News
8/30/22
8 min read
Tuesday's Most Notable NFL Roster Cuts and Trades
>> Team-by-Team Roster Cuts Tracker
NFL teams are currently trimming rosters down to the 53 players they will carry with them into Week 1 of the regular season.
Monday had quite a few notable cuts and Tuesday is bound to have even more. Here’s a look at some of the most notable cuts and trades thus far.
Trades
Trayvon Mullen, Cornerback
The Las Vegas Raiders continue their purge of the former regime's draft picks in sending Mullen to the Arizona Cardinals per ESPN's Adam Schefter. A second-round pick out of Clemson in the 2019 NFL draft, Mullen had been a starter for the Raiders but had also seen his fair share of struggles. Going to a cornerback-needy team in the Cardinals gives Mullen a second chance and the Cardinals get a low-risk flier b sending a conditional seventh-round pick.
Ross Blacklock, Defensive Lineman
After the Vikings made a surprising move in releasing starting defensive lineman Armon Watts, the Vikings quickly replaced him with Houston Texans DL Ross Blacklock per NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. Sending a sixth-round pick for Blacklock and a seventh-round pick, the Vikings save approximately $1 million in cap space.
Malik Reed, Linebacker/Edge
The Pittsburgh Steelers got some much-needed linebacker depth by acquiring Malik Reed from the Denver Broncos. The fourth-year player out of Nevada played in 45 games, started 34 and accumulated 15.0 sacks in three seasons. With T.J. Watt's knee injury in the preseason finale, Reed provides the Steelers with some depth at pass rusher.
Trade: Broncos sending LB Malik Reed to the Pittsburgh Steelers for late draft-pick compensation, per sources.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 30, 2022
Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, Safety
The Philadelphia Eagles added another talented player to their secondary today by trading for Gardner-Johnson. Gardner-Johnson, one of the better slot defenders in the league, was in extension talks with the New Orleans Saints, but they broke down, allowing the Eagles to swoop in and make a deal for the former Florida Gator.
This is the second high-profile trade the Eagles and Saints have made this season after they swapped multiple draft choices. The compensation is similar to what the Cleveland Browns sent to Dallas for Amari Cooper.
Full trade terms:
🏈Eagles receive safety Chauncey Gardner-Johnson and Saints’ 7th-round pick in 2025.
🏈Saints receive the Eagles’ 5th-round pick in 2023 and the worse of their two 6th-round picks in 2024.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 30, 2022
Grant Stuard, Linebacker
The Indianapolis Colts traded for former Houston Cougar Grant Stuard and a seventh-round pick from the Buccaneers in exchange for a sixth-round pick. With Shaquille Leonard recovering from an injury, this is extra insurance for the Colts as he heals.
Trade: Bucs traded ILB Grant Stuard to Indianapolis along with a 2023 seventh-round pick in return for a 2023 sixth-rounder.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 30, 2022
Cuts
Alex Leatherwood, Offensive Lineman
After drafting him at 17th overall in 2021, the new regime decided to move on from the struggling offensive lineman per ESPN's Adam Schefter. The Alabama product Leatherwood struggled at tackle before being moved inside to guard where the struggles continued. This is another move in a long line that the new regime has tried to separate themselves from the previous one. In doing so, the Raiders will have to eat $7.9 million in dead cap.
Marlon Mack, Running Back
A surprise move by the Houston Texans, they cut Mack per ESPN's Adam Schefter. Mack, who was a fourth-round pick out of South Florida in 2017 by the Indianapolis Colts, tore his Achilles tendon in the final year of his rookie contract in 2020. That led him to re-sign with the Colts in 2021 before moving onto the Texans. His release signals that rookie Dameon Pierce will be the starting running back for the Texans.
Josh Rosen, Quarterback
The 10th overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft is looking for a new home once again. The Browns were his sixth team after spending no more than one season with any team he has played for. Having appeared in 24 games during his first four seasons, Rosen could get another opportunity elsewhere due to his draft position.
Expected to be among the #Browns cuts to get to the 53-man roster, per league source: (some will be invited to return to the practice squad)
FB Johnny Stanton
WR Mike Harley
RB John Kelly
TE Miller Forristall
QB Josh Rosen— JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) August 30, 2022
Tyler Johnson, Wide Receiver
After falling to the fifth round in 2020, Johnson finds himself looking for a new home. While he was productive as the Buccaneers' fourth or fifth wide receiver, he never could quite develop a rapport with Tom Brady. Given his production, he should find a home at some point soon.
Here's a big and surprising cut: Bucs are waiving receiver Tyler Johnson today.
