7 Most Notable NFL Cut Candidates Following Early Free Agency

We're now two full weeks into NFL free agency, and while the player pool continues to drain, talent-starved teams may have new options available soon.

Every offseason, we see incoming free agents make other, often pricey, veterans expendable. We tend to see another round of cost-cutting releases after the NFL draft, as teams look to load up on cheap rookie contracts. Yet another wave of cuts often comes after June 1, when teams can split dead-money hits over the next two seasons instead of taking it all in the current season.

While we're obviously still in the early offseason, several notable veterans already loom as potential cut candidates. Here, we'll examine them, discuss why they may be released, and explore what they could bring to another NFL roster in 2026.

Brandon Aiyuk, WR, San Francisco 49ers

AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez, File

Brandon Aiyuk has been a cut candidate since November, when the San Francisco 49ers made it clear that they were ready to move on from the wide receiver. Aiyuk, who suffered a significant knee injury in 2024, didn't cooperate with San Francisco's plan for his recovery, and the 49ers decided to void his 2026 guarantees as a result, according to Dianna Russini and Michael Silver of The Athletic.

Most expected the 49ers to release Aiyuk at the start of the new league year on March 11. However, San Francisco may be trying to get something in return via a trade before releasing him outright—though the return would be minimal.

"They're not getting anything significant for him in trade," one unnamed NFL executive said, per Armando Salguero of OutKick.

If the 49ers haven't found a trade partner by the end of draft weekend, Aiyuk will probably be a post-June 1 cut. Releasing him before then would cost San Francisco $19.9 million in cap space, while releasing him after June 1 would save $1.3 million in 2026 cap room.

What could AIyuk provide another receiver-needy team? That depends on how close he is to being 100 percent healthy. The 28-year-old racked up 1,342 yards and seven touchdowns on 75 receptions in his last full season.

Arik Armstead, DL, Jacksonville Jaguars

AP Photo/David Zalubowski

The Jacksonville Jaguars may try to extend or restructure the contract of defensive lineman Arik Armstead before simply releasing him. The 11-year vet appeared in 16 games for Jacksonville in 2025 and finished with 28 tackles, 5.5 sacks, and seven tackles for loss.

However, Jacksonville could save $14.5 million in cap space by releasing Armstead after June 1. That could matter because the Jags are near the bottom of the league with just $6.9 million in effective cap space.

Cap constraints have, to this point, prevented the Jaguars from being overly active in free agency. Jacksonville did re-sign a handful of players and add running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. However, it hasn't made any splash additions and lost Travis Etienne Jr. and Devin Lloyd to other teams in free agency.

While the Jaguars might not make any big-name additions over the summer, releasing Armstead would give them the financial flexibility to plug holes they can't address in the draft. Jacksonville doesn't own a first-round selection as a result of last year's move to land Travis Hunter.

For teams in need of help along the defensive line, Armstead will be a strong option if available. He'll turn 33 in November but remains a starting-caliber defender.

Patrick Jones II, DE, Carolina Panthers

AP Photo

Linebacker Patrick Jones was a marquee free-agent signing for the Carolina Panthers last offseason. The former Minnesota Vikings standout was coming off a 39-tackle, seven-sack season and signed a two-year, $15 million deal to join the Panthers. While the 27-year-old started all four games in which he appeared last season, he underwent season-ending back surgery in October.

While Carolina would undoubtedly love to see Jones healthy and playing up to his potential in 2026, it may be forced to move on. The Panthers added several new pieces to their defense in early free agency, including linebacker Devin Lloyd and edge-rusher Jaelan Phillips.

The Panthers now have just $5.1 million in effective cap space, and they could save $4.8 million by releasing Jones. He'll be a player to watch as Carolina navigates the raft and continues reloading its defense.

Jones showed in 2024 that he can be an effective rotational player and pass-rusher. He'll turn just 28 in September, and he should again be healthy in 2026. He may have even returned for Carolina had the Panthers gone a bit deeper into the postseason.

"I feel like I was getting real close," Jones said, per Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer.

Alvin Kamara, RB, New Orleans Saints

AP Photo/Gerald Herbert

It certainly feels like the sun is setting on Alvin Kamara's long tenure with the New Orleans Saints. The 30-year-old averaged a career-low 3.6 yards per carry in 2025 before suffering an MCL sprain that ultimately ended his season.

