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Seahawks To Release WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling

August 26th, 2025 at 1:49pm CST by Adam La Rose

Marquez Valdes-Scantling is among the Seahawks’ cuts ahead of this afternoon’s deadline. The veteran wideout is being released, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports.

This move comes as little surprise considering the way Valdes-Scantling’s summer has gone. As ESPN’s Brady Henderson notes, the 30-year-old was outdone during training camp by fifth-round rookie Tory Horton. As a result, Horton is on track to operate as Seattle’s No. 3 receiver behind returnee Jaxon Smith-Njigba and free agent addition Cooper Kupp. Without a track record of special teams play, Valdes-Scantling is not a strong candidate for a backup gig.

Upon signing in Seattle, the former fifth-rounder took a one-year pact. The deal contained $3MM in guarantees, making this one of the more expensive cut decisions of the day so far. While the Seahawks will absorb that amount as a dead money hit, they will offset it to an extent with $955K in cap savings. The team will now move forward with its other WR options.

Changes at the receiver position were expected in 2025, and that proved to be the case. D.K. Metcalf‘s talks on an extension led to the decision a parting of ways would be be best, leading to his trade to the Steelers. Longtime starter Tyler Lockett was also released as expected. While a Kupp homecoming will give Seattle a veteran presence to augment Smith-Njigba, the Ohio State product will be counted on to carry the load this season. Horton’s role as a starter will be interesting to see as well.

Valdes-Scantling has played for four teams across his seven-year career. He has averaged 17.4 yards per catch in the NFL, and a market could exist for his services over the coming days amongst teams eyeing a vertical threat.

Falcons To Release CB C.J. Henderson

August 26th, 2025 at 1:38pm CST by Adam La Rose

After the joining the Falcons earlier this month, C.J. Henderson will not make the team’s initial 53-man roster. The former first-round cornerback is being released, NFL insider Jordan Schultz reports.

As Schultz notes, however, Atlanta is planning on retaining Henderson via the practice squad. For that to be possible, he will have to avoid signing with any interested teams upon reaching free agency once the Falcons’ cuts are official. Of course, agreements of that nature are commonplace around the NFL with respect to roster maneuvering.

Henderson had multiple suitors in 2025, including a new opportunity with the Steelers. The former Jaguar and Panther instead elected to return to the NFC South by joining the Falcons shortly after a workout with the team. The 26-year-old’s Atlanta pact did not contain any guaranteed money, however; as such, today’s move will not incur any dead money charges while creating $1.03MM in cap savings.

The No. 9 pick in 2020, Henderson was dealt from the Jags after playing only 10 games for them. His Carolina tenure saw him remain healthy for the most part, but struggles in coverage were a consistent issue. Finishing last season on injured reserve, he did not see any game time with Pittsburgh. That resulted in a tempered market despite his age and draft pedigree.

Provided Henderson winds up on Atlanta’s practice squad, he will offer depth behind starters AJ Terrell and Mike Hughes, returnees Dee Alford and Clark Phillips and fourth-round rookie Billy Bowman. Elevations to the active roster will mark his first opportunity to see regular season game time.

Cowboys To Trade T Asim Richards To Saints

August 26th, 2025 at 12:32pm CST by Adam La Rose

Tuesday’s third NFL trade will also be the third to involve an offensive tackle changing teams. Asim Richards is on the move.

Richards is being traded from the Cowboys to the Saints, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. The move will end his run in Dallas, which began in 2023 when he joined the team as a fifth-round pick. Over his two years in the league, Richards totaled 21 appearances and made one start. Per Schefter, the Cowboys will receive a 2028 sixth-round pick in exchange for Richards and a seventh-rounder that same year.

Healthy depth along the offensive line has recently emerged as an issue for the Saints. As a result, it comes as little surprise they are among the teams using the period before this afternoon’s cutdown deadline to make a move up front. New Orleans is in need of backups behind Kelvin Banks Jr. and Taliese Fuaga, so a swing tackle role could be in store for Richards.

