The NFL preseason is finally over, but before the regular season can begin, we must get through the excruciating process of roster cuts. Yes, every NFL roster must be trimmed to 53 players, and another 15-20 on the practice squad. That means some unpleasant conversations, impromptu trades for players on the hot seat (some of which we've already seen), and players without jobs. The latter is the toughest to deal with.
With certain household names on the roster bubble — think JJ McCarthy and Will Howard as some examples — not every cut is an indication of talent level. Rather, teams must make decisions based on roster depth and whether those players on the cut line can land some draft capital in return. Don't worry, we have you covered.
When is the NFL roster cut deadline for 2026?
The deadline for teams to trim their rosters down to 53 players is on Sunday, Aug. 30 at 6 p.m. ET. The date itself is in line with what we've seen in years past, but it is odd to have this happening on a Sunday afternoon, as it's often happened in the middle of weeks. But that is the date when we'll see teams make their final roster cuts, so let's now dive into the biggest names being cut or traded to get down to 53 players.
NFL roster cuts and trades tracker
Bears cut OT Jedrick Wills
Wills had an opportunity to stick in Chicago amid Ozzy Trapilo's injury and the uncertainty at left tackle behind him, but alas, it was not to be. Wills once again struggled to stay healthy, and he found himself as the odd man out in this depth chart battle.
Chiefs cut CB Kaiir Elam
It's been a winding road for Elam, who was a first-round pick of the Bills back in 2022 but split 2025 between the Cowboys and Titans before landing in Kansas City this offseason. The Chiefs are pretty set at corner with L'Jarius Sneed, Nohl Williams and first-round pick Mansoor Delane, though, so now the toolsy but maddeningly inconsistent Elam will try to find another spot to latch on.
Raiders trade OL Joshua Meredith to Jets
Meredith struggled amid injury last season, but he's just two years removed from PFF grading him as one of the better guards in football. With Tyler Linderbaum burying Meredith on the depth chart, Vegas decided to get something of value in return rather than keeping him as a backup, while the Jets shore up the interior of their line behind Josh Myers, Dylan Parham and Joe Tippmann.
Steelers trade RB Kaleb Johnson to Packers
Kaleb Johnson's stock had plummeted in Pittsburgh ever since the team took him in the third round of last year's draft. The Steelers signed Rico Dowdle over him this offseason to form a 1-2 punch with Jaylen Warren, which left his roster spot very much in jeopardy. The Packers were willing to take that problem off Pittsburgh's hands, as they look for short-term depth amid a potential suspension for Josh Jacobs to start this season.
Browns carrying QB Dillon Gabriel on 53-man roster
The Browns stood as one of the most intriguing teams to monitor entering roster deadline day, with four different quarterbacks in the mix for roster spots. Deshaun Watson is safe, for better or worse, and now Gabriel is too, as ESPN's Daniel Oyefusi reports the former Oregon star will make the team's initial 53-man roster. What that means for potential trade candidate Shedeur Sanders or rookie Taylen Green remains to be seen.
Steelers cut LB Malik Harrison
Harrison was a disappointment in his first year in Pittsburgh last season, and he didn't do much in camp to halt his slide down the depth chart. Due over $4 million if he remained on the roster in 2026, that made him a pretty natural cut candidate, and sure enough the former third-round pick was let go on Sunday. Depth behind Patrick Queen and Payton Wilson at off-ball linebacker remains a situation to monitor, though, as the Steelers have very little proven depth as things stand.
Buccaneers cut QB Jake Browning, make rookie Jalon Daniels QB2
An undrafted free agent who struggled with injuries and turnovers at Kansas, Jalon Daniels felt like a long shot to make Tampa Bay's roster — especially after the team signed seasoned vet Jake Browning behind Baker Mayfield in free agency. But he was a standout performer throughout camp, and on Sunday the Bucs surprisingly cut Browning and decided to go into the regular season with Daniels as the QB2.
