Minor NFL Transactions: 12/20/25
Here are Saturday’s minor moves around the NFL, including gameday elevations for tomorrow’s Week 16 slate:
Arizona Cardinals
- Elevated: CB Jaden Davis, WR Steven Sims
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed from practice squad: CB C.J. Henderson
- Waived: WR/KR Jamal Agnew
- Elevated: WR Chris Blair, OLB Khalid Kareem
Baltimore Ravens
- Elevated: DT Josh Tupou, LB William Kwenkeu
- Placed on IR: LB Teddye Buchanan (story)
Buffalo Bills
- Activated from IR: WR Mecole Hardman
- Elevated: K Michael Badgley, DE Andre Jones Jr.
Carolina Panthers
- Elevated: LB Isaiah Simmons, OL Saahdiq Charles
Cincinnati Bengals
- Elevated: DT Howard Cross, CB Bralyn Lux
Dallas Cowboys
- Elevated: CB Corey Ballentine
Denver Broncos
- Elevated: QB Sam Ehlinger, S Delarrin Turner-Yell
Detroit Lions
- Elevated: OL Kingsley Eguakun, TE Giovanni Ricci
Houston Texans
- Elevated: DT Marlon Davidson, CB Alijah Huzzie
Los Angeles Chargers
- Elevated: S Marcus Williams, G Branson Taylor
Miami Dolphins
- Signed from practice squad: CB Ethan Robinson
- Placed on IR: DB Elijah Campbell
- Elevated: OL Kion Smith, WR Theo Wease
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed from practice squad: CB Dwight McGlothern
- Elevated: LB Sione Takitaki
New York Giants
- DT Elijah Chatman, K Ben Sauls
New York Jets
- Elevated: DB Tre Brown
New Orleans Saints
- Elevated: T Easton Kilty, TE Moliki Matavao
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Elevated: CB Daryl Porter Jr., T Jack Driscoll
San Francisco 49ers
- Placed on IR: LB Nick Martin
Tennessee Titans
- Signed from practice squad: DT Cam Horsley
- Waived: DT Shy Tuttle
- Elevated: CB Kamon Hall
Agnew’s time in Atlanta has come to an end after 11 appearances with his third career team. The veteran did not see any usage on offense, but he handled 45 total returns between kickoffs and punts this season. Agnew totaled 855 yards in that capacity, but he will now hit the waiver wire. Provided he clears, the 30-year-old will become a free agent.
The same is true of Tuttle. A veteran of 105 games, he has made just one start so far this season. Tuttle has only handled a 25% snap share on defense, so he is unlikely to generate much interest as a free agent. Nevertheless, a depth role could await him on a contender down the stretch.
Dolphins Coveted Joe Burrow In 2020, Offered Bengals Four First-Rounders For No. 1 Pick
The Dolphins entered the 2020 NFL Draft in need of a franchise quarterback. Joe Burrow headlined the class after a national championship- and Heisman Trophy-winning season at LSU in 2019. With Burrow coming off an incredible 60-touchdown campaign, the Dolphins showed interest in moving up from the fifth spot to land him. However, the Bengals stayed put at No. 1 and selected Burrow.
Four picks after Burrow went off the board, the Dolphins settled for former Alabama signal-caller Tua Tagovailoa. It turns out they were extremely aggressive in trying to nab Burrow first.
Armed with three first-rounders in 2020 and another two in 2021, the Dolphins offered the Bengals a package of four firsts for the No. 1 pick, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports. They’d have drafted Burrow had Cincinnati signed off on the trade. However, the Bengals were committed enough to Burrow that they didn’t entertain the proposal, according to Schefter.
A half-decade later, Tagovailoa’s tenure in Miami may be on the verge of ending. The 27-year-old had success earlier in his career, even earning a four-year, $212.4MM extension in July 2024, but he’ll serve in a third-string role against the Burrow-led Bengals on Sunday. Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel decided earlier this week to bench Tagovailoa for seventh-round rookie Quinn Ewers.
Even though Tagovailoa’s owed a guaranteed $54MM in 2026, Miami is “prepared” to cut ties with him in the offseason, per Schefter. The Dolphins will likely part with him before $3MM of his 2027 salary becomes guaranteed on March 15.