— Greg Auman (@gregauman) August 30, 2022
Preston Williams, Wide Receiver
The Dolphins released one of their undrafted free agent stars from the 2019 draft class. Williams dealt with a laundry list of injuries during his tenure with the Dolphins after being a 2019 camp standout. Williams only played in 8 games in each of his three seasons. He did draw some trade interest and could still be moved before the 4 p.m. eastern deadline.
The #Dolphins cut WR Preston Williams, per source.
Multiple teams reached out over the last few weeks about a possible trade. Now, he's on waivers.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) August 30, 2022
Tevin Coleman, Running Back
The former Indiana Hoosier is looking for a new home. After being drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in 2015, Coleman has played for Jets coach Robert Saleh and offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur for each of the past three seasons with the first two being in San Francisco. A perfect fit in the wide zone, Coleman should be able to find a home quickly.
Jets are releasing RB Tevin Coleman, per sources.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) August 30, 2022
Kellen Mond, Quarterback
The Minnesota Vikings drafted the signal caller with the 66th selection in the 2022 NFL draft out of Texas A&M. After getting COVID-19 within the first week of training camp in 2021, Mond lost 25 pounds and, in turn, stunted his development.
Coming back in 2022, Mond struggled enough to warrant the Vikings trading for Nick Mullens to be their backup quarterback. For a team looking for a backup quarterback with upside, Mond could be appealing.
The #Vikings are waiving QB Kellen Mond, per source.
A third-round pick out of Texas A&M in 2021, Mond had a lot of fans in the pre-draft process. But he struggled in preseason action and Minnesota's new regime traded for Nick Mullens recently. Now, Mond heads to waivers.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) August 30, 2022
Phillip Lindsay, Running Back
An undrafted free agent out of Colorado, he went to his hometown team and ran for 1,000 yards in his first two seasons with a Pro Bowl appearance as a rookie. After his first two seasons, he fell out of favor quickly in Denver, only playing in 11 games due to injury. He spent 2021 with both the Texans and the Dolphins before getting an opportunity in Indianapolis with the Colts. Since he's a young running back with a track record of success he could land an opportunity soon.
The #Colts have released RB Phillip Lindsay, source said.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 30, 2022
Danny Shelton, Defensive Tackle
The former first-round pick of the Cleveland Browns was just signed by the Kansas City Chiefs before their first preseason game. On Tuesday, he was given his release. A true run-stuffing tackle, Shelton has played for four different teams in his career. With 100 games on his resume, Shelton will be a likely call for a team needing a run stuffer in the middle and potentially could go back to Kansas City.
Chiefs have released veteran defensive tackle Danny Shelton, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 30, 2022
O.J. Howard, Tight End
The former first-round pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers has had a whirlwind couple of seasons. After tearing his Achilles tendon in Week 4 of the 2020 season, Howard won a Super Bowl ring with the Buccaneers but never could get back on track with both Rob Gronkowski and Cameron Brate in front of him. The Bills brought him in on an inexpensive deal hoping to find a quality running mate for Dawson Knox, but it wasn't meant to be. Howard hits the market as a talented player with unfulfilled potential.
Bills are releasing TE OJ Howard, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 30, 2022
Duke Johnson, Running Back
The former University of Miami standout will be looking to join his fifth team as the Bills released him on Tuesday morning. Drafted by the Cleveland Browns in 2015, Johnson has been an excellent pass-catching running back out of the backfield, specializing in third downs. He was so good at his craft the Houston Texans gave the Browns a third-round pick to acquire his services back in 2019. He only played in 5 games in 2021 due to injury and could find a role quickly, due to his valuable skill set.
Bills are releasing veteran running back Duke Johnson, per source. Bills do have an interest in bringing him back on their practice squad if he doesn’t sign with another team’s active roster.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 30, 2022
J.J. Arcega-Whiteside, Wide Receiver
The former second-round pick of the Philadelphia Eagles was recently acquired by the Seattle Seahawks in a trade for DB Ugo Amadi. Now just days after the trade, Arcega-Whiteside is on his way out of Seattle.
#Seahawks have released WR J.J. Arcega-Whiteside.
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) August 30, 2022
Josh Gordon, Wide Receiver
The Kansas City Chiefs released former Cleveland Browns star wide receiver Josh Gordon on Tuesday. Gordon was with the organization on and off for the last two seasons, but he struggled to maintain a roster spot ever since he dealt with his litany of suspensions. The Chiefs do have interest in bringing him back on the practice squad if he doesn't catch on with another team.
The #Chiefs are releasing WR Josh Gordon, per source.
Gordon has shown great character on the field and in the community since he got to Kansas City and the team is open to him returning. But it’s a numbers game right now and he’s the odd man out. pic.twitter.com/voVS4Hpubo
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) August 30, 2022