Early in free agency, New Orleans got a new starting running back by signing Travis Etienne Jr. to a four-year, $47.4 million contract.

Kamara was the topic of trade chatter at last year's trade deadline, but he hinted that he'd consider retirement if dealt then. With Etienne now in the fold, though, Kamara will probably be viewed as expendable.

New Orleans would probably prefer to trade Kamara, though finding takers for an aging running back would be difficult. And while the Saints wouldn't save any money by releasing him after June 1, they would limit the additional cap hit to just $888,259.

Releasing Kamara before June 1 would cost $8.9 in additional 2026 cap room.

While Kamara isn't the explosive playmaker he once was, he's still a capable dual-threat who caught 33 passes in 11 games this past season. He'd bring value to a team seeking a change-of-pace receiving back after the draft. He'd be a solid backup for the Saints, too, though they may ultimately prefer to give his roster spot to a player with more long-term potential.

Cole Kmet, TE, Chicago Bears

AP Photo/Chris Szagola

The Chicago Bears would probably prefer to trade Cole Kmet or restructure his contract instead of releasing him outright. The 27-year-old has been a very reliable contributor for Chicago, though rookie Colston Loveland replaced him as TE1 in 2025.

While Kmet did add 347 yards and two touchdowns, Loveland racked up a team-high 713 receiving yards.

The issue for the Bears is that they spent heavily while turning over their 29th-ranked defense. After adding the likes of Neville Gallimore, Coby Bryant, Devin Bush, and Jack Sanborn, Chicago is left with a league-low $1 million in effective cap space.

If the Bears can't work out a restructure or find a trade partner for Kmet, they can save $9 million by releasing him after June 1. If Chicago can add some depth behind Loveland over draft weekend, releasing Kmet would make a good amount of financial sense.

If Kmet does become available, adding him should be a priority for virtually any team in need of a pass-catching tight end. The Notre Dame product has caught 288 passes for 2,939 yards and 21 touchdowns in six seasons and won't turn 28 until next offseason.

Joshua Palmer, WR, Buffalo Bills

AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes

Last offseason, the Buffalo Bills signed wide receiver Joshua Palmer to a three-year, $29 million contract. Unfortunately, Palmer was slowed by an ankle injury, tallied just 22 receptions for 303 yards, and landed on injured reserve ahead of the playoffs.

While Palmer still has two years remaining on his contract, Buffalo could conceivably get out of it by releasing him after June 1. Cutting him before then would cost $2.5 million in additional cap space, while cutting him after June 1 would save $2.3 million in cap room.

The Bills have $13.2 million in effective cap space and don't necessarily need the additional cap savings. However, they simply might not have a role for Palmer in the offense after adding D.J. Moore via a trade. Khalil Shakir was Buffalo's leading receiver last season, and the Bills may still be looking to salvage Keon Coleman. Tyrell Shavers and Mecole Hardman are also in the receiver mix.

There's also a non-zero chance that Buffalo continues bolstering its receiving corps in the draft.

If Palmer is jettisoned from Buffalo, he can help another receiver-needy team. The 26-year-old is a big (6'1", 210 lbs) target who had three 500-yard seasons as a complementary receiver with the Los Angeles Chargers.

Tony Pollard, RB, Tennessee Titans

AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez

The Tennessee Titans have a new head coach in Robert Saleh and are looking to upgrade the offense around second-year quarterback Cam Ward. Tennessee has already added the likes of Wan'Dale Robinson, Daniel Bellinger, and Cordell Volson. It may look to add a premier playmaker in next month's draft as well.

Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love looms as a sensible target for the Titans at No. 4 overall, and he was indeed the pick in the Bleacher Report Scouting Department's latest mock draft:

"The improvement of Cam Ward's offensive ecosystem should be high on the Titans' to-do list," Dame Parson of the B/R Scouting Department said. "Love is an elite prospect with a special combination of running and receiving traits to impact the game on all three downs."

If the Titans do scoop up Love, veteran Tony Pollard could be on the way out. Tennessee has a solid change-of-pace back in Tyjae Spears, and it has already re-signed backup Julius Chestnut. While Pollard did rush for more than 1,000 yards this past season, the Titans could save $7.3 million by cutting him.

Tennessee leads the league in available cap space, but that's a substantial savings for a player who might not see the field often in 2026. If Pollard is released after the draft, he'd be a capable backup or low-level starter for another squad.

*Cap and contract information from Spotrac.