Category: NFL Free Agency

Raiders add former standout Broncos pass rusher to practice squad

September 27, 2023

The Las Vegas Raiders and OLB Malik Reed have reportedly agreed to a contract, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports. Reed has previously played for the Denver Broncos and Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Raiders are off to a disappointing 1-2 start so far in 2023. They are fresh off a forgettable 2022 season as well, so it’s clear Las Vegas could use some help. Reed will provide valuable depth on defense for the team.

Raiders agree to contract with Reed

Reed, a linebacker, has been in the NFL since 2019. He began his career in Denver and appeared in 15 games (eight starts) during his rookie season. Reed took a step forward in 2020, starting 13 of his 16 games played and recording a career-high eight sacks. He also forced a fumble for the Broncos.

2021, Reed’s final season in Denver, saw the linebacker finish with five sacks and two forced fumbles in 14 games (13 starts). Reed ended up in Pittsburgh with the Steelers in 2022, but started only two of his 14 games played. He recorded only one sack as well.

The 27-year-old has demonstrated the ability to find success in the NFL. The Raiders are hoping he can perform at a high level once again. Las Vegas’ defense features some star players but would benefit from all-around improved depth.

The Raiders were most recently defeated by Reed’s old team, the Steelers. It was a competitive matchup but Las Vegas was unable to take care of business.

The Raiders will try to bounce back in Week 4 in a road matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers after adding Malik Reed.

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Ravens nearing deal with former Patriots, Chargers LB amid injury woes

September 26, 2023

As injuries decimate their linebacking core, the Baltimore Ravens are apparently turning to a two-time Super Bowl champion for help. The Ravens are bringing in veteran linebacker Kyle Van Noy for a visit on Tuesday, with conflicting reports yet to be confirmed on whether Baltimore officially signed him or not.

Josina Anderson reports that Van Noy is signing with the Ravens’ practice squad, while Jeremy Fowler indicates that an agreement is yet to be reached.

Ravens beat reporter Jeff Zrebiec says the team does plan to sign Van Noy but he still has to arrive in Baltimore to take his physical before the official signing.

This is Van Noy’s second visit with the Ravens this year. He traveled to Baltimore during training camp but did not sign with the team and remains a free agent. Though no confirmation of a deal has been announced, there is obviously mutual interest from both sides.

Van Noy spent last season with the Los Angeles Chargers, appearing in all 17 games with 13 starts. The 32-year-old had five sacks and 46 tackles to go along with three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. He recorded 22.5 sacks and 41 QB hits in 62 games from 2019-2022.

Van Noy is perhaps best known for his days with the New England Patriots, with whom he spent parts of five seasons. He was a starter for the 2018 team that won Super Bowl 53, notching a sack and four tackles while playing every defensive snap in a win over the Los Angeles Rams.

The Ravens are in desperate need of linebacker help with four rotation players dealing with injuries. Kyle Van Noy will likely need a week or two to get game-ready.

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10 highest paid NFL quarterbacks in 2023

September 3, 2023

NFL contracts are some of the most convoluted in sports. Not all of the money is guaranteed; it doesn’t all count against the salary cap, and its incentives and bonuses can get…weird. And unlike the other major American sports, teams have to split the money between 53 guys on the regular season roster, the practice squad, and any injury replacements that come up during the season.

All of that is to say that there are a lot of pieces of the salary cap pie that need to be divided up in the NFL. And the quarterback is often the most significant slice of them all.

Given that it’s the most critical position in sports, it’s often an NFL team‘s highest-paid player. And these guys are no exception. Here are the ten (technically eleven) highest-paid NFL quarterbacks by average annual value (AAV) in 2023.

9. Tie – Matthew Stafford – $40 million

Coming in first in a three-way tie for ninth is Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford. Maybe the real reason he’s having trouble connecting with his young teammates is that he makes so much more money than them.

Regardless, the former Detroit Lions star certainly validated the Rams going all in on a Super Bowl when they acquired him in 2021. He led them to a Super Bowl victory 23-20 over the Cincinnati Bengals in his first year with the Rams. The Rams rewarded him with a four-year $160 million contract extension ahead of the 2022 season.

Although last year was full of injuries and frustrations for Stafford and the Rams, they hope to retool and reload ahead of this year.

