Winners and Losers from Every NFL Team's 2026 Roster Cuts

And then there were 1,696.

That's how many players are left on NFL rosters after Sunday's 6 p.m. deadline to cut down to 53 active players. For some, it's the realization of a lifelong dream. For others, it's a devastating disappointment—although some of the sting may get taken out when they are scooped up by another team or land on a practice squad.

It's essentially the final step before teams gather to begin preparing in earnest for Week 1. The final domino falling before the regular season begins.

It's also the day that megastar defensive tackle Aaron Donald came out of retirement to join the Rams again—because Los Angeles wasn't terrifying enough yet.

Cutdown day all but puts a bow on the offseason. So, as we start the countdown to the rematch of Super Bowl LX that will kick off the 2026 season, let's look at some winners and losers for all 32 teams—from Sunday and throughout the preseason.

ARI | ATL | BAL | BUF | CAR | CHI | CIN | CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GB | HOU | IND | JAX | KC | LAC | LAR | LV | MIA | MIN | NE | NO | NYG | NYJ | PHI | PIT | SEA | SF | TB | TEN | WAS

Arizona Cardinals

AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez

RB Trey Benson

Winner: OT Jayden Williams

Seventh-round picks have their work cut out for them to even make the 53-man roster, let alone make an impact as a rookie. But Williams fared so well in camp that he has moved all the way up to the second unit, seeing snaps at both tackle spots.

A 6'4", 307-pounder, Williams was a 15-game starter at right tackle for an Ole Miss team that made the College Football Playoff last year. He also has experience playing on the left side, making 19 starts from 2022 to 2024 for the Rebels.

Loser: RB Trey Benson

It was no secret that Trey Benson was on the roster bubble after the Cardinals signed Tyler Allgeier and drafted Jeremiyah Love, and sure enough the former third-round pick was waived with an injury designation before clearing waivers and landing back in the desert on injured reserve.

That's the theme with Benson—he just hasn't been able to stay on the field. After James Conner got hurt last year Benson got his chance to show the Redbirds what he could do, only to suffer a knee injury after just one game—an injury that flared back up this summer and prevented Benson from practicing.

Atlanta Falcons

AP Photo/Brynn Anderson

QB Tua Tagovailoa

Winner: LB Kendal Daniels

When the Falcons used a fourth-round pick on Daniels, they were drafting traits and athleticism. But as Marc Raimondi wrote for ESPN, after an impressive summer there's a real chance that the 6'5" 242-pounder opens the season as one of the starters at inside linebacker.

"The Falcons have trusted him with the green dot at times this summer because of injuries," he said, "and Daniels has a legitimate shot at starting at inside linebacker alongside Divine Deablo."

Pour one out for Christian Harris.

Loser: QB Tua Tagovailoa

With Michael Penix Jr. sidelined or limited throughout most of camp and the preseason, the starting quarterback job in Atlanta (at least early in the season) was Tagovailoa's to lose.

Well, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, Tagovailoa has done his level best to lose it.

"It really seemed that the goal of the entire organization was to have Tua be the starting quarterback right away to start the season," Rapoport said. "Let Michael Penix come along slow. Tua's play made that impossible, not just in the preseason game, which we've seen, but it sounds like practice as well. All of which is to say, this is Michael Penix's job for the taking."

Yikes.

Baltimore Ravens

AP Photo/Nick Wass

WR Ja'Kobi Lane

Winner: WR Ja'Kobi Lane

Like it was going to be anyone else.

There's little doubt who the star of the summer in Baltimore has been—third-round wide receiver Ja'Kobi Lane has seemingly received rave reviews from the first time he stepped on the practice field, and those accolades have continued pouring in as we moved into training camp and then the preseason.

Lane has already all but sewn up the No. 3 wide receiver role for the Ravens, and it wouldn't be a huge shock if he overtakes Rashod Bateman as the team's No. 2 wideout at some point this season.

Loser: EDGE Adisa Isaac

In recent years, the Ravens have spent a lot of draft capital on the edge-rusher position. That the team tried to trade for Maxx Crosby before signing Trey Hendrickson essentially tells you how that has worked out.

Back in 2024, the Ravens used a third-round pick on Isaac, but he has barely seen the field since, He spent most of the 2024 season on the NFL list, missed all of the 2025 season with an elbow injury and was sidelined most of the summer.

They say the best ability is availability—and given that Isaac hasn't been, it's not that surprising to see him on the outside of the edge-rusher rotation looking in.

Buffalo Bills

AP Photo/ Jeffrey T. Barnes

EDGE Gregory Rousseau

Winner: Bills Pass Rush

The Buffalo Bills are one of the leading candidates to represent the AFC in Super Bowl LXI. But to get to SoFi Stadium, the team needs to be more consistent rushing the passer after logging just 36 sacks last year.