Schefter points to the possibility of a trade in which the Dolphins offer a team draft compensation and pay “a heavy portion” of Tagovailoa’s contract. Tagovailoa would have to take a pay cut to facilitate a trade, notes Schefter, who adds it’s likely he’d have a say in where he goes next.
If the Dolphins are unable to execute a trade, it seems they’ll release Tagovailoa at the cost of a record $99MM in dead money. They’d spread that total over two seasons, leaving Tagovailoa to search for another team on the open market.
Like Tagovailoa, Burrow earned a massive raise earlier in his career. The Bengals gave him a five-year, $275MM extension in September 2023. Burrow, who nearly lead the Bengals to a win over the Rams in Super Bowl LVI, was coming off back-to-back AFC Championship Game appearances at the time.
The Bengals haven’t returned to the playoffs since they locked up Burrow, though the two-time Pro Bowler remains among the league’s premier passers when healthy. Injuries have been a frequent occurrence during his career, however, including a nine-game absence this year. He returned from a toe injury in Week 13, but with two losses in three games since then, the Bengals are 4-10 and out of contention.
While Burrow is frustrated with the Bengals’ struggles, it doesn’t appear he’ll join Tagovailoa on the market of available QBs in the offseason. Burrow expects to remain in Cincinnati in 2026.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/19/25
Here are Friday’s minor moves from around the NFL:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: S Jammie Robinson
- Placed on IR: WR KhaDarel Hodge
Buffalo Bills
- Placed on IR: OL Chase Lundt
Cincinnati Bengals
- Placed on IR: DT Kris Jenkins Jr.
Green Bay Packers
- Activated from IR: DL Brenton Cox Jr.
- Placed on IR: RB MarShawn Lloyd (story)
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Designated for return from IR: LB Jalen McLeod
Las Vegas Raiders
- Claimed off waivers (from Steelers): DT Brodric Martin
- Waived: DE Jahfari Harvey
New Orleans Saints
- Signed to active roster: K Charlie Smyth
- Placed on IR: WR Devaughn Vele
Philadelphia Eagles
- Elevated: TE E.J. Jenkins, CB Brandon Johnson
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed to active roster: S J.T. Gray
- Waived: LB Nick Jackson
Washington Commanders
- Elevated: TE Lawrence Cager
Cox will give the Packers another pass-rushing option after they lost superstar Micah Parsons to a season-ending ACL tear in Week 15. An undrafted pickup in 2023, Cox impressed last season with five tackles for loss, four sacks, and a forced fumble in just seven games. However, he hasn’t factored in this year after suffering a groin injury in the Packers’ season-opening loss to the Lions. Now returning from a 13-game absence, Cox could have an opportunity to make an impact down the stretch.
Vele, a seventh-round pick a year ago, racked up 41 catches, 475 yards, and three touchdowns during a 13-game rookie season in Denver. The Broncos sold high on the 6-foot-5, 210-pounder in late August, shipping him to the Saints for a 2026 fourth-rounder and a 2027 seventh-rounder.
Vele, who’s now dealing with a shoulder injury, will wrap up his first season in New Orleans with 25 receptions, 293 yards, and two scores in 13 contests. While those are underwhelming numbers, Vele was far more productive in recent weeks. He combined for 19 grabs, 239 yards, and a TD in his last four games of the year.
Bengals, Trey Hendrickson Headed For Offseason Split?
Having undergone core muscle surgery earlier this month, Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson will not return in 2025. Hendrickson hasn’t taken the field since a Week 8 loss to the Jets. With a trip to free agency looming in the offseason, Hendrickson has likely played his last game with the organization, according to Albert Breer of SI.com.
Hendrickson spent the first four seasons of his career with the Saints before exiting in free agency for the Bengals’ four-year, $60MM offer March 2021. The former third-round pick from Florida Atlantic scored that payday on the heels of a breakout season in which he tallied 13.5 sacks. Looking back, that was the beginning of a years-long run of elite production.
Since leaving New Orleans for Cincinnati, Hendrickson has collected 61 sacks – including a league-best 35 from 2023-24 – in 72 games. Hendrickson made the Pro Bowl in each of his first four years as a Bengal. He also helped the Bengals to a pair of AFC title games and a Super Bowl appearance in his first two years in their uniform.
