Breaking Down the Biggest Names on the Roster Bubble
We're now just a little over a week away from the start of the 2016 NFL season. Three weeks of preseason have passed, and the fourth and final week of preseason is directly ahead.
Of course, this also means that final roster cuts are right around the corner. By 4 p.m. ET on Saturday, teams will have to cut down to the 53-player limit. This means that several players who have survived on rosters to this point will be getting their walking papers.
Many of those who will be sent packing during final cuts are notable players.
Let's take a look at some of the biggest names out there who find themselves on the roster bubble heading into the final week of preseason action. We'll focus on notable veterans and recent high draft picks who could be out of a job once final cuts roll around. We'll base our choices on factors such as player expectations, preseason performances, contract terms and positional competition.
Aaron Dobson, WR, New England Patriots
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The New England Patriots made former Marshall receiver Aaron Dobson a second-round draft pick back in 2013. Unfortunately, the team has only gotten mixed results from their investment.
Through three NFL seasons, Dobson has produced just 53 receptions, 698 yards and four touchdowns. According to Albert Breer of TheMMQB.com, the Patriots are now looking to trade Dobson. This is a strong sign that Dobson's time in New England is up.
Even if the Patriots cannot find a trade partner for Dobson, it seems unlikely that he'll make the final roster. The team added receivers such as Nate Washington and Chris Hogan in the offseason, likely in part looking to replace Dobson. Though Washington has since been released, Hogan remains and will likely be part of the main lineup alongside receivers Julian Edelman and Danny Amendola.
Dobson has been little more than a project receiver during his time with the Patriots, and it doesn't seem like the team has room for him moving forward.
Andrew Hawkins, WR, Cleveland Browns
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Cleveland Browns wide receiver Andrew Hawkins has, at times, looked like one of the shiftiest players in the entire NFL. He is a five-year veteran who produced a 63-catch, 824-yard season just two years ago and who has ties to new Browns head coach Hue Jackson.
However, there's a good chance that Hawkins will be sitting on the edge of the roster bubble come cut-down day. The 5'7", 180-pound pass-catcher is 30 years old and has had trouble staying healthy in the past. Concussions limited him to just eight games last season, and Hawkins has missed two of his three preseason games this year.
In the end, Hawkins could find himself a casualty of Cleveland's youth movement.
The Browns have parted ways with several notable veterans this offseason, pass-rusher Paul Kruger being the latest example. It seems that the Browns view Josh Gordon, Corey Coleman and Terrelle Pryor as their receiver trio of the future, and the team drafted four wideouts—including Coleman—this offseason.
Hawkins simply might not be in the team's future plans, and with a base salary of $1 million this season, he may be viewed as expendable.
Ronnie Hillman, RB, Denver Broncos
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Running back Ronnie Hillman helped the Denver Broncos capture the Lombardi Trophy last season, and the team decided to bring him back on a one-year, $2 million deal. However, there's a strong chance that the team could decide to move on without him.
Denver selected former Utah running back Devontae Booker in the fourth round of this year's draft, and it's looking like he and C.J. Anderson will be the team's top two backs heading into the regular season. This leaves Hillman fighting for a roster spot.
"I’ve still got to go out and prove I can still play and make the team, but I just came here with the mindset of I’ve got to make it hard on the coaches," Hillman said, per Cameron Wolfe of the Denver Post. "If I make it hard on the coaches, then I did my job. I had a few runs, so hopefully I gave them a of couple things to think about."
Hillman is likely battling with Kapri Bibbs to be Denver's No. 3 back. The team's final decision could be determined by salary, in which case Hillman would be gone.
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Colin Kaepernick, QB, San Francisco 49ers
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San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick recently thrust himself into the spotlight with his stance on the national anthem. However, if the 49ers are going to part ways with the former Nevada standout, it will be because of football reasons, not controversy.
Simply put, Kaepernick has fallen from the ranks of the young up-and-comers to the depths of once-strong signal-callers. He was benched in favor of Blaine Gabbert last season and has missed the majority of the offseason after undergoing a series of surgeries.
Kaepernick made his preseason debut last week against the Green Bay Packers, but he went just 2-of-6 for 14 yards.
No, that isn't good.
The 49ers may keep Kaepernick because his 2016 base salary of $11.9 million is fully guaranteed. However, if the team releases him and another team signs him, San Francisco could save whatever that new team is paying Kaepernick.
Another reason to potentially part ways with Kaepernick is the fact that an injury on the game or practice field could force the team to pay guaranteed portions of his future salary.
Gosder Cherilus, OL, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
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If the name Gosder Cherilus rings a bell, it's probably because he was a first-round pick of the Detroit Lions back in 2008. Though Cherilus has put together a relatively long NFL career, he hasn't always been a standout player.
Cherilus is entering the final season of a two-year deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and the offensive tackle's salary is likely why he could be fighting for a job. Cherilus is due to earn $3 million in base salary this season.
If Cherilus was playing at a high level, $3 million wouldn't be a big deal. He isn't, however, and he rates just 164th overall among offensive tackles for the preseason so far, according to Pro Football Focus.