We have yet to see a game that counts, but the Bills appear to be improved in that regard entering 2026.

Veteran free agent addition Bradley Chubb is healthy and has looked good on the practice field. So has rookie T.J. Parker, who also had a solid preseason. With Gregory Rousseau also in the mix, the Bills have the makings of a promising three-man rotation.

Loser: WR Mecole Hardman

There was a time when Mecole Hardman was regarded as a rising young talent at wide receiver—he was a Pro Bowler as a rookie and won three Super Bowls with the Kansas City Chiefs.

But since a 59/693/2 line with the Chiefs in 2021, Hardman's production fell off a cliff—he hasn't had even 300 receiving yards in a season since, he was targeted just 14 times in his second stint with the Chiefs last year and after a drop-filled preseason Hardman was cut.

Carolina Panthers

AP Photo/Chris Szagola

RB Jonathon Brooks

Winner: RB Jonathon Brooks

Jonathon Brooks was the first running back selected in the 2024 draft after a standout career at Texas, but his NFL career has been non-existent to date—he started it on the bench rehabbing an ACL tear suffered at Texas, finally got his chance to play and carried the ball all of nine times before tearing that same ACL again.

Now, after missing the entire 2025 season, Brooks is healthy again. His numbers in the preseason weren't especially impressive, but with veteran back Chuba Hubbard nursing a hamstring injury there's a real chance that when the Panthers face the Chicago Bears in Week 1 that Brooks will be the Panthers' lead back.

Loser: LB Trevin Wallace

Over his first two seasons with the Panthers, Wallace made 20 starts, so entering the summer the prevailing wisdom was that it would be Wallace starting alongside Devin Lloyd at inside linebacker for the Panthers.

However, Wallace was cut after the struggles defending the run that plagued him over his first two seasons were evident on the practice field and in the preseason. Despite just six starts over three years it's Claudin Cherelus who appears in line to open the 2026 campaign as Lloyd's running mate in the middle of the Carolina defense.

Chicago Bears

AP Photo/David Dermer

OT Braxton Jones

Winner: RB Roschon Johnson

Chicago Bears running back Roschon Johnson has seen his workload decrease in each of his first three NFL seasons, from 81 carries as a rookie to 55 in 2024 and just two carries in seven games in 2025.

With Salvon Ahmed showing out in the preseason, there was more than a little speculation that Johnson's roster spot could be in jeopardy. But The Turk came for Ahmed instead, and Johnson will be back for a fourth season in the Windy City.

And with Kyle Monangai banged up, it will likely be Johnson who starts the season as D'Andre Swift's primary backup in Chicago.

Loser: OT Braxton Jones

It may seem unusual to label a player projected to start at left tackle in Week 1 a "loser," but Jones' preseason performance has raised concerns about Chicago's blind-side protection.

Jones struggled in the preseason, including a difficult outing against Cincinnati, and the Bears will need him to improve quickly before facing Jaelan Phillips and the Carolina Panthers in Week 1.

It has been a rough summer for the fifth-year veteran—including an abysmal preseason outing against the Bengals where Jones was manhandled by Cincinnati's backups.

Ozzy Trapilo can't get healthy soon enough.

Cincinnati Bengals

AP Photo/Emilee Chinn

EDGE Cedric Johnson

Winner: EDGE Cedric Johnson

Much has been made of the additions of veteran Boye Mafe and rookie Cashius Howell on the defensive line. But as Paul Dehner wrote for The Athletic, third-year pro Cedric Johnson has been building on a quietly solid 2025 season.

"He's popped multiple times, bending around the edge nearly untouched, and earned a few reps against the first team as the defense rotates," he said. "Johnson's built more like Mafe and less like the smaller Howell, but the 2024 sixth-round pick looks to be blossoming. Johnson produced a pressure once every 7.9 pass-rush snaps last season. That ranked second among Bengals edge rushers, narrowly topped by Trey Hendrickson at 7.7."

Johnson had 20 tackles and two sacks in just 207 snaps last year, and if the summer is any indication he's looking to build on that in 2026.

Loser: Bengals Offensive Line

The Bengals took a buzzsaw to their leaky defense in both free agency and the NFL Draft. The offense is loaded with skill-position talent. But there's one unit that has long been an issue in the Queen City—and it still is.

The Bengals spent a big chunk of the 2025 with an offensive line that ranked at the bottom of the NFL, and that line is essentially unchanged this year.

It looks it—Joe Burrow made it all of two dropbacks into the preseason before getting sacked.

Cleveland Browns

AP Photo/David Richard

WR Cedric Tillamn

Winner: All 14 of the Browns Opponents

The Browns appear headed for a difficult season. Their quarterback competition has ended, with Deshaun Watson projected to start in Week 1.

