Training camp practices have ramped up to full pads as August hits full swing. Soon, swollen rosters will be trimmed down to the NFL’s regular season limit of 53 players.
That’ll make August 29 a brutal day for young hopefuls and veterans looking to extend their careers by one more season. Cutdown day will shear rosters nearly in half, dropping 47 players to waivers and then, barring a last-ditch reprieve from a needy team elsewhere, onto the open market.
Each August, a handful of big-name players get caught in that chop. This preseason will give us more of the same — though it may be short on star power.
This year’s list of cut candidates lacks a certain panache. Teams spent wisely this offseason and made their difficult decisions back in March, leaving a dearth of big names who seem destined to be cast back to free agency as summer turns to fall. As a result, some of the players on the list are former starters or high value draft picks who haven’t quite made a lasting impact on the league. Other teams are well managed enough — or simply not in the market of trying to hard in 2023 — that they can hang on to their veterans and wait and see if a trade market opens up during the season.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at the potential veteran cuts on which each team will have to make a tough decision this August.
Arizona Cardinals: WR Zach Pascal
Salary cap savings: $1,080,000
The Cardinals are in the middle of a rebuild and have more than $24 million in salary cap space for 2023. Their future will be about acquiring live bodies, not cutting them. Pascal will have a chance to crack a thin wide receiver rotation after being buried on the Eagles’ depth chart last year (a career low 15 catches but a career high 246 special teams snaps in 2022). It’s unlikely Pascal, who is inexpensive and can be productive, will be moved. But with few other candidates — maybe a midseason Zach Ertz trade? — he gets the call.
Atlanta Falcons: WR JJ Arcega-Whiteside
Salary cap savings: $1,010,000
Bud Dupree’s diminished state would make him a candidate on other teams, but the Falcons roster badly needs impact veteran defenders. He’ll have a great opportunity to rebuild his value in Atlanta. This team also needs wideouts, but there’s nothing we’ve seen from the 2019 second round pick that would suggest Arcega-Whiteside can make a difference. He has just six catches since 2020 and failed to appear in a regular season game last fall.
Baltimore Ravens: RB Melvin Gordon
Salary cap savings: $1,165,000
Gordon is an inexpensive addition to a Ravens position that’s had horrible injury luck in recent years. But he’s also 30 years old and coming off his least productive — and least efficient — season as a pro. With several veteran tailbacks available, Baltimore may decide to limit its running back rotation to three men (JK Dobbins, Gus Edwards, Justice Hill) and take its chances on the open market if one of them is forced to injured reserve this season.
Buffalo Bills: EDGE Shaq Lawson
Salary cap savings: $640,000
Lawson remains an effective rotational pass rusher, but the Bills’ edge platoon is currently jam packed with young prospects and veteran talent. Lawson will be competing for snaps against Von Miller, Leonard Floyd, Greg Rousseau, Boogie Basham, A.J. Epenesa and even an unretired Shane Ray. Lawson’s 11 pressures in 2022 were a career low, though his familiarity with Buffalo’s defensive schemes and relatively cheap cost could secure his place on a loaded depth chart. The more relevant question may be whether another contender might be interested in his services via trade.
Carolina Panthers: LB Kamu Grugier-Hill
Salary cap savings: $940,000
The Panthers signed Deion Jones early in training camp, suggesting head coach Frank Reich may not be thrilled about his off-ball linebacker setup. Grugier-Hill toiled on some bad Texans teams, then wound up with an awful Arizona one last season. The seven-year veteran struggled as a Cardinal, allowing a 128.6 passer rating in coverage. It’s possible that was a result of playing on some hopeless rosters, or it could be the beginning of an age-related decline.
Chicago Bears: WR Dante Pettis
Salary cap savings: $940,000
There’s no way the Bears would release Chase Claypool less than a year after trading the 32nd overall pick for him … right? This could create a crunch at wideout, where Pettis and Equamineous St. Brown may be battling for the final active spot on the depth chart. St. Brown is younger and had 8.5 yards per target in 2022 compared to Pettis’s 6.0. With Pettis currently on the non-football injury list, it could spell the end of his modest run in Chicago.
