The Washington Commanders are moving on from center Chase Roullier. According to Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post, the Commanders are releasing Roullier with a post-June 1st designation after six seasons with the team.
Roullier’s fate in Washington got sealed after the Commanders signed Nick Gates in free agency, re-signed Tyler Larsen, and drafted Ricky Stromberg out of Arkansas in the third round of last week’s NFL Draft.
Roullier signed a four-year, $40 million extension in January 2021. He was to carry a $12.42 million cap hit for the 2023 season. By designating his release after June 1, the Commanders will take on a $4.05 million dead cap hit with $8.37 million in savings, per Over the Cap.
The Commanders won’t get the cap relief until after June 1. Washington may use it on late free agency additions, money to extend a player on the roster (see Kam Curl), or to cover players’ incentives that count against the salary cap during the season.
Washington drafted Roullier in the sixth round of the 2017 NFL Draft. Roullier started seven games as a rookie before taking over the starting center role full-time in 2018.
His play on the field earned him a contract extension before the 2021 season. However, his career trajectory shifted when he fractured his fibula during a Week 8 game against the Denver Broncos that season.
He rehabbed and returned in Week 1 of the 2022 season. Unfortunately, his season got halted in Week 2 with a season-ending MCL tear in his right knee.
The Commanders already had a potential out in his contract with all the $19.2 million in guarantees paid to him. The injuries the last two seasons opened the door wider for Washington to seek his replacement this offseason.
Presumably, Gates, Stromberg, and Larsen will compete to be Washington’s Week 1 starting center. Chase Roullier started 63 games for the Burgundy and Gold. Now his NFL career will move on from Washington. He turns 30 years old in August.
