Admin August 12, 2024
The NFL preseason starting means football is right around the corner, and fans are getting amped up as we return of live action after a long hiatus. The preseason offers an early preview of the upcoming season, and for many players, it can be a make or break moment.
The players are almost excited as the fans however, there is much more tension for many players who are trying to make a roster spot. It’s a crucial time when many face the uncertainty of potentially missing out on a roster spot when final cuts are made by August 27.
As teams are filling out their final rosters to enter the 2024 season, there may be some high profile names that will find themselves searching for new opportunities starting the following day.
Green Bay Packers K Anders Carlson
NFL teams are not usually likely to use their draft capital on special team players, and when Anders Carlson got drafted it was definitely noteworthy. The Green Bay Packers selected the kicker in the sixth round of the draft, and the hope was for him to be the kicker for a long time.
However, it appears that the team may look in a different direction after just one season for the team.
He made just 27 of 33 field-goal attempts and 34 of 39 point-after tries during the regular season before missing two more kicks in the postseason.
The kicker missed a crucial 41 yard kick in the fourth quarter of the divisional round in the post season, and that ended up to bite them back in a big way, as they lost by three in that game to end their season.
Now, the team has a decision to make on whether or not they want to see if he can improve in his second season in the NFL.
Green Bay added Greg Joseph this offseason. It recently added rookie Alex Hale, according to Andy Herman of Packer Report.
The draft status of Carlson will not give him any edge over these other two gentlemen they brought in, and he could be looking for a new team soon.
Carolina Panther RB Miles Sanders
The Carolina Panthers do not have much going for them as they head into the year, and their top back Miles Sanders may be gone just a year after the team signed him to a big deal. They signed the back, after an amazing year with the Eagles, and still owe him some big chunks of the guaranteed money.
If they were to release the 2022 Pro Bowl running back the team would just save $200,000 in 2024 cap space and at the same time they would trigger a dead-cap hit of $7.5 million this season. The team however, could save $4.2 million in cap space by trading him. The only problem is that no teams are interested at all.
Sanders was on eof the top backs in the 2023 free agency, but the Panthers were absolutely awful last season, and Sanders was no exception.
He averaged 3.3 yards per carry, was out of the starting lineup by Week 6. Finished with fewer than 600 scrimmage yards.
“I’m not blaming nobody but myself. I’m just ready to play. I’m ready to have a better season,” the 27-year-old said, per Kassidy Hill of the team’s official website.
It seems at this point, that the team will end up cutting the back who was a Pro Bowler just one season ago.
Chuba Hubbard proved to be a capable starter last season (1,135 scrimmage yards), and Carolina used a second-round pick on Jonathan Brooks.
Kansas City Chiefs WR Kadarius Toney
The Kansas City Chiefs do not have a plethora of weapons’ at their disposal for this year, however that may not stop them from cutting Kadarius Toney, who was simply bad last year. While Toney made a significant impact during Super Bowl LVII—highlighted by a 65-yard punt return and a crucial fourth-quarter touchdown—Toney’s performance with the Chiefs last season fell way short of expectations.
In this previous year, Toney struggled with many issues, including the most famous play of the year when he got an offsides penalty in Week 14 that brought back a game winning legendary touchdown, and the team would go on to lose.
His passer rating when targeted was only 66.7, and he was sidelined for the last three regular-season games as well as the entire postseason.
At the moment, Toney is listed as the fourth-string receiver on the teams initial unofficial preseason depth chart, but he may not even be their fourth string come regular season.
With returning receivers Rashee Rice, Justin Watson, Mecole Hardman, and Skyy Moore, plus the additions of Marquise Brown and first-round pick Xavier Worthy, Toney will have to prove that he belongs if he wants a seat on the bench even.
Even though Brown suffered shoulder injury in the preseason opener which might improve Toney’s chances, his future with the team remains uncertain, and he could very well be cut before Week 1.
Buffalo Bills WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling
The Chiefs, who do not have many weapons themselves, decided not to retain Marquez Valdes-Scantling, despite his crucial touchdown in Super Bowl LVIII, which was instrumental in securing their back-to-back championships.
Valdes-Scantling, 29, who was a sixth-round pick in 2018, has consistently outperformed his draft position. Although he has yet to achieve a 1,000-yard season, his speed has been a significant advantage for both the Chiefs and his previous team, the Green Bay Packers.
This offseason, the Buffalo Bills brought Valdes-Scantling into their revamped receiving corps, alongside new additions Curtis Samuel, Chase Claypool, K.J. Hamler, and rookie second-round pick Keon Coleman.
Joe Buscaglia from The Athletic reported that Valdes-Scantling has faced numerous significant adversities as he has begun training camp.
“Valdes-Scantling has faded into the background in the last few practices,” he wrote. “He has yet to make a strong impression in the passing game during team drills, and his opportunities with quarterback Josh Allen and the top unit have dwindled.”
While it is not impossible for the team to keep him on the bench, it appears that his time in Buffalo will be very short.
NFL Houston Texans WR Robert Woods
In 2023, seasoned receiver Robert Woods was a key figure for the Houston Texans. Although his 40 receptions and 426 yards didn’t stand out statistically, he provided invaluable leadership to a team that was still finding its way to success.
“Just trying to set the expectation for this offense and this team,” he told reporters during 2023 organized team activities.
Following their AFC South championship and a playoff victory last year, the Texans have mastered the art of winning. Their receiving lineup is now stacked with talent, including Nico Collins, Tank Dell, Noah Brown, John Metchie III, and the newly acquired star Stefon Diggs.
The majority of Houston’s receivers are young and positioned to grow alongside quarterback C.J. Stroud. Robert Woods and Stefon Diggs are the seasoned veterans in the group, and the team might be hesitant to retain both players given their contract situations.
With the Texans having traded a second-round pick, along with a 2024 sixth-round pick and a 2025 fifth-round pick, for Diggs, his spot on the team seems assured. Conversely, Woods’ future with the team will likely depend on whether his veteran presence justifies the expense of keeping him for another year.
If Woods found himself cut before the year, he would have plenty of opportunities to sign else where for teams that are receiver needy.
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