The Washington Redskins has officially released Chris Culliver from its roster. The decision by the team probably did not come as a surprise for many since the combination of various factors ultimately made the cornerback expendable.
News about Culliver's release was announced by the Redskins through its official Twitter account.
He joined the team in March of 2015 after signing a four-year contract worth $32 million. However, in September, he was suspended for one game after violating the league's personal conduct policy when he was arrested for various driving related offenses in 2014.
But, one of the reasons that led the Redskins to release him from the team is his injures. In November last year, he tore his MCL and ACL which forced him to miss out on the rest of the season. During his first year with the team, he was only able to play in six games.
Aside from this, the Redskins recently acquired cornerback Josh Norman in April. With Norman joining other active cornerbacks Kendall Fuller and Bashaud Breeland, it seems the Redkins came to a conclusion that it no longer needs Culliver on the roster. But, general manager Scot Mcloughan noted that he is still open to the idea of Culliver returning to the team in the future.
"It was just the numbers and what we have going now," he said according to ESPN. "Norman came out of nowhere - boom, falls in our lap. Breeland and I really respect [him]. So we have numbers. The door is not closed. He can test the market and see what happens, and hopefully he gets what he wants."
Aside from the surplus of cornerbacks that Washington currently has, another major factor that influenced Culliver's release was his contract. Before he was removed from the roster, he still had three years to go with Washington.
But, since he was suspended last season, all guarantees stated in his contract have been rendered null, which means releasing him will be financially beneficial for the Redskins.
Through his release, Washington was able to free up additional cap space. And, with this extra money, the Redskins can use its financial leeway for either salary increases or contract extension for its valuable players.
