5 Cut Candidates Who Should be on Every NFL Team's Radar

As the 2026 NFL offseason inches toward training camp, it's time to start looking at the players who stand out for their potential to be released in the coming months.

While these veterans have avoided being cut thus far, factors such as large salaries, regressing skill, advancing age and injuries keep their spot on a final roster far from secure.

Although their tenure with their current squad may be coming to an unglamorous end, these players' NFL journey will almost certainly continue as rival teams look to snatch up proven talent on budget prices.

With that in mind, here's a look at five cut candidates who should have no shortage of interest if they get released this summer.

WR Brandon Aiyuk, San Francisco 49ers

AP Photo/Ben VanHouten

Brandon Aiyuk has likely played his final snap with the San Francisco 49ers, but the organization isn't rushing to outright release the receiver and hasn't relented on a potential trade.

The latest chapter of this ongoing saga saw Aiyuk post an Instagram video (h/t Grant Gordon of NFL.com) in which he said: "They mad 'cause they stupid. They dumb. They mad that they paid me $50 million in eight months and then voided my guarantees for 2027. And I'm about to be on a new team in 2027."

If Aiyuk gets his wishes and becomes a free agent, he should have no shortage of suitors looking to scoop a star receiver still in their prime for cheap. While injuries have kept him off the field since midway through the 2024 campaign, Aiyuk put up 1,342 receiving yards and seven touchdowns on 75 catches in 2023—his most recent healthy season.

With career numbers of 4,305 yards and 25 touchdowns on 294 catches over his first 69 games, Aiyuk has the stuff to be a solid No. 1 WR or top-flight No. 2 for many teams.

Aiyuk himself has hinted that the Washington Commanders—a team that has a glaring need at the WR position and features former Arizona State teammate Jayden Daniels under center—would be a preferred destination to sign with.

Expect Washington and many other clubs to monitor this rapidly evolving situation closely and strike quickly if Aiyuk gets cut this offseason.

DL Arik Armstead, Jacksonville Jaguars

AP Photo/David Zalubowski

Despite his steady production over the years, Arik Armstead has emerged as a potential cap casualty for the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Releasing the defensive lineman would save the team nearly $15 million, which could be used to shore up weaker areas on the roster ahead of training camp.

While Armstead put up 5.5 sacks in 2025 and was an important cog in the defensive trenches for one of the league's better run defenses, he'll be 33 years old in November and has worn down the tread on his tires over a decade-plus in the NFL. Keeping him around may be a luxury the Jags cannot afford, especially if he takes a step back after his best pass-rushing season in four years.

Armstead already showed signs of regression toward the end of last season, when he failed to notch a single sack after Week 12. He lost his starting job in Week 14 and played more than 50 percent of the defensive snaps just once after, a stark downturn after he was on the field for over half the team's defensive plays in all 11 starts.

If Armstead is cut, he'll still draw plenty of calls for his ability to be a reliable veteran presence in a defensive-line rotation. Contenders can't have enough quality D-linemen to cycle in over the course of an NFL game.

Getting one of Armstead's caliber on a budget deal would be far too alluring to pass over.

TE Colby Parkinson, Los Angeles Rams

AP Photo/Kyusung Gong

The Los Angeles Rams packed their tight ends room to capacity this offseason. With several new faces joining an already-crowded group, Colby Parkinson—one of the top veterans from last year's squad—could be on his way out the door.

Parkinson emerged as L.A.'s best receiving TE in 2025, putting up a career-best stat line of 43 catches, 408 receiving yards and eight receiving touchdowns. He logged a 61 percent offensive snap share—also the highest of his career—and proved he could be a legitimate weapon in the right system after a half-decade of pedestrian performances.

Despite this, Parkinson is going into the final year of his contract and has no guaranteed money left on the deal. Cutting him would save a cash-strapped Rams squad $7 million, dollars the club could use to bolster far weaker points of the roster.

There are plenty of potential replacements waiting in the wings, including second-round rookie Max Klare and a handful of intriguing undrafted free agents the team has brought in for camp.

If Parkinson does become available, many teams would have interest in his services. He is just 27 years old and has plenty left in the tank as he prepares to extend a prime he only recently entered.

Parkinson could thrive on a roster that has lacked a pass-catcher of his caliber. He should see plenty of playing time regardless of where he lands as well, as there has been an increased interest in leveraging 12 and 13 personnel—meaning two or three tight ends on the field, respectively—around the league as offenses continue to innovate.

OG Anthony Bradford, Seattle Seahawks

AP Photo/Peter Joneleit

The Seattle Seahawks may have won a Super Bowl with Anthony Bradford starting at right guard, but his brief time in that role could be coming to an end.

The veteran was the weakest link in the eventual champion's offensive trenches last year, and while that didn't deter Seattle from lifting the Lombardi Trophy, it wouldn't be a surprise to see the club attempt to replace him this offseason.

The LSU product is facing several challengers for his job, including fifth-round rookie Beau Stephens and third-year veteran Christian Haynes. An injury that caused Bradford to miss a portion of OTAs in June didn't help his case to remain in the starting lineup.

While Bradford has great size and strength, he's proved to be vulnerable to athletic speed rushing. He's also prone to penalties, a glaring issue in 2024 when he committed nine in just 11 games.

Despite these weaknesses, he did hone in his discipline and was only flagged five times across 17 contests in 2025. He's 25 years old and still has upside to continue developing into a higher quality starter in a different scheme.

Bradford's time with the Seahawks may hinge on winning the starting job, as cutting him would save $3.7 million.

If Seattle values that cash more than a backup guard and releases him, a slew of organizations would come calling about a battle-tested starting guard with championship experience—especially one who can be had on a cheap "prove it" style deal.

LB Patrick Queen, Pittsburgh Steelers

AP Photo/Matt Durisko

Patrick Queen joined the Pittsburgh Steelers with plenty of fanfare after the club lured him from the rival Baltimore Ravens with a three-year, $41 million deal in 2024, but the linebacker could be on his way out after two polarizing campaigns.

Queen has been an inconsistent defender during his tenure with the Steelers, making plenty of great plays while also missing assignments and whiffing on tackles. He's tallied 249 tackles over the last two seasons, but only contributed two sacks and a trio of forced fumbles outside of that.

Pittsburgh's defense has had some brutal stretches with Queen as its defensive play-caller, including losing five consecutive games to close out 2024 and getting embarrassed by a middling Houston Texans squad in this year's playoffs.

Releasing Queen would save Pittsburgh nearly $11 million against the cap, money that it could allocate toward finding a cheaper replacement and still have cash available to spend elsewhere.

If Queen does hit free agency, he still offers plenty of upside as a 26-year-old, two-time Pro Bowler with first-round pedigree. He also brings a wealth of experience, having started 101 games since entering the league in 2020, and could still push closer to his ceiling in a new program.