Cleveland will need more consistent play from Watson and an offense that has faced questions throughout the offseason.

The revamped offensive line has been inconsistent. The skill-position players are mostly very young. The defense will be decent, but with Myles Garrett gone it won't be as stout as it was in 2025—and depth in the secondary is a major issue.

The Browns may not be the NFL's worst team, but they have a strong case to be among its most concerning entering Week 1.

Loser: WR Cedric Tillman

A third-round pick of the Browns back in 2023, Cedric Tillman had a flash or two over three seasons in Cleveland—over a three-game span in 2024, he caught 21 passes for 255 yards and three touchdowns.

But durability has been a constant issue with Tillman—he's missed at least three games in all three seasons, including four in a 2025 season in which Tillman caught just 21 passes.

With rookies KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston standing out in camp, Tillman became expendable in Cleveland—and the Browns released him earlier in the week.

Dallas Cowboys

AP Photo/Samantha Chow

Cowboys LB Jaishawn Barham

Winner: LB Jaishawn Barham

When the Cowboys drafted Barham in the third round in April, it was a pick that appeared more about depth and the future—with DeMarvion Overshown and Dee Winters seemingly locked in as the starters, Barham was a developmental piece for a revamped Dallas defense.

Unless he's already developed, of course.

Barham has consistently impressed over the summer, including five tackles and a tackle for loss in his preseason debut in just 18 snaps. Barham may not have bumped Winters from the starting lineup just yet—but the clock could be ticking.

Loser: RB Jaydon Blue

It wouldn't be cutdown day without a surprise or two. One came on Sunday in Dallas.

Mind you, it's not like Jaydon Blue tore it up as a rookie—the fifth-rounder averaged just 3.4 yards per carry last year as Javonte Williams' backup with the Cowboys. But given what the Cowboys did (or didn't do) at running back in the offseason, the general belief was that Blue would be back for a second season as Williams' understudy.

The Cowboys apparently didn't share that assessment—and given the team's (now) lack of depth at running back, it's a safe bet that Dallas will be scooping up someone who got shown the door just like Blue did.

Denver Broncos

AP Photo/David Zalubowski

QB Bo Nix

Winner: QB Bo Nix

Bo Nix had a fantastic second NFL season, leading the Broncos to the AFC's best record. But that season ended in disastrous fashion—Nix broke his ankle in the Divisional Round. That ankle has been one of the dominant storylines in the Mile High City.

It has looked fine so far.

Nix has been the subject of positive reports throughout the summer, and he was in midseason form in limited preseason action.

The Broncos added a weapon for Nix in the offseason in Jaylen Waddle and bolstered the ground game with bruising rookie Jonah Coleman.

With Nik looking 100 percent, this defense could be dangerous.

Loser: Denver Pass Rush

No team in the NFL had more success rushing the passer last year than the Broncos, who paced the league with 68 sacks.

That pass rush was dealt a blow on Sunday.

Veteran edge-rusher Jonathon Cooper, who finished second on the team with eight sacks, was placed on the Commissioner's Exempt List in June.

It shouldn't have come as a surprise to the team, and the Broncos still have edge-rusher Nik Bonitto and defensive tackle Zach Allen up front. But it's the second starter from last year's defensive line the Broncos have lost this offseason.

Detroit Lions

AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster

CB Keith Abney II

Winner: CB Keith Abney II

A fifth-round rookie out of Arizona State, Abney has so impressed in camp that he started in the slot in Detroit's second preseason game. He told reporters that he's trying to take full advantage of those first-team reps.

"I'm just coming out here trying to learn every day and take advantage of those reps that I'm getting (with the first team)" Abney said. "Just doing my assignment, executing that, not trying to do too much. Just trying to be consistent and earn the trust of my coaches and teammates so I can continue getting these reps."

Whether Abney starts the season opener is yet to be determined. But the youngster locked down a spot on the 53-man roster.

Loser: WR Cedrick Wilson

Back in 2021, Wilson made four starts for the Dallas Cowboys and caught 45 passes for 602 yards and six touchdowns. But by this point in his career, the 30-year-old was just hoping to earn a spot at the back of the bench for the Lions at wide receiver.

That's not going to happen.

Wilson didn't make many waves in camp and played sparingly in the preseason, and after he got hurt in an exhibition game against the Washington Commanders the Lions placed Wilson on injured reserve before waiving him with an injury settlement.

Green Bay Packers

AP Photo/Bart Young

RB Marshawn Lloyd

Winner: TE Jonnu Smith

For much of the offseason, it appeared that this was the end of the line for veteran tight end Jonnu Smith—after barely cracking 200 receiving yards and averaging just 5.8 yards per catch with the Pittsburgh Steelers last year, the 31-year-old languished most of the summer without a team.

