Commanders Free Agency: 3 O-Line Cut Candidates

The Washington Commanders have the most cap space in the NFL, but they could increase that number even higher just by moving on from some underperforming veterans on the offensive line.

Here are three potential cut candidates on the offensive line ...

OT Charles Leno Jr.

2024 Salary Cap Hit: $15.5M - Dead Cap: $8.25M - Cap Savings: $7.28M

Leno ranked in the bottom half of the league among qualifying tackles in total, pass, and run blocks blown percentage according to Sports Info Solutions (SIS).

It's part of the reason so many on the outside expect Washington to move on from him with one active and three void years remaining on his current contract.

OT Andrew Wylie

2024 Salary Cap Hit: $9.4M - Dead Cap: $7.8M - Cap Savings: $1.58M

Like Leno, Wylie was in the bottom half of the top 64 offensive tackles in the NFL in blown blocks across the board.

He did his best work in run blocking, ranking No. 32 in blown block percentage and some have speculated perhaps a move inside to guard opposite Sam Cosmi is a way to salvage the soon-to-be 30-year-old veteran who signed a three-year deal just last offseason.

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OC Nick Gates

2024 Salary Cap Hit: $5.2M - Dead Cap: $5.3M - Cap Savings: -$100k

By SIS measurements in blown blocks, Gates was actually near or in the top half of the 32 qualifying centers in the league when it came to overall percentages and pass blocking.

But his blown run block percentage was incredibly high, placing him 27th in that one category alone.

Perhaps that's enough to warrant moving him back to guard where he once played, but some speculate even with a negative gain in the salary cap there's no way the team will pay him what they owe him to stick around.