The Bengals awarded Hendrickson a one-year extension entering 2023, keeping him under wraps through this season, but that wasn’t the last transaction between the two. Hendrickson sought a new multiyear pact after last season, though he reportedly turned down a three-year, $95MM offer. The Bengals’ rejected proposal did not include any guaranteed money after the first year of the deal.
After a drawn-out battle, the Bengals and Hendrickson finally agreed to a revised contract for this season in late August. Hendrickson had been in line to earn $16MM, but Cincinnati almost doubled that amount in raising his salary to $30MM. Frustration increased on both sides during negotiations, per Breer. The Bengals were sick of the “drama” surrounding Hendrickson, who was “tired of having to fight for a contract correction,” Breer writes.
With Hendrickson having made his final appearance of the season on Oct. 26, it’s fair to say the Bengals’ investment didn’t turn out as hoped. The 31-year-old remained a formidable pass-rushing presence with 23 pressures and four sacks in seven games, but his long-term absence has contributed to a miserable campaign for the Bengals. At 4-10, they’re assured of missing the playoffs for the third year in a row.
Regardless of whether de facto general manager Duke Tobin stays in place, deciding how to proceed with Hendrickson will again be a key offseason task for the organization. If a multiyear arrangement isn’t in store, the Bengals could slap the $35MM franchise tag on Hendrickson and either keep him for another season or flip him elsewhere. Hendrickson drew plenty of interest leading up to the Nov. 4 trade deadline, but nobody bit on the Bengals’ asking price of a second-round pick. He’s still a Bengal a month and a half later, though it appears their relationship is nearing an end.
Bengals To Activate Shemar Stewart From IR
While the Bengals are already eliminated from postseason contention, the team will be getting some defensive reinforcement for the stretch run. According to ESPN’s Ben Baby, defensive end Shemar Stewart will be activated from injured reserve for this weekend’s game against the Dolphins.
[RELATED: Bengals Designate Shemar Stewart To Return From IR]
Stewart returned to practice earlier this month but wasn’t activated in time for Week 15. The first-round pick apparently made enough progress at practice over the past few days to earn his activation from injured reserve.
The defensive end suffered a knee injury back in Week 9 that ended up shelving him for more than a month. According to Baby, Stewart suffered a torn PCL, although it wasn’t severe enough to require surgery. The Texas A&M product’s rookie campaign has been derailed by injuries. He missed a chunk of games early in the season thanks to an ankle sprain, and after returning for three contests, he was sidelined again with the PCL injury.
This has been a tumultuous season overall for Stewart, who was engaged in a publicized dispute over his rookie contract that kept him off the field for offseason workouts and the first week of training camp. Considered a raw prospect coming out of college, the absences have had a natural impact on the player’s on-field performance. In five games this season, Stewart has been limited to only six stops and a QB hit. Still, the edge rusher is confident he can make a mark on the organization before the 2025 campaign is through.
“I just want to go out there and make an impact — whether it’s doing my job or all the extraordinary stats,” Stewart said today (via Baby).
The Bengals have been without Trey Hendrickson for the past month-plus, opening the door for Joseph Ossai and Myles Murphy to earn the bulk of the snaps at defensive end. That duo will likely continue to lead the depth chart even with Stewart back on the field, but the rookie should earn more than a cameo on defense over the season’s final few weeks.
QB Joe Burrow Expects To Remain With Bengals For 2026
Comments made by Joe Burrow prior to Week 15 fueled a new round of speculation regarding his future. The sixth-year quarterback is not retiring any time soon, and a change in teams (unlikely as that would seem) should also not be expected. 
Burrow will continue playing for the final three games of the season even though the 4-10 Bengals are officially out of playoff contention. The two-time Pro Bowler could have been shut down to ensure he would remain healthy for the start of the 2026 campaign. Instead, Burrow will look to end the year on a high note amidst questions on the matter of his long-term outlook.
“It feels like everybody’s trying to do everything in their power to make me not play football and I feel like I’m fighting it,” he said (via ESPN’s Ben Baby). “I’m fighting everybody else. I just want to play ball. That’s all I want to do.”
Burrow is under contract through 2029, and his deal contains a no-trade clause. The thought of a swap would generally be a non-starter based on the $55MM AAV of Burrow’s pact, let alone his stated desire to remain in place. The 29-year-old has enjoyed success when healthy at times in his career – highlighted of course be a trip to the Super Bowl in 2021 – but injuries have marred his NFL tenure. Cincinnati is set to miss the playoffs for a third straight season, and it remains to be seen if major organizational changes will be coming.