9. Tie – Daniel Jones – $40 million

New York Giants QB Daniel Jones is the second part of the three-way tie at $40 million AAV. The fifth-year pro signed a four-year $160 million extension this offseason. He showed improvement in everything the Giants were looking for in 2022, mainly cutting down on the turnovers, and led them to a 9-6-1 record as a starter last year.

The Giants made it past the Minnesota Vikings in the Wild Card Round before getting curb-stomped by the Philadelphia Eagles in the Divisional Round. While the Giants remain a step behind the Eagles in the NFC East, they seem to have found a QB for the future in Jones. As long as his progress remains positive in 2023, that is.

9. Tie – Dak Prescott – $40 million

Our last member of the three-way tie at $40 million is Daniel Jones’ fellow NFC East quarterback, Dak Prescott of the Dallas Cowboys. Prescott burst onto the scene, winning Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2016. Since then, he has been the heir apparent Tony Romo in Dallas, with mixed results. The past few years have been up and down for the Cowboys, with injuries, dips in performance, and struggles to meet the always-high expectations in Dallas.

Prescott’s four-year $160 million deal he signed in 2021 gives the Cowboys an out this offseason if things don’t get any better. That makes 2023 a mini-contract year for Prescott, with the crossroads awaiting him come the offseason.

8. Josh Allen – $43 million

Josh Allen showed mixed results in his rookie year with the Buffalo Bills, solid improvement in year two, and ascended to a new level in year three. And in return for his ascension to league superstar, the Buffalo Bills locked him down to a six-year $258 million deal. Since the 2020 season, Allen has led the Bills to a 37-12 regular season record. The Bills have filled the void the Tom Brady-led Patriots left behind in the division.

The AFC East will be brutal this year, though, with a Miami Dolphins team on the rise, Aaron Rodgers heading to the New York Jets, and Bill Belichick willing the Patriots into some form of contention. But as long as Allen is on the Buffalo Bills, it doesn’t matter what outside noise is around the team. They’ll be the favorites in the division.

7. Patrick Mahomes  – $45 million

Kansas City could pay Patrick Mahomes their entire cap, and you’d be hard-pressed to say it was a bad piece of business. As it stands right now, they signed him to a 10-year extension that is worth as much as $504 million.

Mahomes has been everything that the Chiefs hoped for and more when drafting him, and he is the only player who has a prayer at reaching Tom Brady’s GOAT status in the NFL. Three Super Bowl appearances and two titles in the last four years, and there are no signs of slowing down in Kansas City.

Any team he’s on for the next decade-plus will be division favorites, if not conference or Super Bowl favorites. Mahomes is the present and the future. It’s a testament to the business done on this contract that he’s not higher on this list than seventh.

6.  Deshaun Watson – $46.1 million

Deshaun Watson is by far the most controversial figure on this list. The Cleveland Browns forked over $230 million in guaranteed money for Watson to get a new start after leaving the Texans behind. Not to mention the laundry list of sexual assault and legal problems he left behind. The new Browns captain did not play up to his contract in his six games last season, leading the Browns to a 3-3 record with seven TDs and five INTs.

The Browns have attached themselves to Watson and whether or not he can find the level of play he showcased in Houston. If it doesn’t go well this year for Cleveland, when will it? This has to be the year things come together. Otherwise, the Browns will be stuck with an otherworldly amount of money committed to this contract and not enough to retool and build around it.

5. Kyler Murray – $46.1 million

Kyler Murray’s contract with the Arizona Cardinals has been one of the most discussed in the league. Not because it carried an impressive five-year, $230.5 million price tag in its extension. Instead, because the former number-one pick had a film study clause that, while now gone from the deal, raised some eyebrows and concerns regarding the 26-year-old’s work ethic.

Besides the COD memes, there’s been even more concern for the Cardinals since Murray’s ACL tear last December. Murray will start the 2023 season on the PUP list, meaning that the earliest he will be eligible to return is Week 5. The 2019 ORoY absolutely has the potential to become a superstar in the NFL. The only questions are his health and whether or not he can put it all together.

