The worst-kept secret in Washington is quarterback Carson Wentz will be released sometime before the new league year begins in March. The Commanders will save over $26 million by releasing Wentz. There are no penalties associated with cutting Wentz as he has no guaranteed money left on the remaining two years of his deal.
Per Over the Cap, the Commanders currently have over $7 million in available cap space for 2023. Releasing Wentz frees up over $33 million for Washington, but there are other avenues for the team to clear up money.
One is veteran tight end Logan Thomas. Thomas signed a modest two-year contract with Washington in March 2020. Despite starting multiple quarterbacks, Thomas enjoyed a breakout season, catching 72 passes for 670 yards and six touchdowns — all career highs.
The summer before his second season with Washington, the team signed him to a three-year extension worth $24 million. Unfortunately, Thomas battled a hamstring injury early in the season, and when he returned later, tore his ACL on a dirty hit by Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Yannick Ngakoue.
Thomas finished his second season in Washington, playing in six games and finishing with 18 receptions for 196 yards and three touchdowns.
Thomas recovered from his ACL to make the Commanders’ opening-day roster. Still, he didn’t quite look like his former self, which was understandable less than one year from reconstructive knee surgery. Thomas finished the 2022 season with 39 receptions for 323 yards and a touchdown in 14 games.
It was a disappointing season for Thomas, but it wasn’t completely his fault. The Commanders started three quarterbacks again in 2022. Thomas is expected to count $8.7 million against the 2023 salary cap. If the Commanders need the salary-cap space, they can save over $5 million by releasing Thomas.
Thomas is considered a team leader, and he can still play. Washington could look to give him another season where he isn’t spending the entire offseason rehabbing a serious injury. There’s also the opportunity for the Commanders to restructure Thomas.
What works in Thomas’ favor is who would start for Washington? If the Commanders cut Thomas, that would mean filling another hole this offseason. There are three promising young players behind Thomas, but none you’d be comfortable with as a full-time starter in 2023.
John Bates will be entering his third season. Bates has started several games, is an excellent blocker and catches everything thrown his way. He’s just not a dynamic receiver. Rookies Cole Turner and Armani Rogers are dynamic but didn’t show much in 2022. Rogers, a former college quarterback, did show flashes before a late-season injury. All three are under contract in 2023.