INDIANAPOLIS -- Mike Borganzi, Robert Saleh, Brian Daboll and Camen Bricillo judged Lloyd Cushenberry to be better for them off the roster with a $9 million dead cap hit than on the roster, costing them $7.5 cash and with cap hit of about $12.5 million.
That's fine.
They shouldn't be carrying talent they don't think is good enough and contracts they don't think are worth it.
So they save about $3.5 million on the cap. Xavier Woods, also released, saves an additional $3.8 million.
But center is now an additional need for a team in search of multiple ends who can rush the passer, three cornerbacks, a third safety, an off-the-ball linebacker, a couple wide receivers, a tight end and a right guard.
That's an immense list.
Corey Levin can be a quality backup. He's not under contract and if he's a fit for the new scheme, the team should look to bring him back to serve as a backup for Cushenberry's replacement.
But they need a better pivot to get the ball to Cam Ward, help organize protections and block up the middle.
Tyler Lindebaum of the Ravens is scheduled to be unrestricted and is the top center likely to hit the market. Spotrac estimates he's worth over $17 million a year. Buffalo's Connor McGovern ($16.3 million) and Carolina's Cade Mays ($12.3 million) are two other well-regarded free agents to be.
Conner Lew of Auburn (64th on the consensus big board), Jake Slaughter of Florida (79th), Sam Hecht of Kansas State (92nd) and Logan Jones of Iowa (107th) are regarded as the top centers in the draft.