4. Russell Wilson – $48.5 million

Year one of the Russell Wilson experiment in Denver was a failure. The Denver Broncos made waves last year when they traded for Wilson and signed him to a five-year $245 million extension. The ensuing 5-12 season was not what anyone was hoping for, and it cost the jobs of the Nathaniel Hackett coaching administration. Now, with Sean Peyton at the helm, expectations are high again. And no war of words in the offseason will change the goals or ease the pressure. In fact, it may just increase it.

But Wilson has been a star in the NFL for a long time, and he should still have a lot in the tank for the Broncos. However, if he doesn’t, that trade may end up on a list the Broncos desperately want to avoid being on.

3. Jalen Hurts – $51 million

Jalen Hurts has bet on himself every time and won every time. He led Alabama to the brink of a national title in 2017-18 before getting benched at halftime, allowing Tua Tagovailoa to take over and lead the Crimson Tide to the title. Then he transferred to Oklahoma and was the Heisman Trophy runner-up in 2019.

After being drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles, he worked his way to the starting spot and broke out last year in 2022. He led the Eagles to a 14-3 record and an NFC title. He finished second in MVP voting and earned himself a record-setting five-year $255 million extension. Hurts looks set to become the guy in the NFC for the next decade.

He’s becoming the true dual-threat QB scouts always hoped he could be, throwing for over 3700 yards and rushing for over 750. He is an incredible leader who has his eyes set squarely on getting the Eagles back to the Super Bowl this year.

2. Lamar Jackson – $52 million

Lamar Jackson was electric his first two years starting for the Baltimore Ravens, winning the 2019 MVP. Since then, he also has been amazing, but injuries, among other things (Greg Roman, if you ask Ravens fans), have held him back. But hopefully, those concerns are all gone, and the five-year $260 million extension he inked with Baltimore this offseason indicates they think any obstacles are gone, too. Jackson has been subjected to an incredible amount of scrutiny since entering the league.

People said his running wouldn’t translate at the NFL level. They said his passing wouldn’t translate. Teams even tried to convince him to switch to wide receiver. But like Hurts, Jackson bet on himself and won big. The only question remaining is how far he can take the Ravens.

1. Justin Herbert – $52.5 million

Justin Herbert set the new standard this offseason with an incredible five-year $262.5 million extension with the Los Angeles Chargers. Herbert burst onto the scene, winning ORoY in 2020. Gaudy numbers have marked his first three seasons in the NFL. Unfortunately, the Chargers haven’t been able to turn Herbert’s success into playoff results. They’ve made the playoffs just once in Herbert’s tenure. And surely some fans wish they hadn’t after Herbert and Co. blew a 27-7 halftime lead to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Herbert is the truth, but will the coaching and talent around him rise to the occasion? The success of Herbert’s record-breaking deal will hinge on that question most of all.

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10 most surprising roster moves from NFL cut day

August 29, 2023

On NFL cut deadline day, over 1,000 players are released from their teams. NFL teams had to trim their rosters from the training camp limit of 90 players to the regular season maximum of 53 players by 4 p.m. ET on Aug. 29.

Year in and year out, the NFL cut deadline is filled with big surprises. Players that nobody expected to make the roster squeeze onto the final 53-man squad, forcing players that seemed like roster locks to be cut. Some cut players will land on practice squads, others will sign onto new teams, and some will never play football again. Here are the 10 most surprising cuts from NFL cut day.

10. Rashard Lawrence, DT

Rashard Lawrence was a starter on the Arizona Cardinals defensive line for the last couple of seasons, yet they decided to release the player at the cut deadline. The Cardinals are without the injured Kyler Murray, and there are rumors that the team is trying to get rid of quality players in an effort to tank for a better draft pick (and the chance to select USC quarterback Caleb Williams).

9. Christian Kirskey, LB

The Houston Texans released veteran linebacker Christian Kirksey. While the move saved the team $5.2 million, it is a surprising move because of the leadership that Kirskey could provide for the young Texans team. Kirksey started every game for the team last year and was also the Texans’ Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee. He had 124 tackles last season but was a victim of the Texans’ youth movement.

8. Myles Gaskin, RB

Although Myles Gaskin led the Miami Dolphins in rushing in 2020 and 2021, the additions of Raheem Mostert, Jeff Wilson Jr., and De’Von Achane had made the running back room too crowded. Still, there isn’t a top-end rusher on the team, meaning the team is likely going to take a running back by-committee approach. This made Gaskin’s release surprising as he is more than capable of sharing the backfield with other runners, and had he made the team, he would have been one of the best backup running backs in the NFL. This move signals that the Dolphins may be aggressive in their pursuit of Jonathon Taylor. The team was also in on Dalvin Cook before he signed with the New York Jets.

