Jimmy Moreland a surprise cut for Washington as rosters trim

Every year, there seems to be a player released by an NFL team that most didn’t see coming. 

Jimmy Moreland falls in that category for Washington.

Washington parted ways with the third-year cornerback ahead of Tuesday’s 4 p.m. deadline for the team to get from 80 to 53 players, according to multiple reports.

Moreland’s release was a surprise, given that the 26-year-old started five games last year and played 57.3%  of the team’s defensive snaps. Moreland excelled from the slot, where he used his instincts and speed to thrive.

But Washington reshaped its cornerback room this offseason — bringing in a top name (William Jackson III), a few veterans (Darryl Roberts, Torry McTyer) and a rookie (Benjamin St-Juste). In recent weeks, Moreland’s playing time in practice seemed to dip as Washington moved starter Kendall Fuller to the slot and had St-Juste and Jackson lined up outside. 

There were two key signs, in retrospect, that indicated Moreland’s roster spot was in jeopardy. The first: When Jackson III missed time with a thigh injury, it was McTyer — the “pleasant surprise” of camp, said defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio. — that took first-team reps ahead of Moreland, with Fuller remaining in the slot. And the second was that Moreland was not among the 27 players who were rested in Saturday’s preseason finale against the Baltimore Ravens, with the cornerback instead playing 41 snaps (50%).

Moreland latched onto Washington initially in 2019 as a seventh-round rookie out of James Madison University. That year, Moreland impressed in training camp with his ability to pick off passes in practice. He was also sound tackler despite his smaller, 5-foot-11 frame. In 30 games across two seasons, Moreland recorded 86 tackles, five passes defended and one interception.

The Athletic’s Ben Standig first reported that Moreland would be put on waivers. Moreland, too, reportedly was released with an injury destination.

Other notable cuts for Washington include 2020 fourth-round wideout Antonio Gandy-Golden, running back Peyton Barber, safety Jeremy Reaves and seventh-round defensive end William Bradley-King. 

Gandy-Golden was a mild surprise given his draft status from a year ago. But the Liberty product never fully latched on in Washington, dealing with a series of injuries during his rookie year. He found himself in a crowded wide receiver room in 2021. Gandy-Golden had his moments in camp, and it wouldn’t be shocking to see another team take a flyer on the 22-year-old off waivers. Gandy-Golden has good size (6-foot-4) and can make contested catches. 

Barber’s release coincides with undrafted running back Jaret Patterson’s rise. Patterson impressed in the preseason, with two standout performances and ability to do multiple things. While it was possible Washington could have kept four running backs, Washington likely only elected to keep three (Antonio Gibson, J.D. McKissic and Barber). Barber was primarily used in short-yardage situations, but Gibson was used in that role during the preseason — a sign that Barber could be expendable. 

Reaves, meanwhile, was cut after he started three games last year. Coach Ron Rivera often spoke highly of Reaves, promoted almost midway through last season after initially making the practice squad. But Washington drafted fifth-rounder Darrick Forrest and veteran Deshazor Everett is a valuable contributor on special teams.  The team is likely to keep five safeties: Landon Collins, Kamren Curl, Bobby McCain, Everett and Forrest.

Bradley-King’s release marked the first draft pick that Washington cut from this year’s class.  Drafted out of Baylor, Bradley-King was competing for one of the team’s last defensive line spots. He could be a candidate to make the team’s practice squad. 

Here’s a full list of cuts for Washington so far:

- Quarterback Steven Montez

- Running back Jonathan Williams

- Running back Peyton Barber

- Wide receiver Isaiah Wright

- Wide receiver Tony Brown

- Wide receiver Antonio Gandy-Golden

- Tight end Caleb Wilson 

- Offensive lineman Jon Toth

- Guard Wes Martin

-  Tackle David Sharpe 

- Tackle David Steinmetz

- Defensive lineman Devaroe Lawrence

- Defensive end Bunmi Rotini

- Linebacker Joe Walker

- Linebacker Jordan Kunaszyk

- Cornerback Jimmy Moreland

- Cornerback Linden Stephens

- Cornerback Danny Johnson

- Safety Cole Luke

- Safety Jeremy Reaves