFL for violating the league's gambling policy. Considering his depth chart status and the acquisition of two new faces from the college ranks, Ron Rivera might decide to cut his losses entirely given the lack of financial ramifications involved.
This is an extremely disappointing turn of events for Toney, who has the physical attributes to carve out a role for himself and also proved to be a valuable special teams performer last season. However, this mistake could very well cost the Penn State product his job.
Whether it's harsh or not is debatable. But the rules are there for a reason and Toney was well aware of the implications before placing his bets.
Chase Roullier - Commanders C
Competition for roster positioning is going to be fierce across the Washington Commanders' offensive line this offseason. A host of new faces are looking to make their mark, with much also expected of young players already around now they have fully acclimatized themselves to professional standards in the NFL.
One of the most fascinating dynamics surrounds Chase Roullier. The gifted center is a top performer when healthy, but a series of frustrating injury problems mean his fortunes could go either way.
Roullier is back on the field without a knee brace, so the early signs are positive. However, there are also some financial factors to ponder for those in power before coming to a final conclusion on the veteran's status.
The Commanders don't even have enough spare cash to sign their draft class currently. Therefore, the $8.37 million saved with a post-June 1 release where Roullier is concerned represents a tempting proposition considering the options already available.
After all, the NFL is a business above all else. So the Commanders might decide Roullier cannot be relied upon to put a consistent run of games together.
Kendall Fuller - Commanders CB
Strengthening the cornerback room was another high priority for the Washington Commanders during the 2023 NFL Draft. However, not many projected their opening two picks to focus primarily on the secondary.
Emmanuel Forbes was the pick at No. 16 overall after the Mississippi State product generated some late momentum. The Commanders also picked up Quan Martin at No. 47 - a versatile defensive back that looks best suited to nickel responsibilities at the next level.
While this is the injection of energy Washington's cornerback unit desperately needs, it brought about speculation regarding Kendall Fuller's future with the franchise. The veteran performed well enough last season but might find himself surplus to requirements given the cap savings involved.
If the Commanders decide to cut Fuller with a post-June 1 designation, it saves them $8.5 million. However, it also rids Jack Del Rio's defense of their most experienced corner along the way.
This is a precarious situation. Fuller has his uses and remains a respected leadership figure within the locker room, but the cash-strapped Commanders might have no other choice but to cut him loose.