7. Alex Leatherwood, OL

Alex Leatherwood was a first-round pick by the Las Vegas Raiders in 2021. He was waived after his rookie year and joined the Chicago Bears, who released him at the cut deadline. Just two years after being the 17th overall pick, he will already be looking to join his third team in his young NFL career. Leatherwood looks like a massive draft bust, and while he hasn’t performed when on the field, it was still expected that the Chicago Bears – a team thin on offensive line depth – would be willing to develop him.

6. Zonovan Knight, RB

Zonovan Knight was an undrafted gem for the New York Jets. He burst onto the scene at the end of 2022. Cheap investment players with on-field production are a diamond in the rough and are usually the type of players that teams want to keep. But with the arrival of Aaron Rodgers in New York, the Jets overhauled their skill positions. The arrival of Dalvin Cook was the most recent acquisition that forced the Jets to let go of Knight, a young player who is sure to catch on somewhere else.

5. Bailey Zappe, QB

Bill Belichick has always been known to make puzzling roster moves for the New England Patriots, but waiving Bailey Zappe was particularly unusual. While the rookie didn’t have a great training camp, he still showed promise last season. Zappe started two games under center as a rookie, and he even had some Patriots fans wanting him to take the quarterback job over from Mac Jones.

4. P.J. Walker, QB

P.J. Walker had starting experience in a quarterback room that was lacking it, making him one of the most surprising cuts. His release opened up the doors for Tyson Bagent to be the backup quarterback for the Chicago Bears. The backup position is one of the most important jobs in football, especially when the starter likes to run as much as Justin Fields does, making himself vulnerable to injury. Walker had signed a two-year deal with the Bears and had over $2 million in guarantees that the team will be eating. Walker made a name for himself in the XFL before joining the Carolina Panthers and being a part of a quarterback carousel there.

3. Anthony Schwartz, WR

Anthony Schwartz’s run with the Cleveland Browns didn’t go as they planned when they took the speedy receiver in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft. While a change of scenery could rejuvenate Schwartz, it is still rare to see such a high draft pick released so quickly into his career. This is especially true considering the Browns have lacked pass-catching depth in recent seasons, although they did add some weapons this offseason. Schwartz is a deep threat, and at 22-years old, he still has potential and can further improve his game.

2. Desmond King, CB

Desmond King’s release from the Houston Texans is a surprise as he ran with the first-team defense all of training camp/preseason. The Texans are getting younger in an attempt to rebuild, and that made the veteran cornerback expendable. Still, King is only 28-years old and still has plenty of good football left in him. King is a former All-Pro and is still producing at a high level. In 2022, he had two interceptions and eight passes defended.

1. Colt McCoy, QB

Colt McCoy was the presumed starting quarterback by many. Instead, he lost the quarterback battle and was given the axe by the Arizona Cardinals. McCoy was a surprising cut as he was arguably the most talented pass thrower on the team (besides the injured Kyler Murray, who was put on the PUP list).

The Cardinals are rebuilding and have been moving on from veterans all month long. They recently traded Isaiah Simmons for only a seventh-round pick. McCoy’s release comes just days after the Cardinals traded for journeyman quarterback Joshua Dobbs. Dobbs is competing for the starting gig with fifth-round rookie Clayton Tune. McCoy is an experienced quarterback who has been in the league since 2010. Whether a team needs an emergency option because of unexpected injuries or a team wants an experienced presence in their quarterback room, McCoy is sure to land another quarterbacking gig somewhere.

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Top 30 available NFL free agents after cut day

August 29, 2023

NFL cut day has come and gone. Multiple players were surprisingly cut from their teams, adding lots of talent to the free agent pool before kickoff of the 2023 season. Players were cut for numerous reasons, whether due to financial motivations or because they couldn’t surpass teammates ahead of them on the depth chart.

Another sizable group of players remains unsigned from the offseason. There are lots of high-quality players worthy of a roster spot who can help fill roles as the regular season fast approaches.

