10 NFL Players on the Cut Bubble Right Now
This article was originally published on Total Pro Sports.
The 2026 regular season is almost here, meaning we’re getting closer to seeing our favorite teams and star players compete in regular-season games with a chance to make a serious run towards the NFL playoffs.
While many of our favorite Pro Bowl-caliber players have their spots mostly locked down, there are a few guys who’ll likely get cut before the season kicks off and will have to find a new team to call home before or during the regular season.
Many of these cuts happen because a team needs to save salary cap money, see a huge potential in rookies and other veterans, avoid certain contract guarantees, and use tactical roster manipulation just to get their rosters down to 53 players.
Which NFL players will likely get cut before the new season begins?
Aidan O’Connell: Quarterback: Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders reloaded their quarterback room during the 2026 offseason with the signing of Kirk Cousins and the drafting of Fernando Mendoza first overall in the 2026 NFL Draft. However, the team still has backup quarterback Aidan O’Connell on the roster.
Although O’Connell has played okay when on the field, he now has to fight for a third-string spot on the roster with the quarterback overall the team implemented. Especially against undrafted free agent quarterback Jacob Clark, who was signed to the roster.
New head coach Klint Kubiak and offensive coordinator Andrew Janocko will implement a new system that will benefit Cousins and/ or Mendoza’s playing style, which leaves O’Connell’s future with the “Silver and Black” unclear.
O’Connell is an expendable asset at this point, and could get released before the 2026 season starts, or could get traded during the season before the trade deadline in November.
O’Connell has expressed he’s going to seek the opportunity to either start or be a backup, which is unlikely in a reloaded quarterback room.
On top of that, O’Connell is entering the final year of his rookie contract, which carries a cap hit of $3.6 million.
If O’Connell is cut before the season begins, teams like the New York Jets, Cleveland Browns, or Los Angeles Rams would utilize his talents as a backup on their rosters.
Until then, we’ll just wait and see what the Raiders do before the start of the regular season.
Scotty Miller: Wide Receiver: Chicago Bears
Although Miller signed a one-year deal with the Bears during the offseason, he’s still on the cut bubble as a player due to a highly competitive wide receiver room, as most NFL rosters try to have five or six receivers on active rosters.
Ever since Miller’s breakout season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he had 501 receiving yards, scored three touchdowns, and helped the team win Super Bowl LV, his production has fallen off a cliff, as he topped 131 receiving yards with the Pittsburgh Steelers in his two seasons with the team.
Miller did have a solid minicamp, as he showed good speed and made deep touchdown catches.
That may not be enough for Miller, as guys like Rome Odunze and Luther Burden III are locks, while the Bears may favor developing younger talent.
At the same time, the Bears could keep Miller and utilize him on special teams as a punt and kick returner.
If Miller does get cut by the Bears, he could return to either the Buccaneers, the Pittsburgh Steelers, or the Atlanta Falcons, as he provides each of those teams with a veteran presence at the wide receiver position.
However, it all depends on what head coach Ben Johnson and offensive coordinator Press Taylor want, as they’ll watch Miller perform during the preseason.
Jaylon Jones: Cornerback: Chicago Bears
Staying on the Bears, another big name who’s on the cut bubble is Jaylon Jones, due to new additions in the secondary and the lingering injuries the unit dealt with in the 2025 season.
Jones signed a one-year deal to return to the Bears, but is primarily used in special teams rather than as a primary starter in the secondary.
Cornerbacks Jaylon Johnson, Kyler Gordon, and Tyrique Stevenson are solid locks in the Bears’ secondary, while Jones has to compete against Josh Blackwell, Zah Frazier, and Terrell Smith for final spots on the 53-man roster.
Jones’ fate on the roster will all depend on how he performs on special teams and in the secondary during the preseason.
If Jones is cut from the roster, teams like the New England Patriots or Arizona Cardinals would be suitors for the kind of player he is in the NFL, as they can always use talent on their respective special teams.
Jones’ roster fate also depends upon the health of Johnson, Gordon, and Stevenson during the preseason and regular season. So we’ll just wait and see what happens.
Kristian Fulton: Cornerback: Kansas City Chiefs
Fulton signed a two-year, $20 million deal with the Chiefs back in the 2025 offseason, but struggled in the secondary during the regular season, as he played in eight games and only had 16 tackles.
Fulton missed time with knee and ankle injuries during his first season with the Chiefs and was a healthy scratch in games during the 2025 season.
He carries a cap hit of $13 million for the 2026 season, and if he were to get cut now, the Chiefs would take on $8 million in dead money while saving $5 million against the cap, per Sportrac.
The Chiefs rebuilt their secondary during the 2026 offseason, signing guys like Kader Kohou, Alohi Gilman, Kaiir Elam, and L’Jarius Sneed to the roster.
Fulton’s fate will likely be decided sometime between training camp and after the preseason, as he’s currently projected to be behind Mansoor Delane, Sneed, and Nohl Williams in the lineup, making him the odd man out. With Sneed back on the roster, it further pushes Fulton out.
If Fulton is released, the Minnesota Vikings would be a good team to sign him, as they need a new cornerback in their secondary, and he would reunite with his former college teammate, Justin Jefferson.
Kameron Johnson: Wide Receiver: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Johnson is in the cut bubble due to intense competition in the Buccaneers’ wide receiver room, which already has Chris Godwin and Emeka Egbuka locked in. Not to mention, Tez Johnson is looking to prove himself.
While Johnson has been reliable on special teams, he has struggled for offensive playing time, catching 4 receptions for 64 yards and scoring 1 touchdown in 2025.
Johnson faces competition from rookies Kadarius Calloway, Dean Patterson, Eric Rivers, and Ted Hurst.
