The NFL's roster cutdown day has once again brought a whirlwind of changes, with teams trimming their squads from 90 players to the final 53-man roster. This annual culling process has seen surprising moves and significant trades that will undoubtedly shape the upcoming season. Here's a roundup of the most notable changes across several teams.
Falcons Settle on Quarterback Trio
The Atlanta Falcons have retained three quarterbacks as they prepare for the new season: Kirk Cousins, Michael Penix Jr., and Taylor Heinicke. Despite a less-than-stellar preseason showing from Heinicke, who posted a 45.5% completion rate, the Falcons seem confident in their quarterback room’s depth.
Packers' High Hopes Cut Short
The Green Bay Packers made some tough decisions, particularly at the quarterback position. They had drafted Sean Clifford from Penn State and Michael Pratt from Tulane, only to cut both before the regular season started. Instead, the Packers secured Malik Willis from the Tennessee Titans to bolster their quarterback depth.
Additionally, the Packers parted ways with their 2023 sixth-round pick, kicker Anders Carlson, and brought in Greg Joseph to take over the kicking responsibilities.
Titans Revamp Their Defense
The Tennessee Titans have been aggressive in shoring up their defensive roster. They've added cornerbacks L'Jarius Sneed and Chidobe Awuzie, safeties Quandre Diggs and Jamal Adams, linebacker Kenneth Murray, and fortified their defensive line with Sebastian Joseph-Day and rookie T'Vondre Sweat. These moves signal the Titans' clear intent to strengthen their defensive unit significantly.
On the offensive side, the Titans have also brought in running back Tyler Boyd, center Lloyd Cushenberry, and offensive tackle JC Latham, thereby adding depth and talent to their offensive lineup.
Panthers and Steelers Strike a Deal
In a notable trade, the Carolina Panthers sent cornerback Donte Jackson and a sixth-round pick to the Pittsburgh Steelers. In return, the Steelers traded wide receiver Diontae Johnson and a seventh-round pick to Carolina. The Panthers’ GM Dan Morgan and head coach Dave Canales also made the tough decision to cut wide receiver Terrace Marshall Jr.
Looking ahead to the future, Carolina is focusing heavily on their offense, having used three of their first four picks in the 2024 NFL Draft on offensive playmakers.
Changes in Chicago
The quarterback situation in Chicago has seen a shift, with Tyson Bagent securing the backup quarterback spot for the second consecutive year. Meanwhile, Desmond Ridder lost his backup quarterback role to Clayton Tune, a move that could indicate the Bears' future direction for the quarterback position.
Broncos to Lions: Tim Patrick's Journey
Despite a strong preseason performance where he caught all five of his targets, Tim Patrick was cut by the Broncos. However, he didn’t remain a free agent for long, as the Detroit Lions quickly signed him. Additionally, the Lions brought in Hendon Hooker as their new backup quarterback, after an impressive preseason where he completed 29 of 44 passes for 300 yards and rushed for 138 yards.
Bengals Bolster Offensive Line
The Cincinnati Bengals made the tough decision to cut Jackson Carman, a 2021 second-round pick. To address their offensive line needs, they secured Trent Brown and Amarius Mims, reinforcing their protection unit and ensuring better support for their offensive plays this season.
Mac Jones Heads to Jacksonville
In one of the more surprising moves, Mac Jones was traded from the New England Patriots to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Jones had an impressive preseason, completing 73.1% of his passes for 421 yards and delivering three touchdowns. His addition to the Jaguars is expected to provide a significant boost to their quarterback roster.
Texans and Bills Adjust Rosters
The Texans have made notable changes to their wide receiver corps, releasing Noah Brown. At the same time, Tank Dell has fully recovered and is ready to make contributions to the team, which should help fill the gap left by Brown's departure.
In Buffalo, the Bills decided to cut Frank Gore Jr. Despite rushing for 101 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries during the preseason, the roster move suggests the Bills are confident in their existing running back depth.
As teams finalize their rosters and gear up for the forthcoming NFL season, these critical decisions and strategic trades will undoubtedly play vital roles in their success. Each team's management and coaching staff hope that their moves will pay off as the competition heats up on the gridiron.