It appears at this point as though head coach Zac Taylor and de facto general manager Duke Tobin will be safe for next year. Burrow is also in line to continue his Cincinnati tenure, and to no surprise he said he “can’t see” a scenario in which he plays elsewhere next season. The former No. 1 pick added, however, that “a lot of crazy things happen every year” in the NFL with respect to player movement.
Burrow cited this year’s Micah Parsons blockbuster as a recent example of unexpected trades taking place. The LSU product has remained consistent in terms of endorsing Taylor and Tobin, although he replied, “you think about a lot of things” when asked about the possibility of playing for a different team at some point in his career. Questions about a potential Burrow departure could continue beyond 2026 depending on how things play out.
For now, though, Burrow’s attention will be focused on ending the current season without hindering his availability for Week 1 next year. He reiterated his expectation of enjoying a long NFL career, and while the door could be open for a parting of ways down the road that will in all likelihood see him remain in Cincinnati for at least 2026.
2025 NFL Dead Money, By Team
As we head toward the playoffs, three NFL teams are carrying more than $100MM in dead money. That represents more than a third of the salary cap. The 49ers are also on track to make the playoffs with more than $100MM allocated to players no longer on their 53-man roster. Here is where the 32 teams stand for dead money (via OverTheCap) with three weeks left in the regular season:
- New Orleans Saints: $107.83MM
- San Francisco 49ers: $103.77MM
- New York Jets: $102.1MM
- Las Vegas Raiders: $87.79MM
- Philadelphia Eagles: $87.27MM
- Seattle Seahawks: $86.1MM
- Jacksonville Jaguars: $85.49MM
- Cleveland Browns: $83.22MM
- Miami Dolphins: $72.45MM
- Houston Texans: $66.44MM
- Tennessee Titans: $59.42MM
- Green Bay Packers: $57.98MM
- Los Angeles Rams: $56.23MM
- New England Patriots: $50.56MM
- Denver Broncos: $42.78MM
- Dallas Cowboys: $41.34MM
- Detroit Lions: $40.71MM
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: $40.39MM
- Los Angeles Chargers: $38.78MM
- Baltimore Ravens: $38.38MM
- Buffalo Bills: $37.58MM
- Carolina Panthers: $36.55MM
- New York Giants: $33.74MM
- Pittsburgh Steelers: $33.7MM
- Minnesota Vikings: $30.6MM
- Washington Commanders: $27.29MM
- Atlanta Falcons: $27MM
- Cincinnati Bengals: $20.99MM
- Kansas City Chiefs: $20.33MM
- Indianapolis Colts: $17.37MM
- Arizona Cardinals: $16.51MM
- Chicago Bears: $8.6MM
The $100MM trio dwarfs last year’s leaders — the Broncos — in this unwanted area. The Saints began taking some overdue medicine for their cap-gymnastics past by trading Marshon Lattimore last year. That move coming after June 1 pushed $31.67MM onto New Orleans’ 2025 cap sheet. Derek Carr also counts $19.2MM on this year’s Saints cap, while Ryan Ramczyk‘s retirement covers more than $11MM.
The Carr punishment covers $55.88MM in total, meaning nearly $37MM from the QB’s retirement will land on New Orleans’ 2026 payroll. Mickey Loomis‘ spree of restructures on that contract created that inflated figure.
Deebo Samuel brought a receiver-record dead money total to the 49ers, who absorbed $34.12MM by trading the seventh-year veteran in March. The second leg of the post-June 1 Arik Armstead transaction from 2024 created a $15MM dead cap hit this year, with void years on Charvarius Ward‘s deal covering more than $12MM.
Gang Green took on barely $20MM combined from the Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams trades and will do the same next year, reflecting the low signing bonus figure on the Gardner extension. The Jets, though, have taken $56MM in total from the Aaron Rodgers release ($21MM this year, $35MM next). That is the second-highest total dead cap hit in NFL history.
The team that authorized the highest dead money sum in league annals — Denver, via the 2024 Russell Wilson release — is still carrying $32MM on that contract. It comes off the books next year, and the Broncos do not have any other player counting more than $3MM in dead cap on their 2025 payroll.
