NFL Roster Cuts 2026: 12 Shocking Surprises
The NFL roster cuts 2026 deadline produced a series of unexpected decisions as all 32 teams finalized their initial 53-man rosters ahead of the regular season. While hundreds of players were always expected to lose their roster spots, several recognizable names were among the casualties.
The biggest surprise was quarterback Will Levis, who went from potential franchise quarterback to an unexpected release by the Tennessee Titans in less than three years. Several other players with draft pedigree, starting experience or seemingly clear paths to playing time also failed to survive the final cutdown.
The decisions show how quickly NFL roster situations can change. A player who appears secure during training camp can suddenly become expendable when coaches and executives compare the final pieces of a 53-man roster.
Here are 12 of the most surprising NFL roster cuts 2026.
1. Will Levis Becomes the Biggest NFL Roster Cut Surprise
Will Levis is the name that immediately stands out from the 2026 roster deadline.
The Titans selected Levis No. 33 overall in the 2023 NFL Draft, and he initially appeared to have a legitimate opportunity to become Tennessee’s long-term answer at quarterback. He started nine games as a rookie and showed flashes of the arm strength and aggressive mentality that had made him an intriguing prospect.
His situation changed dramatically after Tennessee selected Cam Ward with the No. 1 overall pick in 2025.
By 2026, Levis had fallen behind Ward and veteran Mitchell Trubisky. The Titans also kept Hendon Hooker, leaving no place for Levis on the initial roster.
Levis had started 21 games during his first two NFL seasons and finished with a 5-16 record as a starter. He also missed the entire 2025 season, further complicating his attempt to regain his position in Tennessee.
Even more notable, Levis played the first half of Tennessee’s preseason finale against Chicago and completed 14 of 22 passes for 143 yards. The performance was not enough to produce a trade before the deadline.
Now, Levis enters the waiver process looking for a fresh start.
2. Dolphins Move on From Cam Miller and Mark Gronowski
Miami’s quarterback situation produced another unusual sequence of decisions.
The Dolphins entered the roster-cut period with four quarterbacks. They then traded Quinn Ewers to Jacksonville before releasing both Cam Miller and Mark Gronowski.
That left Malik Willis as the only quarterback initially remaining on the roster before Miami agreed to acquire Kyle McCord from Green Bay.
The move was particularly surprising because Miller and Gronowski were competing for backup opportunities only days earlier.
Instead, Miami completely reshaped the position group.
The decision demonstrates how quickly quarterback rooms can change during cutdown week. Teams are not necessarily committed to the depth chart they build during the offseason if another opportunity becomes available on the trade or waiver market.
3. Justin Joly Cannot Save His Broncos Roster Spot
Justin Joly looked like a promising candidate to make Denver’s roster earlier in the offseason.
The former North Carolina State tight end won the Tight End MVP award at the Senior Bowl before the Broncos selected him in the fifth round of the draft.
There appeared to be a reasonable path for Joly to earn a top-three role in Denver.
However, his training camp did not go according to plan. He struggled as a blocker and made mistakes during preseason action.
Joly did produce an impressive 88-yard touchdown on Friday, but the big play ultimately was not enough to change the Broncos’ decision. He was waived during the final cutdown.
His release is a reminder that one spectacular preseason moment rarely outweighs a broader evaluation.
4. Cowboys Waive Both Jaydon Blue and Phil Mafah
Dallas created one of the weekend’s most surprising running-back decisions.
Both Jaydon Blue and Phil Mafah were waived, despite the Cowboys having selected the two players in the 2025 draft.
Blue was a fifth-round selection, while Mafah went in the seventh round. Neither player had established himself as a major contributor during his rookie season, but there was still an expectation that at least one could remain in the Cowboys’ running-back rotation.
Instead, Dallas kept former UFL player Jashaun Corbin behind Malik Davis.
Blue did have some NFL production as a rookie. He appeared in five games, rushing for 129 yards and scoring one touchdown.
The decision was therefore surprising because of both players’ draft status and the potential opportunity available in Dallas.
5. Colby Wooden’s Short Colts Stay Ends Abruptly
Colby Wooden’s release created an especially unusual situation in Indianapolis.
The Colts acquired Wooden from Green Bay in March as part of the trade involving veteran linebacker Zaire Franklin.
Franklin was a Pro Bowl player and an established defensive leader. Indianapolis therefore appeared to be betting that Wooden could contribute to its defensive line while the team moved in another direction.
Five months later, Wooden was gone.
The former Packers defensive lineman did not make Indianapolis’ final roster, making the trade look significantly different from how it appeared when the deal was completed.
For the Colts, the move represents one of the clearest examples of how offseason plans can change once players are evaluated in training camp.
6. Falcons Quickly Move on From Wanya Morris
The Atlanta Falcons acquired Wanya Morris in June as part of a trade involving a future late-round draft pick.
The move was intended to provide depth along an offensive line that already had concerns about its overall depth.
Yet Morris lasted only two months in Atlanta.
The Falcons eventually waived the offensive tackle, meaning the organization gave up draft capital for a player it did not believe belonged on the final roster.
That makes the move particularly notable.
The Falcons now have to address the depth concerns that originally prompted them to acquire Morris.
7. Steelers Cut Veteran Linebacker Elandon Roberts
Elandon Roberts has built a reputation as a dependable veteran linebacker throughout his NFL career.
He made at least 10 starts in six of his first eight seasons and spent the 2023 and 2024 seasons with Pittsburgh.
The Steelers brought Roberts back during the preseason, reuniting him with defensive coordinator Patrick Graham.
That familiarity appeared to give him a reasonable chance to make the roster.
Instead, Pittsburgh released him.
The decision is surprising because Roberts already understood the organization and coaching staff and had extensive experience as a rotational and starting linebacker.