Packers trade QB Kyle McCord to the Dolphins
The Dolphins had just one quarterback left on the roster after they traded Quinn Ewers, waived Cam Miller, and then tried to sneak Mark Gronowski through waivers. That would've been a problem, as Malik Willis is a first-time starter AND his dual-threat mentality tends to welcome hard contact. Without a reliable backup QB — or a backup in general, in this case — Miami could've been thrust into an uncomfortable position. Then, Jon-Eric Sullivan acquired Kyle McCord, a young backup with starter upside.
Bears trade DT Gervon Dexter Sr. to the Falcons
The Bears traded Dexter Jr., who was a former draft pick in the Matt Eberflus era, to the Falcons for Clark Phillipps III and a fifth-round pick. Dexer Jr. started the past two seasons for the Bears, accumulating 11 sacks in the process. He was edged out by rookie Jordan van den Berg out of Georgia Tech, who Ben Johnson described as a 'beast' and 'incredible athlete'. The writing was always on the wall.
Steelers release LB Elandon Roberts
With Pittsburgh reportedly set to keep four quarterbacks on the roster, the Steelers need to find other positions to trim. One of those was offensive tackle Broderick Jones, who we'll get to later in this post. Another is reportedly linebacker, where the Steelers depth was already thin. Elandon Roberts, who was brought back to Pittsburgh for a short stint and could be a valuable veteran presence for another team, was let go on Sunday.
Jets release DT Mazi Smith less than a year after Quinnen Williams trade
Remember when the Jets traded Quinnen Williams to the Cowboys? While the main component of the deal was draft capital, Dallas also sent former first-round pick Mazi Smith to New York. Well, he'll end up only playing the second half of last season with the Jets, because they're cutting him before the roster deadline. It's not hard to blame them, as Smith's disappointing NFL career simply changed locations in the trade, but there is still some sticker shock given the Williams trade and Smith's draft pedigree.
Steelers trade OT Broderick Jones to Cowboys
With Broderick Jones looking like he didn't have a spot in Pittsburgh, the Steelers flipped him for a third- and sixth-round pick in a major trade. Jones has struggled both on the field and to stay healthy since being drafted in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft. However, he gives Dallas necessary tackle depth with some unsure options previously occupying spots, while the Steelers are able to move off a distressed asset while getting a considerable amount of draft capital in return.
Dolphins trade QB Quinn Ewers to Jaguars
It looks like the Miami Dolphins were about to cut Quinn Ewers but found a taker in the Jaguars as Jacksonville sent just a 2028 sixth-round pick in the trade. Ewers comes in and should be in consideration as Trevor Lawrence's primary backup. The Jaguars have veteran Nick Mullens as QB2 right now, and Ewers at least gives them more upside than the substandard Mullens. Miami, meanwhile, will move forward with Cam Miller and Mark Gronowski behind Malik Willis, barring another deal.
Ravens trade UDFA OT Diego Pounds to the Chiefs
What a deal for Kansas City! They've spent a bunch of time trying to revamp the offensive line, and now land a UDFA gem from Baltimore. The compensation back to Baltimore could either be a 2027 or 2028 Day 3 pick, but the Chiefs undeniably get one of the best preseason performers from this year with a bit of luck that Baltimore is in a good spot with their offensive line.
Bills cut WR Mecole Hardman amid rookie Skyler Bell's breakout
We knew the Bills were in need of receiver help, and they left no stone unturned in trying to find it this offseason. Veteran Mecole Hardman was among the players they added. However, with rookie Skyler Bell absolutely dominating throughout the preseason, especially on several eye-popping gadget plays, the first-year receiver from UConn ostensibly became a younger, higher-upside version of Hardman, making him expendable.
Browns shockingly cut WR Cedric Tillman
Given that the Browns were tasked with restocking their wide receiver room this offseason, it seemed like they were going to move toward a younger group at the position. That's what made it a bit stunning to see the club, several days before the roster deadline, cut Cedric Tillman, the franchise's third-round pick from the 2023 NFL Draft.
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