The Biggest Surprises and Shocks from 2025 NFL Roster Cuts

Roster construction between each NFL franchise varies. How an opening weekend roster looks is vital in the team's performance throughout the regular season. But many difficult decisions are made leading up to that point.

Every year, players are cut who are former high draft picks or previous contributors. Nothing remains static from season to season. It can even change week to week.

Because of the NFL's roster limitations, talented individuals find themselves without a home. Some might latch on elsewhere, re-sign as part of the practice squad and/or find their way back eventually. Otherwise, they've reached the end of the line.

Without fail, some decisions at the final preseason roster cutdown still surprise. Maybe they won't steal the headlines, but they definitely show a shift in a team's approach. It's those that B/R will concentrate on after assessing Tuesday's flurry of moves.

DL Morgan Fox, Atlanta Falcons

AP Photo/Jerome Miron

Maybe the Atlanta Falcons should reassess how they approach free agency.

A year ago, the organization signed the top quarterback on the free-agent market, Kirk Cousins, then drafted another, Michael Penix Jr., with the eighth overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft. By the end of last season, Cousins was on the bench, with Penix in the staring lineup.

This year, the Falcons decided to go full-speed ahead with the reworking of their defensive front, specifically adding juice to their pass rush. At the start of free agency, the team signed Morgan Fox to a two-year, $8.5 million contract. They followed up by selecting Georgia's Jalon Walker and Tennessee's James Pearce Jr. in this year's first round.

Five months after signing Fox, the team cut him despite $3 million in guaranteed money.

Fox has never registered high sack or pressure totals, but he remains a capable defender, who plays with energy, with the type of veteran presence to help along two rookies. Instead, the Falcons chose to lean on the 32-year-old Leonard Floyd for that role and move forward with Walker and Pearce as the primary duo to harass opposing quarterbacks.

RB Pierre Strong Jr., Cleveland Browns

AP Photo/Chris Szagola

Neither Pierre Strong Jr. nor undrafted rookie Ahmani Marshall not making the Cleveland Browns roster is concerning, because the team only has two running backs currently signed to the roster.

"There will be more than two running backs on this team," head coach Kevin Stefanski assured reporters when asked about the situation.

The front office can take multiple approaches. Maybe the organization finally signs this year's 36th overall draft pick, Quinshon Judkins, though he could still face league disciplinary action despite no formal charges from a July incident where Fort Lauderdale police originally arrested him on charges of domestic violence and battery.

Judkins missed all of training camp and the preseason. Even if he signs and is capable of practicing with the team, his acclimation to the team will take time. The Browns are also likely searching for a back either on the waiver wire or signing an available free agent.

Whatever the case may be, the team could have held onto Strong in the meantime after spending the last two seasons in Cleveland. He ran for 399 yards during that stretch and caught 14 passes out of the backfield last year. He could have remained a capable third option.

Instead, the Browns are searching for another ball-carrier to play alongside Jerome Ford and Dylan Sampson, while eventually trying to get them caught up on the fly.

CB Derion Kendrick, Los Angeles Rams

AP Photo/Bryan Woolston

The Los Angeles Rams want cornerback Derion Kendrick on the roster...or do they? [Insert squinty eyes GIF]

Two months ago, the organization cut the 25-year-old defensive back only to re-sign him a week later.

"The Rams always wanted him on the roster in 2025, so this was more of a business move than anything else, and McVay said Kendrick has done 'a great job' this offseason after a year of rehabilitation," Wyatt Miller of the Rams official site wrote.

Head coach Sean McVay said the following at the time, "Really glad that he was able to get back with us. It was really just a kind of a financial business deal based on some things that he had earned the right for his salary to fall where it was."

Miller added, "McVay explained further that he, defensive backs coach Aubrey Pleasant and general manager Les Snead sat down with Kendrick and told him, 'Hey, here's a couple different options. Here's what we think. But let's just make sure that you understand that we want you back if this is a place that you feel you still want to be able to be at."

Granted, Kendrick had to bounce back from last summer's torn ACL. However, the former sixth-round draft pick started 18 games during his first two seasons. The Rams remain suspect at cornerback, and Kendrick's release doesn't help the situation.

OL Cole Strange, Layden Robinson and Sidy Sow, New England Patriots

AP Photo/Peter Joneleit

Free-agent offensive lineman Sidy Sow

Mike Vrabel definitely placed his stamp on the New England Patriots in his first year with the team as head coach. Specifically, the offense line looks drastically different today than it had in recent seasons.

Cole Strange, Layden Robinson and Sidy Sow have all been starters for the Patriots. In fact, between the three, they combined to start 54 games over the last four games. The Patriots cut all three.

Strange is the biggest disappointment as a 2022 first-round draft pick. His selection came out of left field at the time, but everyone gave Bill Belichick the benefit of the doubt.