Some of these free agents will find new homes soon as teams look to finalize their Week 1 rosters while scouring the league for newly released players. Other free agents will have to wait until an opening is created during the season because of injuries. Regardless of when and where these players sign, all of them are deserving of roster spot consideration.

Here are the top 30 available NFL free agents after cut day.

30. Kendall Hinton, WR

While the receiver is best known for filling in as emergency quarterback for the Denver Broncos, he always produced for the team when called upon as a wideout. Hinton has return abilities as well.

29. Corliss Waitman, P

Waitman led the NFL in total punts in 2022 with the Denver Broncos.

28. Kenny Golladay, WR

Golladay is well known known for not living up to the contract he signed with the New York Giants, but he earned that massive $72 million contract for a reason: The 29-year-old was once a game-changing receiver for the Detroit Lions. Golladay twice had over 1,000 receiving yards in Detroit, a feat he last accomplished four seasons ago.

27. Gabe Jackson, OG

Jackson is a 335-pound offensive lineman who can create holes for his running backs. He last played for the Seattle Seahawks.

26. Andrew Norwell, OG

Norwell has been a consistent piece on the interior of offensive lines since coming into the league in 2014.

25. Robert Quinn, DE

Quinn is another former elite-level defensive end who has transitioned into a situational pass-rushing role in the twilight of his career. Quinn still knows how to get after the quarterback, but his recent arrest complicates things.

24. Kyle Van Noy, OLB

Van Noy was a fixture with the New England Patriots for years. Last season, he played for the Los Angeles Chargers. Even entering his age-32 season, Van Noy has never really struggled with injury problems and should be a reliable depth piece for whoever signs him.

23. Andrew Adams, Safety

Adams had been a depth player for most of his career, but he had his best season in years with the Tennessee Titans in 2022, collecting 11 starts and setting a career-high in tackles.

22. Casey Hayward, CB

Another former star who is past his prime, Hayward still has at least one more year left in the tank. Last season he played for the Atlanta Falcons.

21. Akiem Hicks, DT

At 324 pounds, Hicks is a run-stopping specialist. He can clog the middle and draw double-teams, freeing up lanes for his linebacker teammates to make tackles on the ball carrier.

20. Myles Gaskin, RB

Gaskin led the Miami Dolphins in rushing in 2020 and 2021. He fell down the depth chart this offseason, but is still a solid runner, especially between the tackles.

19. Bradley Roby, CB

Roby was a member of the “No Fly Zone” Denver Broncos defense that won Super Bowl 50. He has since gone on to be a starter for the Houston Texans and New Orleans Saints.

18. P.J.Walker, QB

Walker was a surprise cut at the cut deadline. The quarterback has starting experience with the Carolina Panthers, but didn’t win the Chicago Bears backup job.

17. Melvin Ingram, EDGE

Ingram’s best years came with the Chargers, but he has had some good moments in recent years as a situational pass rusher. Edge rushers are coveted in the NFL, and Ingram is likely to help in a rotation at some point this year.

16. Anthony Schwartz, WR

Anthony Schwartz was a third-round pick in 2021. A deep threat with great speed, Schwartz is only 22 years old, and a change of scenery may get his career back on track.

15. Denzel Mims, WR

Mims was traded to the Detroit Lions after he fell down the depth chart with the New York Jets. The Lions were forced to release him when they needed pass-catching help after their wide receiver room was riddled with health woes, including calf and ankle injuries to Mims that kept him off the field. The receiver was impressive in camp before being bit by the injury bug.

14. Bryce Callahan, CB

Callahan is one of the best slot cornerbacks in the NFL. His game did see some regression in 2022.

13. Desmond King, CB

A veteran cornerback cut at the deadline by a rebuilding Houston Texans team, King will be one of the most sought after defensive free agents on the market.

12. Taylor Lewan, OT

Lewan has had injury problems over the last three seasons, which forced the Tennessee Titans to part ways with the veteran offensive tackle. Still, he was one of the most consistent blockers in the league when on the field.

11. Colt McCoy, QB

McCoy was in the running to win the starting quarterback job for the Arizona Cardinals. A team shedding veterans and perhaps tanking, the Cardinals released McCoy before the deadline. Having been in the league since 2010, McCoy knows his way around the block and could likely get adjusted to a new playbook rather quickly if a team needed an emergency quarterback option.