But with Luke Musgrave looking likely to open the 2026 season on the PUP list with a neck injury, the Packers needed depth at the position—especially with Tucker Kraft working his way back from an ACL tear.

Not only does Smith have a new team, but he could see the field quite a bit early in the season.

Loser: Green Bay Run Game

It has been a rocky offseason for Josh Jacobs, who was placed on the Commissioner's Exempt List on Sunday. With Jacobs unavailable, the Packers traded for Steelers running back Kaleb Johnson.

With Jacobs now out indefinitely, the Packers traded for Steelers running back Kaleb Johnson, who will join a backfield that includes Marshawn Lloyd and Chris Brooks.

Brooks has played sparingly to date. Lloyd has struggled to stay healthy--six carries for 15 yards in two seasons. Johnson was a major disappointment in Pittsburgh.

The news isn't totally unexpected, but it blew a sizable hole in the offense of a team with playoff aspirations.

Houston Texans

AP Photo/Charles Krupa

WR Kayshon Boutte

Winner: WR Kayshon Boutte

Boutte showed some promise in New England last year, hauling in 33 passes for 551 yards and six scores. But with A.J. Brown now in New England, Boutte's role with the Patriots was cloudy—so much so that Pats head coach Mike Vrabel said that Boutte would likely have been a healthy scratch as often as not this year.

Of course, Vrabel said that after Boutte was dealt to the Texans—where he will most assuredly not be inactive on game days. In fact, with Jayden Higgins out for the year with an ACL tear, Boutte will likely open the season as Houston's starting "Z" receiver opposite Nico Collins.

Loser: WR Sterling Shepard

Well, it was fun while it lasted.

Just a few days before the Boutte trade, the Texans signed Shepard off the street to help compensate for the Higgins injury. But now Shepard is behind Nico Collins, Tank Dell, Jaylin Noel, Xavier Hutchinson Boutte on the depth chart.

That's far too many names for a player who just got to town to move past before final cuts—even a player who has spent 10 years catching passes at the professional level.

This is probably it for Shepard's NFL career.

Indianapolis Colts

AP Photo/CJ Gunther

RB Seth McGowan

Winner: RB Seth McGowan

There's no question that Jonathan Taylor is the lead running back for the Indianapolis Colts. But after leading the NFL in carries last year, the Colts would be well-advised to find a way to lighten the load on their bellcow back.

The team may have found one—in a seventh-round rookie.

After tallying 725 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns last year at Kentucky, McGowan appears to have locked down the role of the team's No. 2 back, drawing praise from head coach Shane Steichen.

"He's running hard, he's seeing it good," Steichen told reporters. "And I've said it before, but the physicality that he runs with, we want that and he brings that to our roster. We're really excited about that."

Loser: DT Colby Wooden

Back in March, the Colts acquired veteran defensive tackle Colby Wooden in a trade for linebacker Zaire Franklin. A 6'4", 273-pounder who amassed 50 tackles in Green Bay a year ago, Wooden had a quiet preseason. But on the heels of a decent showing in training camp, the fourth-year pro's roster spot was believed to be relatively safe.

As it turns out, not so much.

While many pundits expected that former first-round pick Jerry Tillery would be the odd man out at defensive tackle, it was Wooden who was let go as part of the final cuts.

It would be a little ironic if he winds up back with the Packers—meaning that the Colts essentially gave Franklin to Green Bay for free.

Jacksonville Jaguars

AP Photo/John Raoux

WR Parker Washington

Winner: WR Parker Washington

In Parker Washington, Brian Thomas Jr. and Jakobi Meyers, the Jaguars possess one of the best three-deep depth charts in the league at wide receiver.

But if training camp and the preseason are any indication, there's no question who the No. 1 wideout in Jacksonville is.

Whether it was in joint practices or in limited preseason action, Trevor Lawrence repeatedly looked to Washington as his primary red—and far more often than not the fourth-year pro responded.

Now the Jaguars just need to open the ol' checkbook and pay the man.

Loser: RB J'Mari Taylor

The tale of J'Mari Taylor is a reminder that it's a long way from OTAs to the final roster cutdown. An undrafted rookie out of Virginia, Taylor was one of the stars of early workouts, with pundits talking up his vision, patience and ability to catch the ball out of the backfield.

Then the pads went on, and the shine came off.

Taylor wasn't able to carry over his positive momentum into training camp, and while there were a couple of flashes Taylor is the clear No. 4 back (at best) behind Bhayshul Tuten, Chris Rodriguez and Ameer Abdullah.

Fourth running backs wind up on practice squads.

Kansas City Chiefs

AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann

WR Cyrus Allen

Winner: WR Cyrus Allen

To be clear, despite the rave reviews that Allen has earned throughout the offseason and the stats he put up during the preseason, the fifth-round pick out of Cincinnati isn't going to play a big role offensively early in his rookie season. The Chiefs appear set with their top-three wide receivers in Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy and Tyquan Thornton.