Cincinnati Bengals: OT La'el Collins
Salary cap savings: $7,717,647
Jonah Williams’ trade request has gone unfulfilled, and if he comes around on the idea of sticking at right tackle it could make Collins expendable. The former Cowboy signed a three-year, $21 million deal with Cincinnati before the 2022 season, but earned just a 57.9 grade from Pro Football Focus in a disappointing debut. With Orlando Brown Jr. now in the fold, the Bengals could deem Collins too expensive and unreliable to stick around as a swing tackle.
Cleveland Browns: WR Marquise Goodwin
Salary cap savings: $1,240,000
The Browns’ wideout room is a mess and someone needs to step up behind Amari Cooper and Donovan Peoples-Jones. Goodwin still has elite speed, but he’s been a fringe receiver since 2018 and will have to fend off younger players like Cedric Tillman, Elijah Moore, Anthony Schwartz and David Bell to carve out his spot on the roster.
Dallas Cowboys: EDGE Dante Fowler Jr.
Salary cap savings: $2,000,000
Fowler was effective in a part-time role last season, generating 21 pressures despite playing only 30 percent of the team’s defensive snaps. But Dallas has a potent stack of pass rushers, and the depth behind Demarcus Lawrence and Micah Parsons includes Dorance Armstrong (8.5 sacks last season) and young guns Sam Williams (a 2022 second round pick) and Viliami Fehoko Jr. (a 2023 fourth rounder). Letting Fowler go would create a little extra cap space and create more opportunities for the team’s rising prospects up front.
Denver Broncos: DT Mike Purcell
Salary cap savings: $3,500,000
Cutting a veteran who has played fewer than half the team’s defensive snaps would make sense from a financial standpoint — the Broncos have less than $9 million in spending room, per Over the Cap — but less so from a depth situation. Denver is thin at defensive tackle, but it’s possible the 32-year-old Purcell, who started camp on the non-football injury list, is deemed too expensive to keep around in the midst of yet another new coaching regime in Colorado.
Detroit Lions: LB Jalen Reeves-Maybin
Salary cap savings: $1,250,000
Shucking aside Jason Cabinda would create nearly $2 million in savings, but I can’t envision a world in which Dan Campbell *isn’t* interested in a linebacker-turned-fullback. Denzel Mims is another option, though Detroit’s needs at wideout may outstrip its needs at linebacker. That puts Reeves-Maybin, who played only eight percent of the Texans’ defensive snaps before being released this offseason, on the hot seat.
Green Bay Packers: KR Keisean Nixon
Salary cap savings: $2,400,000
Anyone who’d watched the Packers’ return game pre-Nixon understands just how bad things can get without him. But there aren’t many other cut candidates in Green Bay and $2.4 million is a tempting chunk of cash for a team saddled with $40 million in dead cap space devoted to Aaron Rodgers. This is an unlikely release, but could be considered if second round rookie Jayden Reed (15.3 yards per punt return in college and 22.0 yards per kickoff) is deemed worthy of a starring role on special teams.
Houston Texans: LB Christian KIrksey
Salary cap savings: $5,250,000
Jerry Hughes, somehow not traded before last year’s deadline, remains a candidate here. Kirksey is a similarly solid veteran, butthe Texans signed Cory Littleton and Denzel Perryman this offseason to inexpensive contracts that could make him expendable. Kirksey turns 31 on August 31, and his place on a rebuilding roster is tenuous.
Indianapolis Colts: TE Mo Alie-Cox
Salary cap savings: $2,920,000
There’s no chance he’s getting released, but Jonathan Taylor has made it entirely clear he wants out of Indianapolis. That could lead to a trade, but this seems unlikely given the current state of the tailback market and owner Jim Irsay’s declaration that, nope, that’s not happening. Instead, Alie-Cox could find his spot usurped by a pair of younger tight ends in Jelani Woods and Kyren Granson — each of whom had more receptions and receiving yards than the veteran despite playing fewer snaps in 2022.
