The Arizona Cardinals could release the troubled linebacker after this season as he has been a drain on the team financially.

Washington is expected to count $7,500,000 million in 2016 and $7,170,000 in 2017 against the Cardinals salary cap. With such a lack of pass rushers the Cardinals have wanted to reload and attempt another playoff run in 2016.

Releasing Washington would free up of $14 million over the next two seasons to do just that. Washington is a candidate for reinstatement however the NFL has not yet made a ruling and he has been eligible for 8 months.

Washington was suspended twice for substance abuse. With it being his second offense the NFL suspended Washington for a season which meant that he would have to forfeit $3,000,000. In fact Washington has accumulated around $3,585,706 in fines over the last 3 seasons, all from 3 incidents.

Washington if reinstated could be an extremely sought after free agent because at this point it is likely the Cardinals deem him more trouble than he is worth and release him. If that were the case Washington would likely have to play a season out on a "prove it" 1 year deal before actually signing long term with another franchise.