10. Matt Ioannidis, DL

Ioannidis is a rotational defensive lineman capable of helping in run support, as well as a pass rusher. He moves well for a 310-pound lineman.

9. Carson Wentz, QB

After disappointing years with the Indianapolis Colts and Washington Commanders, the days of Wentz as a starting quarterback are over. However, Wentz would be a worthy signing for a team that wants to upgrade is quarterback depth or needs an emergency starter. Experience at the quarterback position is key for teams trying to win games, and Wentz has 93 career appearances to his name.

8. Chris Wormley, DL

The former Pittsburgh Steelers defensive lineman had seven sacks in 2021. While his numbers fell off a cliff last year, Wormley has proven production as an interior pass rusher, a coveted trait.

7. Julio Jones, WR

The biggest name on this list, Jones isn’t the same player he was during his prime. Still, at 6-foot 3-inches, the future Hall-of-Famer is a big-body target and likely to join a contender at some point this season. He has 13,629 yards and 63 touchdowns in his career.

6. Dalton Risner, OG

Risner, the best available offensive lineman from the original wave of free agency, has had interest from the Minnesota Vikings and Chicago Bears. He was a reliable blocker for the Broncos for years.

5. Bailey Zappe, QB

Bailey Zappe was one of the biggest and most surprising cuts at the cut deadline. He impressed in limited action as the Patriots starting quarterback as a rookie.

4. Ben Jones, C

Jones earned his first Pro Bowl in 2022, so it is very surprising he wasn’t picked up during the first wave of free agency. The center is 34 years old, so he won’t land a long-term contract, but his experience could help a number of teams out on the interior.

3. Leonard Fournette, RB

Fournette had 668 rushing yards and three touchdowns last season. While he is no longer the dominant bell-cow running back that got him drafted fourth overall in 2017, he is still a physical back who can complement quicker runners in a committee. It seems like Fournette has been around forever, but he is still only 28 years old.

2. Jarvis Landry, WR

While Landry’s statistics did fall last year, he has a long and proven track record of production in the NFL. The five-time Pro Bowler and one-time receptions leader is a pure route runner and a great option out of the slot, although he can also kick outside as well.

1. Kareem Hunt, RB

Hunt is one of the game’s premier pass-catching backs. He formed a dominant one-two punch with the Cleveland Browns’ Nick Chubb and was the NFL’s rushing yards leader in 2017 while with the Kansas City Chiefs. With Dalvin Cook and Ezekiel Elliot recently signing contracts, Hunt is likely the next domino to fall on the running back market.

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Every NFL team’s best player on the roster bubble before Week 1

August 28, 2023

One of the hardest days of the year for NFL front office members, coaches, and players is cut day.  NFL teams must trim their rosters down from 90 to 53 players on Aug. 29, at 4 p.m. ET. Unlike in previous years, where there were multiple cut days, the entire roster purge will occur on one day.

Every year, there are surprising roster cuts, and numerous big-name and talented players will be squeezed off of the roster. Here is the best player on every team’s roster bubble that is at risk of being let go on cut day.

Arizona Cardinals: Rashard Lawrence, DL

After showing signs of potential early in his career, Rashard Lawrence has fallen down the depth chart and may be on his way out as the Cardinals look to get younger in their rebuild.

Atlanta Falcons: Cordarrelle Patterson, RB

Patterson’s positional versatility makes him an unlikely NFL cut candidate, but he really came into his own when he was moved to a full-time running back role. With Bijan Robinson paired with Tyler Allgeier in Atlanta’s rushing attack, there won’t be a lot of carries to go around, and Patterson is 32 years old. Patterson has also been injured for a couple of weeks and has lost valuable time to show his worth.

Baltimore Ravens: Ben Cleveland, OL

A recent third-round pick in 2021, Cleveland hasn’t done enough to warrant being a lock to make the Ravens roster.

Buffalo Bills: Shaq Lawson, EDGE

Shaq Lawson is still a productive pass rusher, but there isn’t enough room for everyone on the Bills deep depth chart at edge rusher. With players like Von Miller, Leonard Floyd, A.J. Epenesa, and Greg Rousseau needing snaps, there may not be enough room on the roster for Lawson.