The 24-year-old saw time as a guard during the preseason, so playing time along the interior could be possible as well. In any case, Richards will now turn his attention to carving out a second-team gig with the Saints instead of quite possibly being waived by the Cowboys later today. Dallas will generate $1.03MM in cap savings with this move, while New Orleans will take on the final two years of his rookie contract.

Dallas will move forward with Tyler Guyton and Terence Steele as starters at the tackle spots. The team’s depth chart beyond those two will become clearer over the coming days as the Cowboys’ practice squad takes shape. Today’s move ensures, though, that Richards will not be in the team’s plans for 2025.

Commanders To Release DE Clelin Ferrell

August 26th, 2025 at 11:31am CST by Sam Robinson

Re-signed in March, Clelin Ferrell will not be part of the Commanders’ initial 53-man roster. Washington is releasing the former top-five pick, veteran reporter Ben Standig tweets.

Ferrell played a key role for the team last season, starting 10 games. The 28-year-old DE will head back to free agency, getting a head-start on the non-vested veterans who must wait until 11am CT Wednesday to clear waivers.

Given a $2MM deal to stay in Washington, Ferrell received just $100K guaranteed. That represented a sign his roster spot was not secure. That said, the Commanders could circle back to the former Raiders and 49ers edge rusher after next month’s guarantee vesting date for qualified vets. Had Ferrell been on Washington’s 53-man roster in Week 1, his $2MM would have become guaranteed. It is also quite possible Ferrell is done in Washington.

Although the Commanders lost top 2024 sacker Dante Fowler (to the Cowboys) in free agency and exited their offseason program with an apparent need at D-end, they still roster Dorance Armstrong. The team added multiple DE pieces as well, with Von Miller‘s summer arrival headlining that group. The team also added Deatrich Wise and Jacob Martin in free agency.

As ESPN.com’s John Keim notes, the Commanders used Ferrell extensively during the preseason — including fourth-quarter work against the Bengals. That evaluation preceded a release, and it comes after Ferrell — who did not live up to his No. 4 overall draft slot with the Raiders — started 17 games with the 49ers in 2023. Ferrell started over Commanders trade pickup Chase Young that year, though an injury prevented him from playing in Super Bowl LVIII. Ferrell registered 3.5 sacks in both the 2023 and ’24 seasons. Last season, he posted nine QB hits and four tackles for loss as a supplementary rusher alongside Armstrong and Fowler.

Seahawks To Trade Michael Jerrell To Falcons

August 26th, 2025 at 11:11am CST by Sam Robinson

The Falcons lost Kaleb McGary and Storm Norton last week, and neither is expected to be available to start the season. As a result, Atlanta will add some help at tackle.

Michael Jerrell is heading from Seattle to Atlanta via trade, according to NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero. The Falcons are sending a conditional 2027 seventh-rounder to the Seahawks for Jerrell, who has three years remaining on his rookie contract.

A 2024 sixth-round pick, Jerrell was part of the Seahawks’ right tackle carousel last season. The Seahawks played much of the year without starter Abraham Lucas, and George Fant landed on IR twice. Stone Forsythe also spent time on IR, creating a depth problem opposite Charles Cross. As a result, Jerrell was summoned for three rookie-year starts. He played 245 offensive snaps last season — all at right tackle. That is the place at which the Falcons are currently reeling.

Norton is expected to miss between six and eight weeks, while McGary — after being carted off the practice field last week — is a candidate to open the season on IR. The Falcons had slid former Broncos swing tackle (turned Bears and Falcons guard option) Elijah Wilkinson back outside following the injuries. Jerrell will provide another option for the NFC South team, which employs one of the NFL’s two left-handed starting QBs, amplifying the importance of the RT spot.

The Seahawks drafted Jerrell 207th overall from Division II Findlay (Ohio). The long-odds prospect did enough to make the team and stick on Seattle’s active roster throughout last season. Lucas is back for the Seahawks, after two injury-marred years, and the team both added Josh Jones in free agency and used a sixth-round pick on tackle Bryce Cabeldue. Teams have until 3pm CT today to set 53-man rosters, and the Falcons will have another option as they potentially prepare for multiple tackle IR stashes.

