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NFL · 1 hour ago

Ranking the Top 10 NFL Cut/Trade Candidates To Watch

Paul Connor

Host · Writer

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Uncertain Futures
While these ten names head the list of potential movers, the NFL business cycle is full of surprises. Expect plenty more shockwaves between now and the start of the new league year as teams aggressively position themselves for a run at Super Bowl LXI.
10 Cut/Trade Candidates to Watch
The NFL is in the calm before the storm. With the franchise tag window opening yesterday and the legal tampering period looming in early March, the door for roster restructuring has been unlocked.

Here are ten players likely to be cut or traded as the 2026 offseason reshuffle begins.
1. Maxx Crosby (DE, Las Vegas Raiders)
Status: Trade Candidate

The Buzz: The Raiders are in full rebuild mode after a disastrous 3-14 finish in 2025. With Las Vegas holding the No. 1 overall pick and looking to reset its cap, star pass rusher Maxx Crosby is the offseason’s premier trade chip.
2. Tua Tagovailoa (QB, Miami Dolphins)
Status: Trade/Cut Candidate

The Buzz: The "Miami Teardown" is officially underway. With Tyreek Hill and Bradley Chubb released this week, the new regime has made it clear that no contract is sacred. Tua Tagovailoa was benched late in the 2025 season, but his exit is financially complicated as a standard cut would trigger a catastrophic $99.2 million dead cap hit. Expect Dolphins brass to aggressively call QB-needy teams like the Jets or Vikings to see if they can broker a trade, likely having to eat a sizeable portion of Tagovailoa's salary to move him.
3. Kyler Murray (QB, Arizona Cardinals)
Status: Trade/Cut Candidate

The Buzz: Relegated to the bench midway through the 2025 season, Kyler Murray appears to have played his final down for Arizona. However, at just 28 years old and with two Pro Bowls on his resume, the former first overall pick is an enticing reclamation project for a quarterback-starved roster, especially given his movable contract.
4. Alvin Kamara (RB, New Orleans Saints)
Status: Cut Candidate

The Buzz: Alvin Kamara inked a two-year extension last offseason, but the guaranteed money has largely dried up. The Saints can clear roughly $8.5 million by releasing him, a likely scenario given Kamara's age (turns 31 in July) and career-worst efficiency in 2025 (3.6 YPC).
5. Brandon Aiyuk (WR, San Francisco 49ers)
Status: Pending Release

The Buzz: The bridge isn't just burned; it's demolished. 49ers GM John Lynch is already on record stating that Brandon Aiyuk will not play another snap for the organization after the receiver failed to meet contractual obligations while rehabbing his 2024 ACL tear. Aiyuk's departure is strictly a matter of "when," not "if."
6. Joe Mixon (RB, Houston Texans)
Status: Cut Candidate

The Buzz: After a productive first season in Houston, Joe Mixon missed all of last year with a lingering foot injury. While the 31-year-old running back is lauded for his bruising style and leadership, the Texans can free up $8 million by releasing him.
7. A.J. Brown (WR, Philadelphia Eagles)
Status: Trade Candidate

The Buzz: A.J. Brown has been vocal about his frustrations with Philadelphia's inconsistent offense. While the massive dead cap hit is a significant hurdle, a blockbuster trade is not out of the question should the Eagles decide the locker room chemistry issues finally outweigh Brown's on-field production.
8. Geno Smith (QB, Las Vegas Raiders)
Status: Cut Candidate

The Buzz: Geno Smith's reunion with Pete Carroll in Vegas was a disaster. The veteran QB struggled behind a porous offensive line while tossing a league-high 17 interceptions. With Carroll gone and the Raiders holding the No. 1 overall pick, Smith is a sure-fire cut to save $8 million.
9. Marshon Lattimore (CB, Washington Commanders)
Status: Cut Candidate

The Buzz: Marshon Lattimore carries a massive cap hit for 2026, and Washington can clear $18.5 million off their books by releasing him. Given the Commanders' need to spread resources across the roster, moving on from the expensive veteran corner is a logical financial move.
10. Justin Fields (QB, New York Jets)
Status: Cut Candidate

The Buzz: The Justin Fields experiment in New York failed to launch, with the QB eventually losing the starting job. The Jets can save $10 million by releasing Fields, money they will desperately need to fund their next attempt at finding a franchise quarterback.
Uncertain Futures
While these ten names head the list of potential movers, the NFL business cycle is full of surprises. Expect plenty more shockwaves between now and the start of the new league year as teams aggressively position themselves for a run at Super Bowl LXI.
10 Cut/Trade Candidates to Watch
The NFL is in the calm before the storm. With the franchise tag window opening yesterday and the legal tampering period looming in early March, the door for roster restructuring has been unlocked.

Here are ten players likely to be cut or traded as the 2026 offseason reshuffle begins.

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