Notable Names Who Might Be Training Camp Cuts
Let's look at some NFL players who a couple of sites have cited as players who might be released when teams decide their 53-man rosters.
As NFL training camps and the preseason near the end, teams will have to trim down their rosters to 53 players.
While the majority of players will be younger players who are relegated to backup roles, there are likely to be a few notable names who could be released.
In such cases, it's teams having to make decisions on veterans who, though able to contribute, are released because the teams have younger, less expensive players who can adequately fill roles.
Before training camps got underway, Pro Football Network picked a "shocking cut" from each of the 32 NFL teams. In many cases, those cuts don't appear likely to happen. But in a few cases, they could become reality, particularly when you compare it to Bleacher Report's more recent list of seven players who could be cut when rosters are trimmed to 53 players.
I'll let you check out both articles but here are some thoughts I have about some of the players mentioned.
Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett, QBs, Cleveland Browns: The Browns drafted both Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders, after having swapped draft picks with the Eagles in a trade for Pickett (one that sent Dorian Thompson-Robinson to the Eagles). Both 2025 draft picks have shown enough to warrant making the 53-man roster, to the point that the Browns may need to move on from either Flacco or Pickett.
In either case, the Browns would be on the hook for salary, though they wouldn't lose any cap space by cutting Pickett and would gain some space by cutting Flacco. While Flacco knows head coach Kevin Stefanski's system well, it might make more sense to cut him. However, his familiarity with Stefanski might mean the Browns choose him over Pickett.
Zay Jones, WR, Arizona Cardinals: Jones signed a one-year deal with the Cardinals, who paid him a $650K signing bonus, and added another $650K guaranteed to his base salary. But the Cardinals have other receivers who, while inexperienced, might be preferred for depth. The Cardinals would save some cash by letting Jones go.
Devin Singletary, RB, New York Giants: Though Singletary is currently second on the depth chart, the Giants might be more inclined to let fourth-round pick Cam Skattebo get more of the workload. If Singletary does fall to third on the depth chart, it's going to be tough to justify keeping him around. The one thing that might prevent the Giants from cutting him is his $3.5M fully guaranteed salary, because they wouldn't get much relief from offsets if Singletary signed with another team.
Evan Neal, OL, New York Giants: This is another Giants player that Bleacher Report cited as potential surprise cut. Neal has made the transition to offensive guard but remains a backup. He's due a little more than $4M in fully guaranteed money and, as with Singletary, the Giants wouldn't get much relief from offsets if he signs with another team. Because Neal would go through waivers, a trade couldn't be ruled out here if the Giants decide they don't want Neal any longer.
Taysom Hill, TE, New Orleans Saints: Hill is still recovering from an ACL injury he suffered last season. The Saints have about $20.5M in cap space, though that figure will change once the 53-man roster and practice squad are set. But it's likely the Saints will give Hill an injury settlement if he's not yet cleared, then cut him so his $10M salary doesn't become fully guaranteed under the vested veteran rule. His release would give the Saints some cap savings and give them more potential carryover to help with their cap situation in 2026.
Cole Strange, OG, New England Patriots: Strange was one of those Bill Belichick draft picks that raised a lot of eyebrows. Though Belichick drafted well in his first few years with the Patriots, he wasn't as good in his later years and Strange has failed to develop into a quality starter. Though the Patriots owe Strange about $2.4M in fully guaranteed salary, they will definitely view it as sunk costs should they decide to release the former first-round pick.