The Eagles and Seahawks are also moving toward the playoffs with higher dead money counts compared to the 2024 Broncos, though it should be noted the cap’s $24MM increase from last year plays into this. Philadelphia is still carrying a combined $26MM from the 2024 Jason Kelce and Fletcher Cox retirements. Josh Sweat void years also comprise $16.44MM of this year’s cap. The Seahawks’ D.K. Metcalf trade brought $21MM in dead cap, while Geno Smith, Tyler Lockett and Dre’Mont Jones combine to cover more than $41MM in dead money.
Amari Cooper and Za’Darius Smith‘s 2024 Cleveland exits via trade tagged the Browns with more than $36MM in dead money together, while the Dolphins are dealing with more than $30MM combined from the post-June 1 designations on Xavien Howard and Jalen Ramsey. The latter counts $15.7MM in dead money this year and $20.9MM in 2026. That eclipses Lattimore’s defender-record total for dead cap.
Bengals’ Duke Tobin Not On Hot Seat; Zac Taylor Likely To Be Retained For 2026
The Bengals have plunged into an ignominious place, being set to miss three straight playoff brackets in Joe Burrow‘s 20s. The team’s status received additional scrutiny after some puzzling comments from the superstar quarterback last week. Although Burrow attempted to clarify the disillusionment he expressed was not directed at the Bengals, antennae around the NFL sprang up after the press conference.
Sitting 4-10, the Bengals have regressed considerably from a 2024 season that featured a woeful defense deny Burrow playoff access after an MVP-caliber season. Cincinnati’s defense has dipped from 2024, as Trey Hendrickson has missed much of this season with a hip injury. For most franchises, a housecleaning would be considered. But the Bengals do not operate like most clubs.
While rumblings about de facto GM Duke Tobin‘s job security emerged midway through this season, The Athletic’s Paul Dehner Jr. counters by noting the executive VP is not going anywhere. The Bengals view Tobin “like family,” per Dehner.
Tobin, 55, has been with the Bengals since 1999. The team did not win a playoff game for 20-plus years into Tobin’s stay with the team. In most cases, the person in the GM seat would have been fired long ago. But the Bengals have kept Tobin around; success during the Burrow era followed, but the team is certainly in a rut.
Hired in 2019, Taylor will end this season 2-for-7 in playoff qualification. Burrow injuries have defined much of Taylor’s tenure, however, and the team made back-to-back AFC championship game berths for the first time in franchise history on the current HC’s watch. This included a narrow Super Bowl LVI defeat. Since the Bengals’ 2022 AFC title game loss to the Chiefs, they are 22-26. Like Tobin, however, Taylor should be viewed as likely to remain in his post beyond this season, per Dehner.
Taylor’s extension carries two more years, as Dehner adds the contract runs through the 2027 season instead of 2026. The sides agreed on a five-year extension in 2022, but Dehner notes the parties huddled up again on an amended deal following the 2022 slate; this tacked on a year to the previous agreement. That additional bump could prove to be significant regarding Taylor’s future.
When the Bengals last made a coaching change, Marvin Lewis coached a lame-duck season. This left no guaranteed money for the longtime HC, giving the Bengals a clean out after the 2018 season. Most teams do not proceed this way, but the Bengals certainly have a reputation for thriftiness under Brown. Firing Taylor with two seasons left on his deal would be out of character, though it would stand to reason the HC’s seat would be reasonably warm come 2026.
Burrow lobbied aggressively for the Bengals to retain Tee Higgins and then stumped for a Hendrickson payday. Hendrickson is on track for free agency, seeing his extension push fail when the Bengals refused to include guaranteed salary beyond Year 1 of a new deal. His raise has led to a seven-game season; the Pro Bowl pass rusher is now on season-ending IR. Higgins has played well when healthy, though he has sustained two concussions this season. It will be interesting to see if Burrow pushes for any additional moves, as many roster updates will be required after this wildly disappointing season.
Additionally, Dehner notes DC Al Golden is more likely to stay than go in 2026. Although DVOA had Golden’s defense ranked as the worst in NFL history through 10 weeks, the Bengals have shown some improvement recently.