Carolina Panthers: Eric Rowe, DB

Eric Rowe has had a nice NFL career, but father time is catching up to the 30-year-old. The safety has had struggles against faster pass catchers all preseason long.

Chicago Bears: Equanimeous St. Brown, WR

The Bears have brought in a lot of bodies into the wide receiver room in the last year, signaling someone has to go. One surprising name that is on the roster bubble is Equanimeous St. Brown.

Cincinnati Bengals: La’el Collins, OL

The once prized free agent acquisition, La’el Collins, has slid down the depth chart at tackle, and the Bengals can free up $7.7 million in cap space if they were to let him go.

Cleveland Browns: Anthony Schwartz, WR

The Browns have needed more depth at wide receiver for years, and now that they finally have that, they may look to end the experiment with Anthony Schwartz. The 2021 third-round pick hasn’t lived up to expectations of being a premier deep threat.

Dallas Cowboys: Jourdan Lewis, CB

The Cowboys have a lot of players worthy of a roster spot on the defensive side of the ball, so they have no need to keep players with injury question marks. While Lewis has always produced when he has been on the field during his Cowboys tenure, his lisfranc injury is a major red flag that may put him on the outside looking in of the Cowboys final 53-man roster.

Denver Broncos: Tony Jones Jr., RB

The emergence of Jaleel McLaughlin this preseason has made Tony Jones Jr. expendable. The Broncos are likely to keep 3-4 running backs, and Jones Jr. seems like the odd man out.

Detroit Lions: Julian Okwara, EDGE

What was recently one of the weakest position groups on the roster, the Lions have had a lot of players emerge as pass rushers, potentially pushing Okwara off of the roster.

Green Bay Packers: Patrick Taylor, RB

Last year, the Packers took an interesting approach to cut day, only carrying two running backs on the 53-man roster and instead using practice squad call-ups to add depth to the position group. The Packers may take a similar approach this season, with Taylor being a guy destined for the practice squad.

Houston Texans: Jerry Hughes, DE

Aging veterans are always at risk of getting the axe from young and rebuilding teams, and the 35-year-old Hughes is no exception.

Indianapolis Colts: Mo Alie-Cox, TE

Mo Alie-Cox’s role was reduced last year, and while the tight end room around him has gotten younger, Alie-Cox appears to have regressed. He is surely on the roster bubble and seems like a likely cut candidate.

Jacksonville Jaguars: K’Lavon Chaisson, EDGE

The former NFL first-round pick is nearing bust territory and has been a major disappointment in Jacksonville for years. It is very possible this is finally the year the Jaguars cut their losses and move on.

Kansas City Chiefs: Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB

While I think the Chiefs give Edwards-Helaire one last shot, the former first-rounder is most definitely on the roster bubble. He has flashed at times, but the LSU product hasn’t lived up to expectations and has been outplayed by cheaper options.

Las Vegas Raiders: Amik Robertson, CB

Amik Robertson looks like the odd man out in a deep Raiders defensive backfield. While Robertson does have talent, his skills are best suited for the nickel, a spot that Las Vegas has too many options to choose from.

Los Angeles Chargers: Dustin Hopkins, K

The Chargers are in the midst of a battle for the starting kicker competition. Cameron Dicker came onto the scene strong late last year in Los Angeles, and while he is listed behind Dustin Hopkins on the depth chart right now, he is the younger and cheaper option, making Hopkins a potential cut candidate.

Los Angeles Rams: Demarcus Robinson, WR

The Rams went all in for a Super Bowl victory, trading away NFL draft picks and absorbing bad contracts in the process. While it was worth it for the Super Bowl, it has left the team depleted of young talent, meaning it is possible the team will give shots to the few young players they do have. That means an older veteran like Demarcus Robinson is likely on the roster bubble.

Miami Dolphins: Malik Reed, EDGE

Miami has a stacked roster filled with talent. They will have some tough decisions on cut day, and Malik Reed may be one of those tough decisions. The linebacker depth may be too significant for Reed to overcome.

Minnesota Vikings: Jalen Reagor, WR

The Vikings have given second chances to multiple first-round disappointments at the wide receiver spot. N’Keal Harry was already released by the team; it is very possible Reagor is next.