Steelers To Release WR Robert Woods

August 26th, 2025 at 11:06am CST by Adam La Rose

As expected, Robert Woods is heading to free agency. The veteran wideout is among the Steelers’ Tuesday roster cuts, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports.

Last week, it became clear Woods was a candidate to be released. The 33-year-old has found himself buried on the WR depth chart in spite of persistent questions about Pittsburgh’s secondary options at the position. Per Rapoport, a return on the practice squad could be possible in this case.

In any event, Woods intends to continue his career in 2025. A veteran of 12 NFL seasons, he his far removed from his peak Rams seasons. The former second-rounder has seen his production drop for each of the past six campaigns, and he made just 20 scoreless catches last year with the Texans. His Pittsburgh pact came about as part of Woods’ efforts to earn a depth spot on his latest team.

That $2MM contract contained $745K guaranteed, so the Steelers will absorb that figure as a dead money charge. The team will create $1.26MM in cap savings, however. It will be interesting to see if that slight uptick in available funds will be put toward an addition at the receiver spot ahead of Week 1. Calvin Austin and Roman Wilson have been preparing for increased roles as complements to D.K. Metcalf this summer, but Pittsburgh has shown sustained interest in free agent Gabriel Davis.

A report from yesterday indicated the Steelers were among the teams still active in the WR trade market. Woods’ release should not notably alter the team’s plans on that front, so once the dust settles following final roster cuts Pittsburgh could still seek out a new pass-catching option.

Panthers To Release DT Shy Tuttle

August 26th, 2025 at 10:56am CST by Sam Robinson

Shy Tuttle found himself on Carolina’s roster bubble this month, moving there after a two-season run as a Panthers starter. But the team made significant investments at defensive tackle this offseason.

As a result, Tuttle is out. The Panthers are releasing the veteran D-lineman, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. With Carolina adding Tershawn Wharton and Bobby Brown in free agency, Tuttle will hit the market at an inopportune time.

The Panthers had aimed even higher at DT this offseason, making an aggressive pursuit of Milton Williams. While Carolina bowed out after New England swooped in with a monster offer, Wharton and Brown were each in PFR’s top 50 this year. The Panthers also have Derrick Brown returning after he missed almost all of the 2024 season.

Even with Carolina overhauling its DT corps from 2024, the team refrained from releasing Tuttle in the spring. But the Panthers did give the six-year veteran a pay cut. Tuttle had been on a three-year, $19.5MM deal — one agreed to in 2023, Ejiro Evero‘s first offseason as Panthers DC — but the 2025 reduction brought a one-year, $3MM arrangement ($450K guaranteed).

The Panthers have three void years on this contract, which will lead to a notable dead money charge. The Panthers will see $3.33MM in 2025 dead money, with another $3MM-plus being set to hit the books in 2026.

Tuttle, 29, has been a starter for the past four seasons. He worked alongside David Onyemata from 2021-22 with the Saints, who bid farewell to both DTs during the 2023 offseason. Tuttle cashed in via his Panthers agreement and started 32 games for the team over the past two seasons. He batted down eight passes in that span, giving him 19 for his career. Pro Football Focus, however, graded Tuttle 108th overall at the position — a bottom-15 mark among DT regulars — as the Panthers sunk to last place defensively.

Packers To Release WR Mecole Hardman

August 26th, 2025 at 10:28am CST by Sam Robinson

Mecole Hardman will not begin the season on Green Bay’s roster. The veteran receiver/returner is being released, NFL insider Jordan Schultz reports.

Even with Christian Watson set for the reserve/PUP list, Green Bay had assembled a deep group of wide receivers after using first- and third-round picks to address the position. This left Hardman in an uncertain spot, and the former Super Bowl hero will be jettisoned months after signing with the Packers.

Hardman has been unable to stick anywhere but Kansas City. The Jets cut bait on their free agency deal months after authorizing it, sending Hardman back to the Chiefs in a pick-swap deal. That set up Hardman to play a key role down the stretch with Kansas City, and he memorably snagged Patrick Mahomes‘ game-winning offering to secure the Chiefs a second straight Super Bowl title. But minimal free agency interest followed, leading Hardman to a one-year, $1.13MM Chiefs deal in 2024.