Unless the Buccaneers feel that Cherilus is worth starting, he's firmly on the roster bubble. It just doesn't make a ton of sense to pay $3 million to a subpar backup lineman. If the Buccaneers do feel that Cherilus is worth putting in the starting lineup, it doesn't speak highly of the depth along the line.
Bishop Sankey, RB, Tennessee Titans
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The Tennessee Titans made former Washington running back Bishop Sankey the first running back taken in the 2014 draft (No. 54 overall). Unfortunately, Sankey has mostly been a disappointment in the two years since.
Sankey has just 762 yards rushing in his two pro seasons and has averaged 3.8 yards per carry. Last year, he lost his starting job to Antonio Andrews.
Tennessee re-signed Andrews to a one-year deal this offseason, traded for DeMarco Murray and drafted reigning Heisman Trophy winner Derrick Henry. Murray and Henry are expected to be the team's top two backs this season, which likely leaves Andrews, Sankey and Dexter McCluster vying for a role.
Sankey is due to earn just over $1.7 million in base salary over the next two seasons. Andrews has a base salary of $600,000 this year. Financially, it makes more sense to release Sankey than to keep him buried on a deep depth chart.
Arthur Brown, LB, Baltimore Ravens
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Former Kansas State linebacker Arthur Brown was selected in the second round of the 2013 draft by the Baltimore Ravens. He was expected to bring a playmaking presence to the inside linebacker spot in the team's 3-4 base defense, but Brown has struggled to find a significant role on the team.
Through three seasons, he has appeared in 34 games but has just 17 total tackles and a half sack on his resume. Much of Brown's work has come on special teams, something the linebacker had hoped to change this season.
“I came here to play, not only on special teams but as a linebacker,” Brown said earlier this offseason, per Ryan Mink of the team's official website.. “I’m itching to get out there and be able to showcase and contribute to the team on a defensive level.”
Brown, though, may be out of chances to prove his worth with the defense. Pro Football Focus rates him third among Ravens inside linebacker for the preseason so far.
Baltimore could save nearly $900,000 in base salary by releasing Brown before the start of the regular season.
Ego Ferguson, DL, Chicago Bears
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The Chicago Bears selected defensive lineman Ego Ferguson in the second round of the 2014 draft. Now, just over two years later, the LSU product finds himself battling to make the final roster.
Ferguson hasn't been a regular contributor in his two seasons with the Bears, amassing just 26 tackles and two sacks during that span. His 2015 season ended prematurely because of a knee injury, and Ferguson was handed a four-game suspension late in 2015 for violation of the league's performance-enhancing drug policy. He lost four weeks' pay for his infraction.
If Ferguson is going to make the team, the Bears must feel good about his potential upside and his ability to get back on the playing field and stay there without another violation.
Ferguson has been solid this preseason, but he has been far from a true standout. Pro Football Focus rates him as the third-best defensive end on Chicago's roster for the preseason. The Bears might want to keep him as a solid depth player, but they might also want to rid themselves of a player who has mostly disappointed and is potentially a suspension risk.
Ferguson's fate could be decided by his performance in Chicago's preseason finale.
Darren McFadden, RB, Dallas Cowboys
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Dallas Cowboys running back Darren McFadden led the team in rushing with 1,089 yards a year ago. However, he was forced to undergo elbow surgery this offseason and has missed training camp and the preseason.
Meanwhile, rookie runner Ezekiel Elliott and offseason acquisition Alfred Morris have both looked good in limited preseason action. Pro Football Focus rates Morris first overall and Elliott 26th among all running backs for the preseason so far.
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported the Cowboys have been receiving trade inquiries about McFadden but that the team would like to keep him.
Keeping McFadden, though, would require paying him $1.25 million in base salary. Dallas may well decide that it isn't worth paying McFadden that kind of money to be the team's third or fourth rushing option. The fact that receiving back Lance Dunbar is back with the team after tearing his ACL in 2015 only lowers McFadden's potential value.
Don't be too surprised if the Cowboys end up trading McFadden as part of their effort to get down to the 53-man limit.
Mark Sanchez, QB, Denver Broncos
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The Broncos have named second-year quarterback Trevor Siemian as the team's opening-day starter, and there's no way they're dumping rookie first-round pick Paxton Lynch. This leaves journeyman quarterback Mark Sanchez as the likely odd man out.
Sanchez, it seems, would like to stay in Denver. Why wouldn't he? The Broncos are the defending Super Bowl champions and may compete for a title again in 2016.
"I want to be here. I love being here," Sanchez said, per Nicki Jhabvala of the Denver Post. "I’ve gotten to know these guys and embrace this community. I’ve had a great time here."
The Broncos, though, probably don't want Sanchez around. If they release him before the start of the season, they can save the $3.5 million of his salary that isn't already guaranteed. An even better scenario would have the Broncos trading him to a quarterback-needy team.
Though he probably wouldn't get an opportunity to start early in the season, Sanchez could provide depth for a number of teams that don't have it. Now that Teddy Bridgewater has suffered a torn ACL, per USA Today, the Minnesota Vikings might have just been added to that list.
*All contract information via Spotrac.com.
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