His experience should nevertheless make him an interesting name on the waiver wire and free-agent market.
8. Buccaneers Cut Jake Browning
Jake Browning had developed a reputation as one of the league’s more respected backup quarterbacks.
After signing with Tampa Bay in March, he appeared positioned to serve as Baker Mayfield’s backup.
Instead, the Buccaneers reduced their quarterback room to two players and Browning was the one who lost his roster spot.
Jalon Daniels, an undrafted free agent who joined Tampa Bay in May, impressed during the preseason and ultimately remained in the team’s plans.
Daniels did struggle in his final preseason start, completing 8 of 15 passes for 57 yards and fumbling. However, his overall preseason performance apparently gave Tampa Bay enough confidence to keep him.
For Browning, the release could create another opportunity elsewhere.
9. Evan Neal’s Giants Career Ends
Evan Neal’s departure is another major storyline from the NFL roster cuts 2026.
The Giants selected Neal No. 7 overall in the 2022 NFL Draft, expecting him to become a foundational offensive lineman.
That did not happen.
Neal struggled at offensive tackle, but he had recently shown some progress after moving inside. During training camp, he worked with the second-team offense and appeared capable of contributing as a guard.
The Giants also traded Joshua Ezeudu and Daniel Faalele, removing some competition at the position.
Despite those changes, Neal still did not make the roster.
His release represents a disappointing conclusion to one of the biggest draft investments of the previous Giants regime.
10. Vikings Replace Johnny Hekker With a Rookie
Johnny Hekker is one of the most accomplished punters of his generation.
During his prime, he became a six-time consecutive All-Pro selection and helped redefine expectations for the punter position.
That history made his release by Minnesota especially surprising.
The Vikings signed Hekker in March, seemingly with the expectation that he would handle their punting duties.
Instead, Minnesota chose undrafted rookie Brett Thorson.
Hekker remains the NFL’s active leader in career punt yardage, but the Vikings decided that Thorson offered the better option for their 2026 roster.
The move could represent the end of an important NFL career, although Hekker could still find another opportunity.
Why NFL Roster Cuts 2026 Were So Difficult
Every year, the final roster deadline forces teams to make difficult decisions.
NFL clubs begin the offseason with far more players than they can carry into Week 1. By the final deadline, teams must reduce those groups to 53 active-roster players.
That means players can lose their jobs even when they have performed well.
Draft position also provides no guarantee.
Recent draft picks such as Jaydon Blue, Phil Mafah and Justin Joly were all released despite being selected by their respective teams. Meanwhile, veterans such as Roberts and Hekker discovered that experience alone was not enough.
The final roster is ultimately about fit.
Coaches may value special teams ability, positional versatility, scheme familiarity or developmental upside over name recognition.
Will Levis Could Get Another NFL Opportunity
Although Levis’ release is a major setback, it does not necessarily mean his NFL career is finished.
Quarterbacks with starting experience can attract interest quickly, especially when injuries strike during the season.
Levis has already demonstrated that he can produce explosive moments. As a rookie, he threw four touchdown passes in his first career start against the Atlanta Falcons, matching an NFL record for passing touchdowns in a debut. He also helped Tennessee complete a dramatic comeback against Miami later that season.
The problem has been consistency.
His 5-16 starting record, combined with his 2025 absence and subsequent fall down Tennessee’s depth chart, left him without a clear path in 2026.
A new team could nevertheless view him as a developmental backup with starting experience.
The Waiver Wire Could Change Everything
The end of NFL roster cuts 2026 is not necessarily the end of the story for the players involved.
Released players enter the waiver process depending on their service time and contract status. Other teams can claim eligible players, while veterans may become free agents.
That means several of the players listed above could be wearing different uniforms before Week 1.
Levis is particularly interesting because quarterback depth can change rapidly. A team that loses a starter or backup during the final preseason week could suddenly view him as an attractive option.
The same applies to Browning, Roberts and Hekker.
Teams are constantly searching for experienced depth once injuries begin to affect their rosters.
What the 2026 Cuts Reveal About the NFL
The biggest lesson from this year’s cuts is that NFL roster building is increasingly ruthless.
Draft status matters, but only to a point. Previous production matters, but only when it fits the team’s current needs.
The Cowboys were comfortable moving on from two recent draft picks. The Giants released a former top-10 selection. Minnesota chose an undrafted rookie over a veteran with a long list of accomplishments.
Meanwhile, Tennessee decided that its future was better served by moving forward with Cam Ward, Mitchell Trubisky and Hendon Hooker rather than keeping Levis.
These moves are not necessarily judgments on a player’s entire career.
They are decisions about what each team believes gives it the best chance to win in 2026.
Final Takeaway
The NFL roster cuts 2026 deadline delivered plenty of surprises, but Will Levis’ release stands above the rest.
Only a few years ago, the Titans viewed Levis as a potential franchise quarterback. Now, he is searching for another team after falling behind three other quarterbacks in Tennessee’s plans.
However, he was far from the only notable casualty.
Jaydon Blue, Phil Mafah, Justin Joly, Colby Wooden, Wanya Morris, Elandon Roberts, Jake Browning, Evan Neal and Johnny Hekker all faced unexpected exits. Miami’s rapid reshaping of its quarterback room added another unusual storyline to an already chaotic roster weekend.
For the players, the next opportunity may come quickly.
The NFL season has not even begun, and injuries, trades and waiver claims can dramatically change the league’s depth charts. Some of the players released this weekend could therefore become important contributors for other teams before the season is over.
That is what makes roster cutdown day so unpredictable.
A player can be out of work on Sunday and back in the NFL by Monday.
And for Will Levis, the next chapter could be the most important one of his career.
