Which contracts on the Washington Commanders' salary cap in 2024 could be seen as holding the team back during an important offseason?
Josh Harris' ownership group has put the Washington Commanders in a sound financial position this offseason. Deciding to trade Chase Young and Montez Sweat enabled them to save serious cash on extending the pass-rushing duo. With a large number of players set to enter free agency, the flexibility is there for all to see.
General manager Adam Peters will have a plan ready to go in pursuit of getting the Commanders back to being a respectable football operation. He has an abundance of high-end selections to utilize during the 2024 NFL Draft. Washington also boasts $83.54 million in available salary-cap space according to Spotrac with 49 players under contract.
The Commanders can increase this further in the coming weeks before free agency. Peters knows how to manipulate the cap from his time with the San Francisco 49ers. Having a rookie deal at the quarterback position to build around doesn't hurt. Something the team can contemplate with the No. 2 overall selection.
Looking at how things stand right now, here are five contracts holding the Commanders back in 2024 and what can be done to ease the burden.
Andrew Wylie - Commanders OT
- 2024 salary-cap hit: $9.41 million
The Washington Commanders didn't have much money to spend during 2023 free agency. Those in power allocated a good amount of that to sign Andrew Wylie from the Kansas City Chiefs. This was an instant reunion with Eric Bieniemy. Hopes were high that he could build on an outstanding Super Bowl showing to solidify a problem position at right tackle.
Wylie failed to meet expectations. He was dependable on the health front, but his overall consistency left a lot to be desired. Giving up nine sacks and countless pressures told their own story.
The Commanders have a difficult decision to make with Wylie this offseason. His $9.41 million cap hit is too big for a backup - which is what he'll hopefully become after Adam Peters' first period of recruitment - but they need to eat a significant amount of dead money to remove the Eastern Michigan product ahead of time.
Hopefully, these bad contracts will be a thing of the past under Peters' new vision for the franchise.
Jonathan Allen - Commanders DT
- 2024 salary-cap hit: $21.44 million
Jonathan Alen was not at his best in 2023. The veteran defensive tackle has set the bar exceptionally high after a glittering career to date. Hopefully, this regression was down to his lack of motivation as another Washington Commanders campaign spiraled into the proverbial abyss under recently fired head coach Ron Rivera.
Allen made no secret about his unhappiness. He was a forlorn, outspoken figure threatening to leave if things didn't improve. Perhaps this was a little reactionary in hindsight. The former first-round selection out of Alabama did seem pleased with the way Washington has approached their hires so far during a recent media appearance. That's a good sign he's willing to stick around.
That doesn't detract from Allen's contract being a problem. He's counting just north of $21 million against the salary cap. His production last season didn't match this lofty financial commitment. What the Commanders need to figure out is whether it was just a blip or the start of something more concerning.
If general manager Adam Peters and head coach Dan Quinn identify Allen as a core foundational piece, then restructuring his current deal provides the Commanders with some extra breathing space financially. They could let things ride out, but there is no guaranteed money left on his deal in any case.
A possible contract extension is another way the Commanders could appease all parties in this scenario. Trading Allen was speculated earlier this offseason, but that seems to have died down a little after an impressive start to Washington's offseason plans.
Charles Leno Jr. - Commanders OT
- 2024 salary-cap hit: $15.53 million
As previously mentioned, it would be wise if general manager Adam Peters spent considerable resources on improving the offensive line. Sam Howell was the league's most-sacked quarterback in 2023. He spent most of the campaign running for his life. If the Washington Commanders are going to take a signal-caller at No. 2 overall, they must solidify their protection to give the chosen prospect a fighting chance.
What this means for those already around remains to be seen. Only Sam Cosmi should feel confident about starting next season. When 80 percent of your offensive line is under threat, that's a damning indictment of their ability to form a cohesive unit.
Charles Leno Jr. remains a core community presence in Washington. His leadership and character cannot be questioned. Unfortunately, he was another who saw production regress considerably in 2023.
Leno is credited with giving up just three sacks, but there were significant discipline issues. This resulted in 10 penalties - not exactly ideal for an established veteran who should know better. His $15.53 million cap number also brings some complications.
Much will depend on what reinforcements the Commanders can obtain via free agency and the draft. Finding premium blindside assistance can be difficult. If Peters finds the right guy, cutting Leno with a post-June 1 designation saves the franchise $11.78 million to better spend elsewhere.
Logan Thomas - Commanders TE
- 2024 salary-cap hit: $8.29 million
Logan Thomas has been a steady influence since joining the Washington Commanders. Injuries have held the tight end back in recent years. But he managed to put a consistent run of games together in 2023 and became a solid security blanket for quarterback Sam Howell.
Thomas is never going to be considered among the likes of Travis Kelce, George Kittle, and Mark Andrews, but he's dependable. If the Commanders want to take that next step and enter playoff consideration under the new regime, more is required.
There's a consensus that the production doesn't match Thomas' upcoming salary cap hit on the final year of his deal. This stands at $8.92 million, which places him No. 18 among the highest-paid players at the position.
It's not extortionate by any means, but one could make a strong case for Thomas not being worth such a financial outlay. Much like the situation with Charles Leno Jr., his future will be almost entirely dependent on what general manager Adam Peters has planned in terms of recruitment. For fans, it's a situation worth monitoring.
If the Commanders can find a better pass-catching tight-end option at some stage, Peters can get Thomas' contract off the books without much dead money attached. But don't be surprised if the converted quarterback sees out his current deal, either.
Terry McLaurin - Commanders WR
- 2024 salary-cap hit: $24.1 million
Terry McLaurin remains a model of consistency. The dynamic wide receiver had to overcome some severe complications in 2023. Despite all this, he still managed to secure another 1,000-yard receiving campaign in Week 18 against the Dallas Cowboys.
McLaurin is officially the highest-paid Washington Commanders player next time around. His $24.1 million salary-cap number leads the team. It's No. 12 league-wide and represents 9.7 percent of the overall cap.
There's no denying McLaurin is a core piece of Washington's plans for the future. He's one of the NFL's most underrated route-runners and has been for some time. The former Ohio State standout's evolution into a locker-room alpha only enhances his influence.
That said, it might be worth general manager Adam Peters getting his cap number down to build other areas of the roster. Restructuring players can be complicated. Fortunately in McLaurin's case, his importance to the Commanders means this can be done with minimal fuss as part of their long-term planning.
McLaurin is going to be integral to Washington's hopes of improving next season. This bears more significance if the Commanders bring in a rookie quarterback. They'll need a dependable pass-catcher in key moments to smooth their transition. Make no mistake, the 2019 third-round pick is one of the best around.