But Allen was a Day 3 pick who entered the NFL with exactly zero hype. That the youngster fared so well over the summer that he has been viewed as a lock to make the 53-man roster for some time now is an achievement in and of itself.

Loser: OT Esa Pole

Not that long ago, it appeared the Chiefs had found a diamond in the rough in offensive tackle Esa Pole, who went from an undrafted free agent to making five starts for the team after Josh Simmons got hurt.

Pole's outlook changed quickly this offseason. Once viewed as a possible Week 1 swing-tackle option for Kansas City, he did not establish himself in the competition during training camp.

His preseason snaps came primarily with reserve units, and he struggled to make a convincing case for a roster spot.

The Chiefs released him Sunday.

Las Vegas Raiders

AP Photo/David Becker

RB Mike Washington Jr.

Winner: RB Mike Washington Jr.

The Las Vegas Raiders got quite the scare recently when Ashton Jeanty went down with an ankle injury. The team appears to have dodged the proverbial bullet with the star running back, but Jeanty's Week 1 availability is very much in jeopardy.

That injury makes Mike Washington's standout camp and preseason all the more important for the silver and black.

A fourth-round pick in April's draft out of Arkansas, Washington shined throughout the summer, including eight carries for 49 yards in the preseason finale against the 49ers.

If Jeanty can't go against the Dolphins in Week 1, Washington will get a chance to show he can do the same in a game that counts.

Loser: QB Fernando Mendoza

OK, before we go any farther, let's just everyone take a breath. Rookie quarterbacks struggling isn't new in the NFL. Just ask Peyton Manning and Troy Aikman.

They turned out OK.

Fernando Mendoza may well turn out to be a quality NFL starter in his own right. But his choppy preseason is a reminder that making the jump from college to the pros is not easy. And that he has a lot to learn about working his reads and managing pressure in the pocket after playing in a one-read, RPO-heavy scheme at Indiana.

Based on what we saw from Mendoza, it could be a while before we see him in a regular-season game.

Los Angeles Chargers

AP Photo/Ashley Landis

WR Brenen Thompson

Winner: WR Brenen Thompson

Thompson showed off his wheels at this year's scouting combine, peeling off a 4.26-second 40-yard dash. But at just 5'9" and 164 pounds, Thompson's lack of size relegated him to Day 3 pick status.

Well, sometimes big things come in small packages—and after an impressive offseason, Thompson has gone from fighting for a roster spot to potentially seeing meaningful playing time, although he told reporters that there's still plenty of work to do.

"I'm nowhere near where I want to be right now," Thompson said. "I think if I was, there would be issues."

Loser: Chargers Interior Offensive Line

The offensive line for the Chargers was an injury-marred mess in 2025. The team has Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater back at tackle, but along the interior history may unfortunately be repeating itself.

The loss of center Tyler Biadasz to a season-ending knee injury was one of the biggest hits any team in the league took over the past month. Rookie Jake Slaughter will slot as the new center, but he had been working at left guard, so the Bolts will also have to pivot to Kayode Awosika at that spot.

The inside of the offensive line in L.A. is shaky—and the season hasn't even started yet.

Los Angeles Rams

AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill

QB Ty Simpson

Winner: QB Ty Simpson

When the Rams made Ty Simpson a top-15 pick in April's draft, more than a few eyebrows went skyward—it was a pick for the future made by a team that is most assuredly in "win-now" mode.

As it turns out, Les Snead just might know what he's doing.

Simpson was easily the best rookie quarterback of the preseason, even if much of the damage was done against backups. He finished the preseason with a 78.3 completion percentage, going 47-for-60 with 382 passing yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions.

Loser: LB Monty Rice

The Rams had limited roster openings, but linebacker remained a position with opportunities for depth players.

Given Monty Rice's five years of NFL experience, 11 career starts—including six with the Tennessee Titans in 2022—and special teams background, he appeared to have a credible path to competing for a reserve role.

The 27-year-old will have to try to latch on elsewhere though—Rice was among the first wave of cuts the Super Bowl favorites made on Saturday.

Miami Dolphins

AP Photo/Danny Karnik

LB Tyrel Dodson

Winner: WR Chris Bell

It might seem a bit strange to call a guy who barely practiced until recently a "winner," but for Chris Bell, getting in Miami's preseason finale after tearing his ACL at Louisville last November was a win.

Bell posted modest stats in the game (two catches, 22 yards), but Bell told reporters that it was great to be back out there and he'll be ready for the opener against the Raiders.

"I'll be ready. I'm ready now, but I definitely will be ready in two weeks. I really needed this game, just to step out on the NFL field and play against some competition, other than my teammates in practice. So, I 100 percent will be ready," Bell said.