Jacksonville Jaguars: LB Shaq Quarterman
Salary cap savings: $1,010,000
The fact the Jaguars’ most notable cut candidate mostly made his mark on special teams is a testament to how strong the Jacksonville roster is right now. Quarterman is an inexpensive luxury to have on kicking downs, so it’s possible the Jags’ laundry list on cut-down day is light on recognizable names.
Kansas City Chiefs: RB La'Mical Perine
Salary cap savings: $940,000
Andy Reid doesn’t have much fat to trim from his roster, leaving Perine — most notably a fantasy sleeper upon his 2020 debut — the biggest name who could be axed leading up to a roster purge. Undrafted rookie Deneric Prince has been good enough this offseason to earn a spot in the tailback rotation, pushing the veteran to the cut line.
Las Vegas Raiders: WR Keelan Cole
Salary cap savings: $1,016,250
Tight end OJ Howard was the original pick, but he barely made it into August with the Raiders. Brandon Bolden could be cut, but Josh McDaniels branched out from Bill Belichick’s coaching tree and he sees value in retaining a veteran core special teamer, even against savings of more than $2 million. Instead, let’s look at Cole; a player who has produced diminishing returns in recent years and failed to grasp an opportunity to emerge as Las Vegas’s WR3 last fall.
Los Angeles Chargers: K Dustin Hopkins
Salary cap savings: $1,185,147
Hopkins remains quietly consistent, but he was injured throughout 2022 and, even when healthy, doesn’t have booming power; he’s made only 15 field goals of 50-plus yards in eight seasons as a pro. Cameron Dicker converted 19 of his 20 attempts after taking over for Hopkins last season (notably, his only miss came from 50-plus yards) and is set to be paid roughly one-third his veteran teammate’s salary in 2023.
Los Angeles Rams: WR Demarcus Robinson
Salary cap savings: $940,000
There isn’t much working in the Rams’ favor for 2023; years of dealing away draft picks and absorbing massive contracts have left the cupboard relatively bare in a rebuilding year. That could mean more looks for former Day 2 draft picks Van Jefferson and Tutu Atwell on a team that’s consistently fighting from behind, leaving little space for a veteran wideout like Robinson in the mix.
Miami Dolphins: CB Keion Crossen
Salary cap savings: $3,155,000
Jalen Ramsey’s meniscus injury gave Crossen a bit more importance in Miami, but the Dolphins signed Eli Apple early in training camp which could make him expendable — especially since releasing the rotational defensive back who played just two percent of the Giants’ defensive snaps in 2021 would create more than $3 million in savings. Of course, there’s always a chance the bad Eli shows up, making him a notable cut once the preseason ends.
Minnesota Vikings: WR Jalen Reagor
Salary cap savings: $0
It seemed like cruel fate when Reagor was traded to the Vikings — the same team that celebrated when the Eagles drafted him in the first round, clearing their path to select Justin Jefferson. His fresh start in the midwest wasn’t prosperous in 2022; he had just 13 targets and played only 82 offensive snaps. The arrival of Jordan Addison and continued presence of KJ Osborn means he’s fighting for a WR4 spot, at best.
New England Patriots: LB Mack Wilson
Salary cap savings: $955,000
Kendrick Bourne spent 2022 in Bill Belichick’s doghouse and would clear more than $5 million in cap space if released, but he was a boon for Mac Jones in the QB’s rookie season and should make more sense with his run-after-catch abilities in an offense not run by Matt Patricia. Instead we’ll look at Wilson, who came to New England via trade for Chase Winovich but played roughly 20 percent of the team’s defensive snaps last season. While his special teams versatilily helps make his case, a high missed tackle rate and difficulty tracking receivers out of the backfield could put him on the chooping block.
New Orleans Saints: S Jonathan Abram
Salary cap savings: $1,162,500
Tre’Quan Smith, due to diminishing returns, could be an unpopular cut thanks to Michael Thomas’s return to health and Rashid Shaheed’s emergence as a downfield threat. But a more recent arrival, Abram, could make more sense. The 2019 first round pick bounced around three teams last season and comes into 2023 as the Saints’ third string safety. He’ll need to prove his coverage woes were endemic to playing for the Raiders in order to reboot his career.