New England Patriots: Lawrence Guy, DE

Lawrence Guy has been a mainstay on the Patriots roster for years, but at 33 years old, the defensive lineman’s time in New England may be running out.

New Orleans Saints: Tre’Quan Smith, WR

Michael Thomas has finally returned to health, meaning Smith, who has had his own injury issues through training camp and preseason, is a player on the roster bubble.

New York Giants: Sterling Shepard, WR

The Giants have made numerous moves to surround Daniel Jones with more weapons, meaning the longest-tenured Giant, Sterling Shepard, could have a hard time making the roster.

New York Jets: Michael Carter, RB

The signing of Dalvin Cook created a numbers crunch in the Jets backfield. Michael Carter and Bam Knight are likely fighting for one roster spot. Carter would be a surprise cut, but he is definitely on the roster bubble.

Philadelphia Eagles: Marcus Mariota, QB

Jalen Hurts does a lot of running for an NFL quarterback, putting the Eagles franchise player at risk of injury. Therefore, the Eagles have to get the backup quarterback position decision correct after letting Gardner Minshew walk in free agency. Marcus Mariota had a bad year for the Atlanta Falcons last year, and he has been underwhelming in preseason, meaning Philadelphia may go with Tanner McKee as Hurt’s backup instead of Mariota.

Pittsburgh Steelers: Kendrick Green, OL

Kendrick Green has been a disappointment in Pittsburgh. His time with the Steelers will most likely be coming to a close sooner rather than later.

San Francisco 49ers: Javon Kinlaw, DT

Javon Kinlaw’s career has been ravaged by injury, and the 49ers coaching staff may be running out of patience. There isn’t much financial incentive to cut bait with the former first-rounder, but the Niners may prioritize more reliable depth.

Seattle Seahawks: Dee Eskridge, WR

Dee Eskridge was a second-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, but the Seahawks have seemingly already moved on from the receiver.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: John Wolford, QB

While Wolford is a competent backup quarterback, the Buccaneers handed the keys to Baker Mayfield to run the offense. That means Kyle Trask will be the backup, and it is possible the team only rosters two quarterbacks.

Tennessee Titans: Jordan Roos, OL

The Titans have already prioritized getting younger on the offensive line, moving on from longtime tackle Taylor Lewan and drafting Peter Skoronski in the first round. They may take a similar approach by moving on from Jordan Roos.

Washington Commanders: Logan Thomas, TE

The 32-year-old Logan Thomas is on a downward trajectory for his career. He has had some injury problems in recent years, and the Commanders could create cap space by releasing him.

The post Every NFL team’s best player on the roster bubble before Week 1 appeared first on ClutchPoints.

When is 2023 NFL roster cut day

August 28, 2023

It’s one of the most exciting times of the NFL year for fans, but one of the hardest for the players. Week 1 of the 2023 campaign is just around the corner, but before the season kicks off, teams must bring their training camp rosters of 90 players down to the regular season limit of 53. And while some of these players who don’t make the cut will end up on practice squads, this is a rough time of year for many NFL hopefuls chasing their dreams of playing in the league. But when do these cuts have to happen? And what else do you need to know about that process? Here’s everything you need to know about 2023 NFL roster cuts.

When is 2023 NFL roster cut day?

NFL rosters must be reduced to 53 players by 4 PM EST on Tuesday, August 29th. The process has already begun, with several surprise cuts being made this past weekend. Some teams will announce their cuts in waves, others will do it all at once, and some will have some leaks but not finalize anything until the deadline. However, as mentioned previously, getting cut is not the end of the line for all players. Each player left off a final roster will still be eligible to sign with a team’s practice squad if they clear waivers. Practice squads are 16-man groups that act as the scout team for the 53-man roster, and they can be promoted to the main squad should players get injured and need replacements.

A player’s eligibility to be signed to a practice squad depends on their status in the league. If a player cut from a roster is considered a veteran, they will immediately become a free agent, available for anyone else to sign. However, if they are not a veteran, they must first clear waivers, giving every other team the option to snatch them up if they liked what they saw from the player in training camp and preseason action before becoming free agents able to sign anywhere.

While it is a hard day for many players around the league, tomorrow will be exciting for fans to finally see what their team will look like for Week 1. Football season is just around the corner, and roster cuts are the final event before the attention fully turns to the regular season.

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