Loser: LB Tyrel Dodson

Last year, veteran linebacker Tyrel Dodson wore the "green dot" helmet communicator and made a career-high 129 total tackles for the Dolphins.

Now, Dodson is looking for work.

When the Dolphins drafted Jacob Rodriguez in the second round of April's draft, the writing was on the wall that Dodson's days as a starter were numbered. But it was still jarring to see the seventh-year veteran released outright on Sunday.

Minnesota Vikings

AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn

QB J.J. McCarthy

Winner: DT Caleb Banks

When the Minnesota Vikings used a first-round pick on Banks back in April, they had to know it was a long-term project—that it would take some time for Banks to get back up to speed as he worked his way back from a foot injury.

The youngster is getting there.

Once Banks did get on the practice field that Round 1 talent was evident, and while his preseason action was spent with the second-team Banks showed the power and disruptiveness that got his name called on the 2026 draft's first day.

He'll be starting soon enough.

Loser: QB J.J. McCarthy

McCarthy, on the other hand, won't be starting another game for the Vikings. Like, ever.

At this point, there's no sugarcoating it—drafting McCarthy 10th overall in 2024 was a massive mistake. It's not just that McCarthy lost the starting job under center to Kyler Murray. He was also soundly outplayed by Carson Wentz in the competition to back Murray up.

Sitting out the preseason finale with an ankle injury was just the final indignity for the Vikings. McCarthy can't stay on the field, and even when he's out there his play makes you wish he wasn't.

New England Patriots

AP Photo/Mark Stockwell

WR Kyle Williams

Winner: WR Kyle Williams

Not that long ago, it appeared that Williams would be hard-pressed to see the field much in 2026. The second-year pro was buried on the depth chart behind A.J. Brown, Romeo Doubs and Kayshon Boutte.

Now, however, Boutte is catching passes in Houston, and after a three-touchdown preseason Williams has caught the eye of Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel.

"I just want to give Kyle as many opportunities to continue to improve and do the things that we have asked him to improve on," Vrabel told reporters. "I love his ability outside the numbers to be able to stretch the field."

Now all Williams has to do is carry that momentum over into games that count.

Loser: Defensive Depth

The Patriots were an excellent defensive football team last year, and this smacks of nitpicking. But given that the team is already dealing with injuries to the likes of edge-rusher Harold Landry III, the performance of the second-team defense is concerning.

The Pats were shredded in the preseason finals by Dillon Gabriel and a Browns offense that struggled all preseason long to move the ball consistently.

In Christian Gonzalez, Carlton Davis and Marcus Jones, New England's top-three cornerbacks are set. But behind that things get dicey.

All it would take is one injury to create a potentially glaring weakness on the back end.

New Orleans Saints

AP Photo/Matt Patterson

WR Barion Brown

Winner: WR Barion Brown

Brown arrived in New Orleans a sixth-round pick hoping to just make the team.

He'll enter his rookie season looking to make a real dent in the Saints offense.

Brown was one of the most consistently impressive players in Saints camp, showing excellent route-running skills to go along with elite speed. That speed was on display in the preseason finale, when Brown scored on a reverse.

The Saints will be without Jordyn Tyson until at least October, and after trading Rashid Shaheed the team needs a player who can take the top off defenses and be a threat in the return game.

They appear to have found their man.

Loser: WR Jordyn Tyson

Jordyn Tyson has the potential to be an outstanding NFL wide receiver. Were it not for one knock, an argument could be made that he was the top receiver in this year's rookie class.

The durability issues that plagued Tyson in college carried over to the NFL—he suffered a hamstring injury in camp that will land him on the PUP list to begin his NFL career and could keep him out until mid-October at least.

With Chris Olave also nicked up, the wideout corps in the Big Easy isn't exactly rolling into Week 1.

New York Giants

AP Photo/Vera Nieuwenhuis

Deonte Banks

Winner: CB Deonte Banks

By most estimations, Deonte Banks first three seasons in the NFL have been a massive disappointment. The 24th overall pick in the 2023 draft has made 35 starts over that span, but his passer rating against was over 120 each of the past two years.

Banks appears to be taking full advantage of a fresh start under new head coach John Harbaugh and defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson.

Wilson's aggressive scheme calls for a lot of press coverage, and Banks has taken to it well. His offseason wasn't flawless, but the youngster went from potentially being on the roster bubble to having a real shot to start in Week 1.

Loser: OL Evan Neal

Evan Neal's tenure with the Giants has fallen well short of expectations for a No. 7 overall pick. Since New York selected him in the 2022 draft, he has struggled to establish himself as a reliable starter at either tackle or guard.

Neal spent much of the summer with the third-team offense, an indication that he has lost ground in the competition for a meaningful role.

At this stage, he faces an uphill climb to revive his standing with the Giants.

