Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

Cornelius Lucas' 2024 free agency contract projection

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Josh Queipo | Last updated 2/10/24

The NFL's regular season is over, which for most teams, means it's time to start figuring out plans for the offseason.

NFL free agency is a huge part of the process, and along with the NFL Draft, it has everyone preparing for what should be a very active couple of months.

We've officially come up with our own contract projections for the NFL's top free agents that include context behind each player's 2023 season, the likelihood of a franchise tag, the projection itself, and the first-year cap hit for a team that's “all-in” and is needing to reduce that first-year hit in order to maximize their cap dollars.

So, without further ado, let's check out the projection for Washington Commanders tackle, Cornelius Lucas.

Cornelius Lucas 2024 Contract Projection

Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Before signing a two-year extension in 2022 to stay with the Washington Commanders, Cornelius Lucas looked like a tackle deserving of a chance at a starting role. He had filled in admirably as a swing tackle for both the Chicago Bears and Washington Commanders, equally capable on both sides of the line, so it was assumed he would chase a starting gig in free agency. Instead, he ended up staying put and pocketing $7.11M as a swing for the Commanders from 2022-2023.

Lucas’ value likely hasn’t changed significantly; although he was an exceptional swing, starting in 16 games over the course of the extension, his play regressed slightly. In 2022, he allowed 34 pressures, 9 more than his previous highest for a season. His 94.4% pass blocking efficiency was well below replacement, although it bounced back to 96.2% in 2023. The hope of him catching on as a bonafide starter in the league is likely gone, but he’s still one of the best swing tackles available.

Franchise Tag Likelihood: None
Projected Contract: 1 Year, $3M, $3M APY, $1M GTD
Year One Cap Hit: $2.2M

Be sure to check back in and around the site for more projections, as we will add more in the coming days and weeks.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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