NFL Cuts 2015: Release Predictions for Some of League's Toughest Decisions

The onset of September means the arrival of cut season in the NFL, when teams show players the door for any number of reasons in an effort to meet league roster requirements.

Maybe it's a veteran who hasn't lived up to expectations. It could be a player who doesn't live up to his cost, always a strong scenario to watch for surprises considering the league's rules about roster size and cap space.

No matter what the reason, the free-agent market will soon become quite flooded again before the season's kickoff. Below, let's take a look at just a few of the names who might head out the door in the process.

Release Predictions

Fred Jackson, RB, Buffalo Bills

Bill Wippert/Associated Press

In an alternate universe, Fred Jackson sticks with the Buffalo Bills and perhaps even starts out of the backfield despite being 34 years old.

This is our current timeline, though, and it's one in which many consider Philadelphia Eagles coach Chip Kelly mad—LeSean McCoy is a member of the Bills.

McCoy is a workhorse and Jackson enters this year coming off a season in which he received just more than 140 carries and averaged under four yards per attempt. Still, Jackson made it clear this offseason he wouldn't just throw up the white flag.

“I know they say they want him to be the ‘bell cow,’” Jackson said, per Vic Carucci of the Buffalo News. “They want him to take the majority of the load. But I’m not going to make it easy for him. I’m not going to just hand it to him and say, ‘Here’s the job.’”

Still, Jackson might not have a choice. The Bills look good behind McCoy with Anthony Dixon, Bryce Brown and rookie Karlos Williams, and Jackson is a $2.7 million cap hit this year, per Spotrac.

Should the Bills need the cash and cap space for a different position, Jackson looks like one of the top surprise-cut candidates.

Phil Taylor, DT, Cleveland Browns

Tony Dejak/Associated Press

The Cleveland Browns have too much of a good thing going on in the defensive trenches.

With No. 12 overall pick Danny Shelton on board, the Cleveland coaching staff won't have any easy time deciding which players to cut loose.

One of the first names that comes to mind is 27-year-old Phil Taylor. He's due a significant $5.5 million in the final year of his deal and is coming off a season in which he only suited up in five games due to a knee injury. 

Taylor isn't a bad player by any means, ranking as the 25th tackle in the league at Pro Football Focus in 2013. But he's also only appeared in a full 16-game season once in four years. The Browns, meanwhile, continue to add depth worthy of a roster spot such as Billy Winn, Ishmaa’ily Kitchen and Xavier Cooper.

It's only logical for the Browns to move on if the front office isn't willing to commit the cash and the staff doesn't believe his body can withstand the rigors of another 16 games.

Domata Peko, DT, Cincinnati Bengals

Bill Haber/Associated Press

Let's stick in the AFC North and at defensive tackle for another recognizable name that's perhaps set to lose a job.

It's almost a defensive arms race in the division because the Cincinnati Bengals tout deep talent at most positions, too, including defensive tackle.

At 30 years old, veteran Domata Peko's time with the franchise might be up. He's been with the team nine years, but his play continues to deteriorate, culminating in a No. 80 rank (on a list grading 81 players) in the league last season at PFF.

Cincinnati remains notorious for its unwillingness to bench starters, let alone cut them. But the team needs more of an anchor next to Geno Atkins and the depth chart offers plenty of options, including Devon Still, Brandon Thompson and run-stuffing specialist Pat Sims.

Due $3.7 million this year and a similar figure in 2016, it's Peko who will receive the boot if the Bengals are to shed their habit of hanging on for dear life. Loyalty in the NFL is one thing, but at some point it starts getting in the way of on-field results. The Bengals appear at this crossroads.

Stats courtesy of NFL.com and are accurate as of Aug. 28. All advanced metrics courtesy of Pro Football Focus.