As the NFL season inches closer, teams were required to trim their rosters from 90 players down to 53 by the 4 p.m. ET deadline on Tuesday. The cutdown provided a plethora of surprises and tough decisions for many teams. Here's a detailed breakdown of notable roster moves across the league.
Baltimore Ravens' Broad Sweep
The Baltimore Ravens had a busy day, letting go a significant number of players across various positions. Wide receivers Sean Ryan, Russell Gage, and Anthony Miller were among the cuts, as were tight ends Mike Rigerman, Riley Sharp, Qadir Ismail, and Scotty Washington. On the offensive line, Tashawn Manning and Darrell Simpson were released. The Ravens' defense also saw a shake-up: defensive lineman Tramel Walthour, punter Jack Browning, cornerback Damarion "Pepe" Williams, quarterback Emory Jones, and running back Chris Collier all parted ways with the team.
Key Decisions Across the League
Other teams around the league also made difficult choices. The Denver Broncos released linebackers Jonas Griffith and Jaylon Allen, as well as wide receiver Jalen Virgil. Meanwhile, the Green Bay Packers cut offensive lineman Royce Newman and offensive tackle Caleb Jones, along with quarterbacks Michael Pratt and Sean Clifford. The Packers also released kicker Anders Carlson, wide receivers Jalen Wayne and Samori Toure, and defensive lineman Kenneth Odumegwu.
The Houston Texans were active as well, cutting cornerbacks Mike Ford, Lonnie Johnson Jr., and C.J. Henderson, along with wide receivers Noah Brown and Quintez Cephus, safety Desmond King, quarterback Tim Boyle, and wide receiver Jaden Janke. These decisions likely weighed heavily on the coaching staff as they aimed to build a competitive squad.
Las Vegas Raiders and New Orleans Saints: Major Moves
The Las Vegas Raiders released quarterbacks Carter Bradley and Nathan Peterman, wide receiver Jeff Foreman, and defensive back Wood Governor. The New Orleans Saints also made a slew of cuts, including defensive end Niko Lalos, wide receivers Samson Nacua and Equanimeous St. Brown, and linebacker Khaleke Hudson. The Saints also released punter Lou Hedley, safeties Roderic Teamer, Lawrence Johnson, Ugo Amadi, and Johnathan Abram, kicker Charlie Smyth, and a handful of offensive and defensive linemen, including Jack Heflin and Tremayne Anchrum.
New York Jets, Philadelphia Eagles, and Seattle Seahawks
The New York Jets moved on from defensive back Tre Swilling, running back Xavian Valladay, and tight end Neal Johnson. The Philadelphia Eagles cut wide receiver Parris Campbell and quarterback Will Grier, as well as tight ends E.J. Jenkins and C.J. Uzomah, defensive back Parry Nickerson, and guard Max Scharping. Not to be outdone, the Seattle Seahawks released tight ends Tyler Mabry and Michael Ezeike, wide receivers D'Wayne Eskridge and Easop Winston, and defensive ends DeVere Levelston and Jamie Sheriff. Additionally, the Seahawks let go of defensive tackle Mario Kendricks, linebackers Easton Gibbs, Jon Rhattigan, and Devin Richardson, safety Ty Okada, running back George Holani, and defensive back Willie Roberts.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Washington Commanders
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers decided to part ways with wide receiver Sterling Shepard, defensive lineman Eric Banks, and linebacker Randy Gregory. Meanwhile, the Washington Commanders made significant changes, cutting defensive ends Andre Jones and KJ Henry, and wide receivers Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint and Brycen Tremayne. The Commanders also released wide receivers Martavis Bryant, Mitch Tinsley, and Davion Davis, as well as running backs Chris Rodriguez and Michael Wiley. Furthermore, defensive backs Chigozie Anusiem, A.J. Woods, Nick Whiteside II, Tariq Castro-Fields, and James Pierre were let go. The offensive line saw its share of cuts, including guard Julian Good-Jones and center J.C. Hassenauer. Linebacker Bo Bauer, defensive back Ben Nikkel, and kicker Riley Patterson were also released.
As rosters across the league were finalized, it's clear that making it to the final 53 is a grueling process marked by challenging decisions. Teams now look forward to the upcoming season with their newly shaped rosters, aspiring to make a significant impact on the field.