NFL · 11 hours ago

Ranking the Top 15 NFL Cut/Trade Candidates To Watch

Paul Connor

Host · Writer

Uncertain Futures
While these 15 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.

Which players would you like to see your time trade for? Who would teams regret moving on from? Let us know in the comments!

Stay ahead of the game and elevate your sports betting experience with SportsGrid.
15 Cut/Trade Candidates to Watch
The NFL is in the calm before the storm. With the franchise tag window open and the legal tampering period looming in early March, the door for roster restructuring has been unlocked.

Here are 15 players likely to be cut or traded as the 2026 offseason reshuffle begins.

Have all the intel you need? Free, actionable information is just one click away! Sign up for our daily newsletter, SportsGrid Daily.
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, 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 yesterday, 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 struggling 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 take off, 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.
11. Jawaan Taylor (OT, Kansas City Chiefs)
Status: Cut Candidate

The Buzz: After a disappointing 6-11 campaign, the cap-strapped Chiefs could shed Jawaan Taylor's expensive contract. Taylor has been a severe liability, leading the team with 41 penalties over three years. Releasing the 28-year-old tackle before June 1 generates an immediate $20 million in cap relief.
12. T.J. Watt (EDGE, Pittsburgh Steelers)
Status: Trade Candidate

The Buzz: T.J. Watt carries a monumental $42 million cap hit in 2026. With his production slowing due to injuries and the emergence of rising star Nick Herbig, the Steelers face a brutal financial decision. Trading Watt would net premium draft capital and clear tens of millions in cap space for offensive upgrades.
13. Jaylon Johnson (CB, Chicago Bears)
Status: Cut/Trade Candidate

The Buzz: Jaylon Johnson's 2025 season was derailed by severe groin and core muscle injuries, limiting him to just seven games and poor coverage metrics. With the Bears over the cap, applying a post-June 1 release designation to shed Johnson's $24.5 million cap hit yields $15.5 million in vital savings.
14. Kirk Cousins (QB, Atlanta Falcons)
Status: Cut Candidate

The Buzz: The Falcons are preparing to officially move on from Kirk Cousins after he lost his starting job to Michael Penix Jr. A reworked contract in January paved the way for a separation. Set to turn 38, Cousins' post-June 1 release will trigger a $22.5 million dead cap hit but allows Atlanta to transition fully to youth.
15. Marlon Humphrey (CB, Baltimore Ravens)
Status: Trade/Cut Candidate

The Buzz: Marlon Humphrey struggled mightily in 2025, allowing a career-high 916 receiving yards in coverage. With new defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver reshaping the defense's identity, Humphrey and his $26.3 million cap hit may no longer be a fit. Dealing him post-June 1 yields a massive $19.3 million in cap savings.
Uncertain Futures
While these 15 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.

Which players would you like to see your time trade for? Who would teams regret moving on from? Let us know in the comments!

Stay ahead of the game and elevate your sports betting experience with SportsGrid.
15 Cut/Trade Candidates to Watch
The NFL is in the calm before the storm. With the franchise tag window open and the legal tampering period looming in early March, the door for roster restructuring has been unlocked.

Here are 15 players likely to be cut or traded as the 2026 offseason reshuffle begins.

Have all the intel you need? Free, actionable information is just one click away! Sign up for our daily newsletter, SportsGrid Daily.