New York Jets

AP Photo/Adam Hunger

EDGE David Bailey

Winner: Edge David Bailey

Given the team just drafted Bailey second overall, one hoped he would be one of the summer's biggest winners on the team.

These kinds of things have been known to go sideways for Gang Green, but not this time.

Bailey has looked the part of an elite presence on the edge from the moment he stepped onto the practice field, spending more time in the backfield in camp than Breece Hall.

There will still be ups and downs (there always are with rookies at the position), but the Jets got this pick right--Bailey looks the part of a player who will be able to contribute as an every-down starter at a position that has been a thorn in New York's side.

Loser: QB Bailey Zappe

The Jets have one of the more unsettled quarterback situations in the NFL. And if anything happens to Geno Smith, things could get interesting in the Big Apple--in the worst way imaginable.

Not that Bailey Zappe was a great insurance policy--the fourth-year pro has nine career starts. But at least Zappe had that starting experience--if things go sideways now, the Jets will be forced to turn to fourth-round rookie Cade Klubnik.

Philadelphia Eagles

AP Photo/Steven Senne

WR Darius Cooper

Winner: WR Darius Cooper

Cooper is used to scratching and clawing for a roster spot after making the Eagles as an undrafted free agent in 2025. But after making just nine catches on 11 targets in 13 games as a rookie, Cooper entered training camp No. 2 in a familiar position—on the roster bubble.

But Cooper put together a solid training camp, drawing praise from cornerback Tariq Woolen.

"He always goes 100% and whenever you go against him, you know you're going to get a great look," he told reporters. "Coop is a great receiver and to be able to go against him and battle with him and see him grow throughout training camp is a lot of fun."

When Cooper sat out the preseason finale, it was clear that he made the final 53.

Loser: RB Carson Steele

Dating back to his time in Kansas City, Steele has long been a fan favorite, whether it's because of his long hair or the reckless abandon he shows with a football in his hands.

Steele was a preseason standout of sorts for the Eagles, pacing the team with 14 receptions for 136 yards and two scores. But Steele was far less effective as a runner, averaging just 2.8 yards per carry.

When final cuts came down Sunday, Steele got the axe—although he's a likely practice squad candidate if he clears waivers.

Pittsburgh Steelers

AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar

OT Broderick Jones

Winner: QB Drew Allar and Will Howard

The Steelers know they will need a new starting quarterback in 2027--Aaron Rodgers has made it clear this is end of the line for him. And the team is leaving their options open in that regard--even if it cost them a roster spot to do it.

After a training camp and preseason where neither really distanced themselves from the other, Pittsburgh elected to keep both rookie Drew Allar and second-year pro Will Howard on the roster behind Rodgers and veteran backup Mason Rudolph.

Whether either is a viable long-term option under center remains in question. But both youngsters showed enough on the field this summer for the Steelers to elect to keep them on the active roster as opposed to exposing them to waivers.

Loser: OT Broderick Jones

The Steelers have dealt with issues along the offensive line for years—issues that Broderick Jones was supposed to help address when the team drafted him in the first round back in 2023.

Instead, as reported by NFL.com, Jones struggled through three seasons of injuries and poor play. Jones has allowed 22 sacks in his career, which is fourth among tackles since 2023, per Pro Football Focus. In 2025, Jones garnered a 57.7 overall PFF grade, which was 70th among 89 qualified offensive tackles.

The Steelers had already passed on Jones' fifth-year option, and earlier this week he was dealt to the Dallas Cowboys.

San Francisco 49ers

AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill

Winner: WR De'Zhaun Stribling

De'Zhaun Stribling has been one of the league's most impressive rookie standouts this summer.

When the 49ers made him the first pick of Round 2, it surprised some. But based on his meteoric rise during the summer, Niners general manager John Lynch appears to have known what he was doing.

It wasn't at all surprising to see Stribling on the sideline for San Francisco's preseason finale. But given the state of that position group in San Francisco right now, it will be surprising if Stribling isn't out there in Week 1 when San Francisco faces the Rams in Australia.

Loser: Defensive Line Depth

This isn't a surprise, either. But it's becoming a real concern.

We knew the Niners were thin up front defensively. Nick Bosa is tentatively expected to play Week 1, but he has seen precious little activity this summer as he works his way back from ACL tear. Mykel Williams is trying to return from the same injury, but he's not going to be ready to take on the Rams.

The depth behind that duo isn't especially imposing, and it showed in the preseason. Fortunately for San Francisco, two of the team's first three games are against tomato cans. But if the team can't get the pass rush squared away soon, getting after opposing quarterbacks is going to be a problem.

A big problem.