The Packers gave Hardman a one-year, $1.5MM deal that included $150K guaranteed. Green Bay will only be responsible for that $150K in dead money via this release. Hardman, 27, will head straight to free agency. It is possible Hardman could stay in Green Bay on a practice squad deal, but that remains to be seen. The Packers have a crowded depth chart at WR – to the point Bo Melton switched positions (to cornerback).

The team returns Jayden Reed, Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks. Rookies Matthew Golden and Savion Williams supplemented that duo in the draft, giving the Pack an array of options while Watson recovers from a Week 18 ACL tear. Watson is expected to be activated around midseason.

Hardman’s best path to a Packers role came in the return game, as the former second-round pick has an All-Pro honor (as a kick returner) on his resume. For the most part, however, Hardman’s return-game work has come on punts. He would remain an intriguing option in that capacity, at the very least, upon returning to free agency.

Adam La Rose contributed to this post.

Texans To Release CB Arthur Maulet, LB Nick Niemann

August 26th, 2025 at 10:03am CST by Adam La Rose

Arthur Maulet joined the Texans in search of at least a depth role in the team’s secondary, but that has not panned out. The veteran slot corner is among Houston’s roster cuts, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson reports.

Linebacker Nick Niemann is also being released, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports. The special teams ace took a two-year Houston pact this spring which included $4MM in total guarantees. Part of that figure will be offset once a new team adds him, but the Texans will absorb a $3.25MM dead money charge in 2025 as a result of this move.

Maulet spent the 2023 and ’24 campaigns in Baltimore. When healthy, he enjoyed a strong run as the team’s top slot corner. Injuries limited the 32-year-old to just three games last season, however, something which hurt his market. Maulet signed roughly one month ago in a bid to carve out a defensive gig in Houston.

The Texans are set along the perimeter with Derek Stingley Jr. and Kamari Lassiter, but the Maulet signing came about after Ronald Darby‘s retirement. That appeared to open the door to another veteran earning a spot, and Wilson notes Maulet fared well during training camp and the preseason. Barring a practice squad agreement being worked out in the next day or so, a fresh start will be needed in his case.

Niemann played out his rookie contract with the Chargers, totaling 64 games along the way. The 27-year-old only made three starts on defense, but he racked up nearly 1,300 snaps on special teams. That third phase track record should lead to interest from outside suitors as he reaches free agency late in the summer.

Patriots To Release S Marcus Epps

August 26th, 2025 at 9:56am CST by Sam Robinson

The safety position in New England has brought some changes, to the point Kyle Dugger could be on the move barely a year after his big-ticket extension. Another veteran piece will not stick under a new coaching staff.

New England is releasing Marcus Epps, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero reports. Epps did not catch on during Mike Vrabel‘s first offseason in charge. The former Eagles and Raiders starter, who signed with the team this offseason, will head straight to free agency as a vested veteran. Epps requested the release, per the Boston Herald’s Doug Kyed.

The Pats gave Epps a one-year, $2.03MM deal; they will eat the $500K guarantee as dead money. Epps is coming off an injury-marred 2024, having suffered an ACL tear in Week 3 of last season. Epps did not require a stay on the Pats’ active/PUP list, however, and Pelissero adds the veteran wanted a fresh start. It should be expected he will land elsewhere soon, though the former Super Bowl LVII starter has lost momentum since signing a two-year, $12MM Raiders deal in 2023.

Dugger’s move to the trade block comes as the Patriots are prepared to use Jabrill Peppers and Jaylinn Hawkins as starters at safety. While it represents an about-face for the team on Dugger, Epps only spent a few months in Foxborough. The 29-year-old veteran will look to land with a fifth NFL team.

The Vikings chose Epps in the 2019 sixth round, but he did not finish that season in Minnesota. The Eagles developed Epps into a starting safety but disbanded their Super Bowl LVII tandem (Epps, C.J. Gardner-Johnson) in 2023, seeing Gardner-Johnson join the Lions days after Epps signed with the Raiders. Epps started 17 Las Vegas games in 2023 before going down three games into his follow-up season.

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