New York Giants: RB Matt Breida
Salary cap savings: $900,000
The Cheetah had a rough 2022 swimming in the wake of Saquon Barkley’s return to prominence. His 1.3 yards after contact were a career worst, as were his 4.1 yards per carry. Gary Brightwell was more effective as a runner, and the Giants added explosive Tennessee/Oklahoma tailback Eric Gray at this year’s draft.
New York Jets: S Adrian Amos
Salary cap savings: $900,000
Releasing Corey Davis would save more than $10 million, but the Jets have cap space after restructuring Aaron Rodgers’ contract and you’d have to imagine a caveat within was retaining and finding as much wideout help as possible after toiling through paper-thin depth charts in Green Bay. Instead, Rodgers’ former teammate Amos, a late June signing, could wind up on the chopping block if he can’t outplay Ashtyn Davis. That may not take much — the former third round pick has struggled in his three seasons in the league — but Amos is clearly diminished from his peak and has allowed a passer rating over 100 when targeted in each of the last two seasons.
Philadelphia Eagles: WR Quez Watkins
Salary cap savings: $2,743,000
Watkins was the team’s third wideout in 2022 — a spot now occupied by 2023 signee Olamide Zaccheaus. His efficiency — and number of deep targets — waned significantly last season, and while he’s a useful depth option Philadelphia (who doesn’t have a ton of obvious cut candidates) may opt for someone else in that complementary role.
Pittsburgh Steelers: CB Chandon Sullivan
Salary cap savings: $940,000
Sullivan is useful insurance should Patrick Peterson finally hit an age related decline, but the past few years have proven he’s effectively the definition of a “replacement player” at cornerback. Pittsburgh could opt for his experience or turn to younger, higher upside players in the secondary.
San Francisco 49ers: DT Javon Kinlaw
Salary cap savings: $0
There’s no financial benefit to cutting bait on Kinlaw; moving on from the former first round pick would be a talent-related move only. The former South Carolina star has been a disappointment in three pro seasons, the latter two of which have been derailed by injury. He’s currently battling for a backup spot in his final season before free agency looms, which could convince Kyle Shanahan to cut bait with the formerly vaunted prospect.
Seattle Seahawks: CB Artie Burns
Salary cap savings: $940,000
Burns has failed to live up to his first round pedigree and played only 16 snaps for the Seahawks last season. Now the Seattle has top 10 pick Devon Witherspoon in the fold, which could end the former Steeler’s latest redemption effort.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: EDGE Shaq Barrett
Salary cap savings: $14,602,941
Tampa began training camp with less salary cap space than anyone — fewer than $400,000. On the plus side, an obvious rebuilding year leaves little desire to add veteran talent. There’s no need to release Barrett, but he could be proper trade bait for a team looking to add dynamic pass rushing help. He’s 32 years old and coming off an injury-marred season in which his sack and pressure rates both declined significantly. With no guaranteed money remaining on his deal, he could be an asset to a contender — and bring back the draft considerations the Bucs need to contend again.
Tennessee Titans: CB Caleb Farley
Salary cap savings: -$2,500,393
Like Tampa, this is a thin roster with a greater need for young talent than salary cap space. Farley, a 2021 first round pick, would create a bigger cap hit via departure compared to sticking around on the roster. But he may be in search of a fresh start after two disppointing, injury-marred seasons to start his NFL career. Farley has only made two starts (in 12 games) as a pro. Despite limited snaps in 2022, he allowed a ridiculous 16.5 yards per target for the Titans.
Washington Commanders: TE Logan Thomas
Salary cap savings: $6,925,000
John Bates and Cole Turner are waiting in the wings behind the 32-year-old Thomas, who stayed moderately healthy in 2022 but still posted his worst yards per target average as a Commander. Thomas’s impact has waned and he failed to make an impact in the red zone last season, notching a single touchdown in 14 games. Neither Bates nor Turner is a surefire upgrade, so it’ll come down to how much head coach Ron Rivera believes his veteran tight end still has in the tank.
