10 veterans in danger as the NFL cutdown deadline approaches

Several veterans are at risk of losing a roster spot as NFL teams have to trim down their roster to 53 players by Aug. 26. Here's a look at trade candidates and players who could be released before each club solidifies its roster.

Kenny Pickett, QB, Browns

Deshaun Watson won't play in 2025, so four quarterbacks headline Browns training camp: Joe Flacco, rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders, and Pickett. With Cleveland unlikely to carry four QBs in the regular season, someone has to go. Flacco is the favorite to start and offers plenty of experience ahead of his 18th season. Gabriel is a third-round pick, and Sanders - a Round 5 selection - turned heads in his first preseason start. Pickett, who has 25 starts under his belt, landed with Cleveland in an offseason trade. However, the 27-year-old lacks Flacco's resume and has never shown much upside.

Travis Etienne, RB, Jaguars

Although Jaguars coach Liam Coen downplayed a potential Etienne trade in the offseason, early reports from training camp suggest Tank Bigsby is the early favorite to lead the team in carries. Jacksonville also drafted Bhayshul Tuten in the fourth round this year. Etienne started the preseason opener, but he's worth monitoring as a potential trade candidate. Sending the former first-round pick to another team would save the Jaguars $6.1 million in salary-cap space.

Romeo Doubs, WR, Packers

Reports out of training camp describe Doubs as one of Green Bay's most explosive pass-catchers. However, the Packers may have too many mouths to feed after using two top-100 picks on wideouts, including first-rounder Matthew Golden. They join Jayden Reed, Dontayvion Wicks and Christian Watson on the depth chart. Reed and Watson are recovering from injuries but will have roles when healthy. Doubs was frustrated with his usage last year, so you have to wonder how Green Bay views the 25-year-old ahead of a contract year. The club would get $3.4 million in cap savings by moving him.

Taysom Hill, TE, Saints

The versatile Hill turns 35 this month and is still recovering from a torn ACL that will likely sideline him for at least part of the 2025 season. Additionally, the rebuilding Saints and first-year coach Kellen Moore should be trying to create opportunities for younger players. If Hill successfully recovers from his injury, a playoff contender could benefit from scooping up the NFL's best Swiss Army knife. He's scored 44 scrimmage touchdowns while passing for 11 touchdowns since entering the league. In the meantime, New Orleans can save $10 million in cap space by releasing him.

Kendrick Bourne, WR, Patriots

Limited to eight games in 2023 due to an ACL injury, the 30-year-old Bourne has struggled to regain his form. Stefon Diggs, DeMario Douglas, Kayshon Boutte, and Kyle Williams top a revamped Patriots receiving corps that leaves Bourne on the outside looking in. He also injured his foot before the preseason opener. Bourne managed a breakout campaign under Josh McDaniels in 2021, but the wideout's reunion with the coordinator could be short-lived.

Devin Singletary, RB, Giants

When the Giants signed Singletary to a three-year contract in 2024, they expected him to be a steady hand for an offense that lacked an identity. But Tyrone Tracy Jr. surged to the top of the depth chart instead. New York has since added rookie Cam Skattebo, and Dante Miller is turning heads this preseason, making Singletary a potential casualty of the team's youth movement. The Giants would free up $1.5 million in much-needed cap space by cutting the soon-to-be 28-year-old.

Darren Waller, TE, Dolphins

Nearly two years removed from meaningful snaps, it's difficult to envision Waller regaining the form that helped him become a Pro Bowler in 2020. The veteran admitted he was unenthused during his one-year stint with the Giants in 2023 after they asked him to block more, but he says he rediscovered his passion during his brief retirement. The Dolphins need a tight end after trading Jonnu Smith. Waller is attempting to get up to speed, but he hasn't even been practicing, so don't be surprised if the Dolphins pull the plug on this project. Moving on from the 32-year-old would save Miami $2 million that the club is better served using elsewhere.

Tyler Higbee, TE, Rams

Higbee was once a staple of the Rams' offense, but he missed most of 2024 while rehabbing from a torn ACL. His snaps, targets, and maybe even roster spot could now be in danger with Colby Parkinson, Davis Allen, and Terrance Ferguson nipping at his heels. L.A. drafted Ferguson in the second round in April, presumably to serve as Higbee's replacement sooner or later. Higbee is on the wrong side of 30 and entering a contract year. Sean McVay may have an affinity for him, but you could've said the same about Cooper Kupp not long ago.

Kyle Dugger, DB, Patriots

Dugger has practiced with the Patriots' second-team unit a year after signing a four-year, $58-million contract. A key starter under Bill Belichick and Jerod Mayo, he may not fit as well in New England's defensive system under new coach Mike Vrabel. The Pats would save $10.7 million in cap space while taking on $4.5 million in dead money by trading the versatile 29-year-old.

Justin Jones, DL, Cardinals

Jones inked a three-year, $31.1-million deal with Arizona after posting double-digit tackles for loss with the Bears in 2022 and '23. However, an injury limited him to three games in '24, and the team brought in significant competition this offseason in the form of Calais Campbell, Dalvin Tomlinson, and rookie Walter Nolen. Cutting Jones would come with $11.2 million in dead money, but the Cardinals would get most of that amount ($8 million) in cap savings if they trade the 28-year-old.

(Salary-cap figure source: Over the Cap)