The team ranked last in EPA per drive and points allowed per drive before its bye week; it is now 23rd and 19th in those categories, respectively, since. Those are not exactly impressive statistics, but the Bengals have employed Golden on multiple occasions. The former Notre Dame staffer is likely to be given a chance to repair the unit in 2026.
A stay-the-course path certainly will be risky for the Bengals, who have seen some prime Burrow years squandered due to injuries, poor defensive performance and slow starts. It will be interesting to see if any real chatter about Burrow visiting the Carson Palmer playbook surfaces. For the time being, the high-end QB is not taking any aggressive tactics with regard to his Cincinnati status. He will also keep playing despite Cincy’s playoff elimination, even as yet another season of his became defined by injury (this one turf toe). But plenty of heat will be on the Bengals’ top decision-makers coming out of this double-digit loss season.
NFL Minor Transactions: 12/16/25
Here are Tuesday’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed to active roster: WR Jalen Brooks
Cincinnati Bengals
- Claimed off waivers (from Steelers): WR Ke’Shawn Williams
Houston Texans
- Signed to active roster: RB Jawhar Jordan
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed off Panthers’ practice squad: RB DeeJay Dallas
- Opened practice window: LB Jalen McLeod
- Placed on IR: LB Jack Kiser
Las Vegas Raiders
- Waived: DT Leki Fotu
New England Patriots
- Signed off Colts’ practice squad: LB Chad Muma
New York Jets
- Signed to active roster: S Jarius Monroe
Seattle Seahawks
- Waived: S D’Anthony Bell
Tennessee Titans
- Claimed off waivers (from Browns): G Garrett Dellinger
A steady presence in Arizona a couple years ago, Fotu started four of six game appearances for the Raiders this year. The occasional starts were not indicative of his true usage, though, as he hasn’t gotten consistent time on the field for Las Vegas in 2025. The Raiders will move on from the veteran as they shift focus in a lost season towards evaluating young talent with more gametime.
As a practice squad elevation this weekend, Jordan became the first Texans running back to eclipse the century mark in a game this year. Houston wasted little time in returning him to the active roster
Updated 2026 NFL Draft Order
Sunday’s action provided more clarity on a number of fronts relating to the playoff pushes in each conference. The list of teams still in contention for the top pick in the 2026 draft remains long, however.
Week 15 saw the Broncos and Rams clinch a postseason berth. Meanwhile, the Chiefs, Bengals and Vikings have each officially been eliminated from the playoffs. They will join the group of teams turning their attention to offseason planning. That of course includes extensive evaluation of the top prospects in this year’s class; several have already turned pro (with some exceptions).
Sunday’s results mean there are nine teams with two, three or four wins. Each of them remain candidates to secure the No. 1 selection, although victories by the Saints and Commanders yesterday will greatly hinder their chances of moving to the top of the order. Jockeying amongst teams like the Raiders, Jets and Cardinals (each on track to pursue a new quarterback this spring) will be a storyline worth following closely down the stretch.
For non-playoff teams, the draft order is determined by the inverted 2025 standings plus a series of tiebreakers, starting with strength of schedule. Playoff squads are slotted by their postseason outcome and the reverse order of their regular season record.
Here is an updated look at the first-round order:
- New York Giants (2-12)
- Las Vegas Raiders (2-12)
- Tennessee Titans (2-12)
- Cleveland Browns (3-11)
- New York Jets (3-11)
- Arizona Cardinals (3-11)
- New Orleans Saints (4-10)
- Washington Commanders (4-10)
- Cincinnati Bengals (4-10)
- Los Angeles Rams (via Falcons)
- Miami Dolphins (6-8)
- Kansas City Chiefs (6-8)
- Minnesota Vikings (6-8)
- Dallas Cowboys (6-7-1)
- Baltimore Ravens (7-7)
- Carolina Panthers (7-7)
- Detroit Lions (8-6)
- New York Jets (via Colts)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-7)
- Pittsburgh Steelers (8-6)
- Philadelphia Eagles (9-5)
- Houston Texans (9-5)
- Dallas Cowboys (via Packers)
- Buffalo Bills (10-4)
- Chicago Bears (10-4)
- Los Angeles Chargers (10-4)
- San Francisco 49ers (10-4)
- Cleveland Browns (via Jaguars)
- New England Patriots (11-3)
- Seattle Seahawks (11-3)
- Los Angeles Rams (11-3)
- Denver Broncos (12-2)