Does anyone else remember when the Los Angeles Rams brass laughed at the pick, because they thought he may go three rounds later than he did?

Less than a year later, Belichick was unemployed. Strange, meanwhile, couldn't find a home at any of the three interior positions. He wasn't viewed a first-round talent anywhere else during that cycle, heard his name called way sooner than he should have and couldn't live up to expectations.

As for Sow and Robinson, both are recent draft picks, with the Patriots selecting them in the fourth rounds of the 2023 and '24 draft classes, respectively. While not as high-profile as the Strange debacle, linemen selected in those mid rounds often turn into starters or at least quality depth.

The Patriots almost wiped the slate clean along the offensive line. Beyond Michael Onwenu, the organization brought in veteran right tackle Morgan Moses and center Garrett Bradbury to help stabilize the unit. The team then invested first- and third-round draft picks in Will Campbell, the fourth overall selection, and Jared Wilson. A pair of rookies will now be protecting quarterback Drake Maye's blind side.

Despite the new approach, it's still surprising that none of the previous draft picks were able to find away onto the roster as depth.

WR Malachi Corley, New York Jets

AP Photo/Seth Wenig

A new coaching staff and general manager mean a blank slate for anyone previously on the roster. It also means the team leadership has no allegiance to players they didn't sign or draft.

Case in point, the New York Jets moved on from 2024 third-round pick Malachi Corley before he got a chance to prove himself in his second season despite the organization trading up to acquire his services.

Corley didn't really have a chance to prove himself as a rookie. Questions about his route-running and maturity bubbled to the surface, according to Rich Cimini. The wide receiver's lone highlight quickly turned into a lowlight when the rookie dropped the football just before he crossed the goal line during an end-around against the Houston Texans on Thursday Night Football.

Despite perceived issues and a lack of production in his first season, the Jets could have easily looked back and saw the talent Corley displayed during his time with the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers.

"Corley is quick to transition himself into a runner, and he plays with decent burst, albeit mildly underwhelming for someone whose play style depends on it," B/R scout Derrik Klassen wrote prior to the 2024 NFL draft. "He plays with a ton of strength and balance as well, which is where you really see his running back-like frame show up."

Despite a lackluster receiving group beyond Garrett Wilson, the Jets decided not to continue the relationship—which says a lot.

WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Seattle Seahawks

AP Photo/Ben VanHouten

Marquez Valdes-Scantling signed a free-agent contract with the Seattle Seahawks in March. He was supposed to be one of the team's top-three wide receivers after the organization decided to move beyond long-time targets Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf.

Things didn't go according to plan, with the seven-year veteran being cut before he played an official game for the Seahawks.

Valdes-Scantling has always been limited in what he brings to an offense. Yet he has a very specific skill set as a vertical threat that still holds value. Seattle decided to go younger, with rookie fifth-rounder, Tory Horton, showing a better all-around skill set to play alongside Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Cooper Kupp.

"I'm seeing the same thing you guys are," coach Mike Macdonald told reporters earlier in the month. "A wise man, Steve Smith Sr., once said, 'Rookies need to make a play a day to make a name for themselves.' He's doing that. He's making multiple plays every day. So, it is great for the Seahawks, great for him, and great competition in the receiver room. We are two weeks in, but let's keep it rolling."

With Valdes-Scantling not offering much value on special teams, the Seahawks chose to go in another direction despite bringing the 30-year-old into the locker room as a potential starter just five months ago.

Edge Clelin Ferrell, Washington Commanders

AP Photo/Nick Wass

Clelin Ferrell started 10 games for the Washington Commanders last season. The organization saw fit to re-sign the defensive lineman this offseason only to cut him prior to the start of the 2025 campaign.

Ferrell never developed into the player some hoped he'd be after the Raiders organization chose him with the fourth overall pick in the 2019 NFL draft. Many felt he was overdrafted at the time. Even so, he was still viewed as a first-round prospect by a majority.

Through three stops, Ferrell failed to become a real presence off the edge, particularly as a pass-rusher. But he had been capable and reliable, having played in 14 or more games during five of his six NFL seasons.

The Commanders didn't exactly bring in top-shelf edge-rushers to replace him, either. Dorance Armstrong remains with the team. Meanwhile, Washington signed Deatrich Wise Jr., who ultimately replaces Ferrell in the lineup. The 31-year-old Wise has one season where he posted more than 4.5 sacks.

Von Miller did join the team a month ago. He may be a big name, as a future Hall of Fame inductee, but he's now 36 years old with six total sacks over the last two seasons. Whether he can provide the type of juice off the edge that Washington needs remains to be seen.

Ferrell will never be viewed as a difference-maker. At this point in his career, he's no longer a top-five disappointment, either. He could have been a quality contributor as part of a rotation, especially with the Commanders getting older at the position he vacated.