NFL Teams Cut 1,184 Players to Reach 53-Man Roster Deadline

Q: Which surprise veteran release will become the most coveted target on the NFL waiver wire this week?

Noah Brown looks like the most coveted surprise veteran available this week. Among the names tied to the cutdown wave, Brown stands out because he is not really a developmental flier. He is a proven NFL receiver with 155 career catches for 2,083 yards and six touchdowns, and because he is a vested veteran, he is not a standard waiver-wire stash as much as an immediate free-agent target for teams needing depth. That matters: clubs with receiver injuries or thin back ends of the roster can sign him without waiting on a long runway of development. He also offers a more useful profile than many of the other released names. Ryan Miller was already claimed by Miami, so he is off the board. Josiah Deguara has special-teams and blocking value, but his market is narrower as a depth tight end. Cody Ford could draw interest because line depth is always in demand, yet his release feels more role-specific than Brown’s. Players like Trey Benson and Marte Mapu reverted to injured reserve after clearing waivers, limiting their immediate appeal. Brown’s drawback is health. He reportedly was behind younger Raiders receivers and has missed significant time over the last two seasons. But that same risk is why he became available at all. For contenders that need an experienced outside receiver, Brown is the clearest plug-and-play veteran on the market, and likely the hottest target from this round of surprise releases.

3 articles · Updated · NFL.com · Aug 25

About 1,184 players are set to lose roster spots as NFL clubs trim from 90 players to an initial 53-man squad before Sunday’s deadline.
The churn has already started, with moves such as New England trading Kayshon Boutte and Arizona cutting running back Trey Benson ahead of the final wave.
Buffalo’s Michael Danna and Mecole Hardman, Las Vegas quarterback Aidan O’Connell, and Philadelphia veteran Andy Dalton are among notable players seen as cut or trade candidates.
Some released players could return on practice squads or be re-signed once injured-reserve spots open, but for many fringe veterans and recent draft picks, the deadline could end their 2026 hopes.