Rey Maualuga predictably released by the Cincinnati Bengals

In a move most fans of the team saw coming, the Cincinnati Bengals have parted ways with linebacker Rey Maualuga, the team announced Saturday. Signed to a three year, $15 million extension in 2015, the linebacker eventually fell out of favor in Cincinnati, with veteran backup Vincent Rey and rookie Nick Vigil eating into his playing time down the stretch in 2016.

The Bengals likely envisioned a decline coming, structuring the linebacker’s contract in a way that they are not on the hook for a single dollar of Maualuga’s 2017 salary. The former USC linebacker, who once formed a lethal linebacking unit alongside Clay Matthews and Brian Cushing, is now one of very few pure run-thumping interior linebackers on the free agent market.

Maualuga tallied a career-low 27 tackles in 2016, along with two pass deflections and an interception. As alluded to, the linebacker was phased out of the lineup down the stretch after suffering a fibula injury in the Bengals’ Week 8 London matchup against the Redskins.

The linebacker’s best stretch occurred from 2011-12, as the linebacker established himself as a veteran leader on the team, helping Cincinnati make two incredibly improbable playoff appearances with a young quarterback in Andy Dalton. In 2011 — Dalton’s rookie season — Maualuga totaled 88 tackles and forced three fumbles, along with five run stuffs, two passes defensed, a fumble recovery and an interception. That year, the Bengals’ defense catapulted from 18th to seventh in total defense and forced 26 fumbles, good for third in the NFL. One year later, Maualuga finished second on the team with 122 tackles (Vontaze Burfict led the team with 127). In 2012, Maualuga recorded a sack, a run stuff, four passes defensed and a recovery.

Relatively unimpressive numbers come with the territory of being a middle linebacker — especially on a team which has traditionally relied on nickel packages more than any other team in the NFL — but Maualuga was a key contributor and a much-needed veteran presence for a Bengals team which, despite five consecutive playoff losses, massively overachieved early in Dalton’s career.

The question now becomes whether there’s a free agent fit for Maualuga. The Bengals clearly didn’t believe a 4-3, run-stuffing inside linebacker was worth the $3 million price tag, so will any other team think differently? Former Patriots linebacker Brandon Spikes faced the same problem after being cut by New England four years ago, though he’s found a home in Buffalo since.

Still, at 30-years-old, Maualuga can still be a difference-maker in the right role. Maualuga has connections with several teams, including the Vikings, Dolphins, Broncos and Browns. At least two of those teams could be in the market for a middle linebacker this offseason, and Maualuga still has some tread left on his tires.

For the Bengals, this is essentially a passing of the torch from Maualuga to Burfict as the leader of the linebacking corps, if Burfict already wasn’t that guy. He and Vigil will likely team up in nickel packages, with Vinny Rey and others supporting in base and sub packages.