Seattle Seahawks

AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann

Winner: QB Jalen Milroe

There was some worry that Milroe wouldn't make the team at all after a shaky preseason outing against the Tennessee Titans. The second-year pro responded with a much stronger outing against the Kansas City Chiefs—a showing that head coach Mike Macdonald talked up while addressing the media.

"Thought Jalen Milroe played a really good game," head coach Mike Macdonald said. "Took care of the football and was decisive, made some really strong throws down the field, put us in a position to win there at the end."

Milroe was drafted for his athleticism and potential--not his polish. Now he'll he'll get another season to develop behind Sam Darnold, and with Drew Lock in a contract year he could be Darnold's primary backup by 2027.

Loser: Seahawks Secondary

There's no question who Seattle's top-two cornerbacks are—the newly-paid Devon Witherspoon and Josh Jobe.

After that, though? The questions start adding up quickly.

The Seahawks signed seventh-year veteran Noah Igbinoghene in free agency. Added three cornerbacks in the draft. Signed former Pro Bowler Trevon Diggs in August. On Sunday they swung a trade with the Los Angeles Chargers for rookie Avery Smith.

But one of those rookies Seattle drafted (Michael Dansby) was let go at final cuts. Both Igbinoghene and Diggs were widely regarded to be on the roster bubble themselves. Smith was a UDFA.

Seattle's series of moves at cornerback underscores the uncertainty surrounding its depth behind Devon Witherspoon and Josh Jobe.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

AP Photo

Winner: QB Jalon Daniels

In six years at the University of Kansas, Jalon Daniels became one of two players in Jayhawks history to amass 10,000 yards of offense. He's second in school history in passing yards.

That wasn't enough to get Daniels drafted, but when the 2026 NFL season begins he'll be on an active roster.

Daniels had a solid camp and excellent preseason, completing 27 of 44 passes for 239 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions. The Buccaneers saw enough from the youngster to move on from Browning, making Daniels Baker Mayfield's backup in Tampa.

Loser: Edge Jack Pyburn

An undrafted rookie out of LSU, Pyburn was always a long shot to make Tampa's 53-man roster. But the 6'4" 258-pounder did his best to make it a difficult decision, backing up a solid training camp by leading the NFL in preseason sacks with four.

That wasn't enough for Pyburn to stick though—he was waived by the Buccaneers on Sunday. The wild part is what could be coming next.

If Pyburn clears waivers, he could return to LSU to play for Lane Kiffin. He is a plaintiff in litigation seeking retroactive application of the NCAA's new five-year eligibility rule.

Tennessee Titans

AP Photo/George Walker IV

QB Will Levis

Winner: WR Xavier Restrepo

Restrepo spent most of his rookie season on Tennessee's practice squad, although he was active for two games. But the former Miami standout was consistently one of the hardest-working players on the practice field this summer, and he closed the preseason strong with four catches for 71 yards in the finale.

While speaking to reporters, Restrepo made it clear he won't be happy until he's on the 53-man roster.

"Obviously, I'm not satisfied at all with being on the practice squad," he said, "but I think nobody is satisfied with that, right? Because that's why we play football. I think the goal is definitely make plays when it counts."

Restrepo made enough of those plays to get his wish.

Loser: QB Will Levis

As recently as two years ago, Will Levis started 12 games under center for the Titans. The problem is that Levis was wildly erratic in 21 starts over two seasons in Nashville. For every throw that was on target another was airmailed. His decision-making under pressure was terrible, which resulted in turnovers that had to be seen to be believed.

Levis missed the entire 2025 season after undergoing shoulder surgery, and after a shaky camp the team decided there was no room on the roster for Levis behind starter Cam Ward and veteran backup Mitchell Trubisky.

Someone will likely take a flier on the former second-rounder, but he's finished in Tennessee.

Washington Commanders

AP Photo/Daniel Kucin Jr.

OL Trent Scott

Winner: DL Tim Settle

After spending the first four years of his career in Washington Settle is back for a second stint with the team after four years with the Houston Texans and Buffalo Bills. It has been a bumpy offseason for the veteran—he had foot surgery and then missed time in camp with a bad calf.

However, Settle was able to get some game reps in during the first half of the final preseason game and looked good. That's good news for the team—not only is Settle expected to start alongside Da'Ron Payne and Javon Kinlaw in Washington's new 3-4 defense, but with Johnny Newton out with a pectoral tear depth on the defensive front is shaky at present.

Loser: OL Trent Scott

Trent Scott has been kicking around the NFL for some time—the 32-year-old has spent eight years in the NFL on four different teams. He has played all over the offensive line, making starts at both guard and tackle—26 in all.

Given that experience, versatility and the fact he made three starts for the Commanders last year, it would seem he'd be a good candidate for a reserve spot.

But not only was Scott on the field late in Washington's preseason finale, but he struggled in the game. Neither is a good sign, and Scott was cut by the Commanders on Sunday.