Johnson also faces competition in special teams from players like Kenneth Gainwell, who signed with this NFL team this offseason, Sean Tucker, and rookie Keionte Scott.
If Johnson can’t stave off the immense competition before the start of the regular season, he’ll likely be cut before the Bucs finalize their 53-man roster.
If Johnson ends up getting cut, teams like the Buffalo Bills or New Orleans Saints would be prime candidates to sign him, as his return abilities could help their special teams during the 2026 season.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling: Wide Receiver: Dallas Cowboys
Valdes-Scantling finds himself on the cut bubble before the start of the 2026 season, even though he signed a one-year deal with the Cowboys.
Ever since he helped the Kansas City Chiefs win Super Bowl LVIII, he’s been bouncing around the league with brief stints with the Buffalo Bills, New Orleans Saints, San Francisco 49ers, and Pittsburgh Steelers.
Valdes-Scantling is on a Cowboys team with a crowded wide receiver room that consists of CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens, who are obvious final roster locks, along with KaVontae Turpin and rookies Anthony Smith and Jordan Hudson.
Valdes-Scantling lacks special teams experience, and his on-field production has declined in recent years.
During the 2025 season, Valdes-Scantling caught a total of 14 receptions for 120 yards and scored one touchdown during both of his stints with the 49ers and Steelers.
On top of that, Valdes-Scantling is currently 31 and will be 32 by the conclusion of the season, which is typically old for wide receivers in the league.
If the Cowboys release Valdes-Scantling, the Steelers, Seattle Seahawks, or Saints could sign him, as he has familiarity with two of the three teams and brings a strong veteran presence to their respective lineups.
Will Valdes-Scantling turn back the clock and impress us during training camp and the preseason? We’ll just have to wait and see.
Asim Richards: Offensive Tackle: New Orleans Saints
Richards may be a strong contender to make a backup spot on the Saints’ offensive line; he’s viewed as a versatile depth piece rather than a starting player in the NFL.
Richards does provide versatility as a swing tackle and guard. However, he’s been very erratic in games when he filled in for Taliese Fuaga in the 2025 season.
During the 2025 season, Richards struggled in pass blocking, making it hard to trust him as a swing tackle or guard for the upcoming season and making him a liability on the roster.
Richards also had two false start penalties and a holding penalty called against him during the 2025 season, per Pro Football Focus.
If Richards were to get cut by the Saints, he would likely be a practice squad member who would likely be called up to the regular roster on teams like the Tennessee Titans, Dallas Cowboys, Washington Commanders, and New York Giants.
The Saints are still evaluating Richards, as he’s currently behind Fuaga and Kelvin Banks Jr. Anything can happen to Richards between now and the finale of the preseason.
Kaleb Johnson: Running Back: Pittsburgh Steelers
Second-year running back Kaleb Johnson finds himself within the cut bubble after an incredibly disappointing 2025 rookie season, where he rushed for 69 yards on 28 attempts, caught one reception for nine yards, and didn’t score a single touchdown in the 10 games he played in.
Johnson now finds himself fighting for a roster spot for the Steelers’ final 53-man roster, as he’s currently the third-string behind Rico Dowdle and Jaylen Warren, who are the team’s one-two punch on the ground.
Johnson faces immense competition from guys like Travis Homer, Lew Nichols III, and rookie Eli Heidenreich.
He doesn’t really contribute on special teams, as he lacks experience as a returner, which puts him at a complete disadvantage against Homer, who has special teams experience.
If Johnson ends up getting cut, an NFL team that would sign him would be the Dallas Cowboys, as they seek young, cost-effective players on rookie deals to join their backfield.
No matter what happens, Johnson must rebound from his down rookie year and do it fast before the start of the regular season.
Roschon Johnson: Running Back: Chicago Bears
Roschon Johnson finds himself inside the cut bubble due to nagging injuries and intense competition from D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai.
In the 2025 season, Johnson played in seven games for the Bears, rushing for 17 yards on two carries, and dealt with a thumb injury that cut his season short.
Johnson finds himself competing for the third-string role at running back against Salvon Ahmed and Brittain Brown, who both saw more action in 2025 and outplayed him.
Because of his absences in 2025, his usage has dwindled, making him a liability for the Bears in 2026.
The only remaining path Johnson has if he wants to make the Bears’ final roster is to potentially move to special teams, as he can be an ace in special teams if he’s able to stay healthy.
If Johnson can’t stay healthy when on special teams, he can potentially kiss his spot on the roster goodbye.
Teams that could sign Johnson include the Carolina Panthers or Dallas Cowboys, as both enjoy signing reliable and bruising backs who can rotate in and out of their offensive schemes.
Javontae Jean-Baptiste: Edge: Washington Commanders
Jean-Baptiste finds himself in the cut bubble due to the Commanders making a roster overhaul and not playing in 2025 due to a torn pectoral muscle.
The Commanders signed edge rushers Andre Carter II, K’Lavon Chaisson, Charles Omenihu, and Odafe Oweh during the 2026 offseason, making competition more intense for Jean-Baptiste.
Not to mention, Jean-Baptiste has to compete with Dorance Armstrong, who is returning from a knee injury, and with rookie Joshua Josephs, who was brought in.
Jean-Baptiste has limited special teams, making it difficult to keep him on the roster.
On top of that, his stats from his two seasons with the Commanders have not been great, as he only has 19 tackles and two sacks so far in his career.
If Jean-Baptiste is cut by the Commanders before the start of the 2026 NFL season, edge rusher-needy teams like the Denver Broncos, Atlanta Falcons, or Arizona Cardinals would love to bring him in, as they benefit from cheap upside players.
