San Francisco 49ers

There has been no shortage of notable NFL players who got released in cap-saving moves at the start of the offseason. That list included Kyler Murray, Tua Tagovailoa, Kirk Cousins, Jawaan Taylor, Joe Mixon, and Stefon Diggs. But don’t think for a second that the big-name offseason roster cuts end there. Many teams are strategically waiting until June 1st to release certain players, knowing they’ll save more in cap space. With that, let’s dive into the 10 biggest NFL names most likely to still get cut this offseason. Which popular NFL players might get cut this offseason? Brandon AiyukBrandon Aiyuk (Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports) The Aiyuk-49ers saga is unlike any other we’ve seen. In the 2024 NFL offseason, he agreed to a four-year contract extension worth $120 million, weeks after initially requesting a trade. He got off to a slow start that year, then suffered season-ending ACL and MCL tears in Week 7 against the Kansas City Chiefs. The 49ers expected their superstar wide receiver to return at some point in the 2025 season while they were in an intense playoff push. But Aiyuk reportedly refused to train with his teammates as he was getting healthier, preferring to keep to himself. Sure enough, the season passed with no return of Aiyuk. GM John Lynch then publicly stated that Aiyuk had played his last game as a 49er, all but assuring a divorce. Cutting Aiyuk would save the 49ers $6.3 million in 2026, $33.1 million in 2027, and $34.987 million in 2027. And by the way? The 49ers don’t exactly need Aiyuk anymore after signing future Hall of Famer Mike Evans and using the No. 33 pick on Ole Miss wideout De’Zhaun Stribling. Aiyuk once looked like a player who was on a Hall of Fame trajectory. He’ll either be traded or cut by the 49ers before Week 1 rolls around. It’s a matter of when, not if. Alvin KamaraDec 8, 2024; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara (41) runs with the ball against the New York Giants during the second quarter at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images Before the 2025 NFL trade deadline, Kamara said he would retire if the New Orleans Saints traded him. Even with New Orleans well out of playoff contention, Kamara made it clear that he wasn’t interested in chasing a ring elsewhere. But it’s not up to Kamara if he plays in New Orleans next season. The Saints signed former Jacksonville Jaguars star running back Travis Etienne Jr. to a four-year deal worth $48 million, another clear indicator they don’t plan to keep Kamara around long-term. Cutting Kamara would only save the Saints $376,000, essentially pocket change. But this is a team in transition mode, having already bid farewell to other fan favorites like Cameron Jordan, Demario Davis, and Marshon Lattimore. The Saints would not have thrown money at Etienne if they weren’t planning to make him their RB1. Kamara isn’t a young man anymore at 31, either. We can’t imagine he’d be happy to take on an RB2 role, given all he’s done for the New Orleans organization. If Kamara won’t accept a trade, the Saints’ best bet is to cut the five-time Pro Bowler and let him decide if he’d actually retire. Either way, nobody should be surprised if Kamara is let go before the preseason rolls around. Denzel WardDec 28, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns cornerback Denzel Ward (21) celebrates after the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Huntington Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images Don’t let a third straight Pro Bowl nod deceive you. Ward has been on the decline for a couple of years. He’s just lucky that Pro Bowl voting is largely a popularity contest Few cornerbacks were as elite as Ward from 2018 to 2023. In each of his first six seasons, he allowed a passer rating of 78.3 or lower, according to Pro Football Reference. That included a hilarious 56.2 passer rating in 2023. Inexplicably, Ward’s regression began in 2024 — after arguably the best season of his career. He allowed 716 yards in coverage and a passer rating of 92.8. In 2025, he allowed a career-worst 61.3 completion percentage when targeted and a passer rating of 88.1. Thanks to the stupid Deshaun Watson trade and contract, the Browns are in a salary cap predicament this NFL offseason. One easy way out of this mess? Releasing the veteran cornerback. Doing so would save the Browns $17.4 million for 2026 and a whopping $20.5 million for 2027. Cole KmetSep 28, 2025; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Chicago Bears tight end Cole Kmet (85) misses a throw during the first quarter against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images Many were surprised when the Chicago Bears used their 2025 first-round pick on Michigan tight end Colston Loveland. They already had plenty of pass-catching weapons, including veteran tight end Cole Kmet. Turns out, the Bears knew what they were doing the entire time. Loveland finished the year with 58 receptions for 713 yards and six touchdowns — all tops on the team. His contributions helped Caleb Williams enjoy a breakout year, guiding Chicago to an NFC North division crown and a surprise trip to the Divisional Round. While Loveland enjoyed a superb rookie year, Kmet’s production dropped significantly. He finished with just 30 receptions for 347 yards and two touchdowns.  Kmet has two years remaining on a $50 million extension he signed in the 2023 NFL offseason. Cutting him would only save the Bears $2.35 million against the cap for 2026, but that number increases to $10 million for 2027. Absolutely worth it. Kmet’s role is only going to continue reducing while Williams forms better chemistry with young studs like Loveland, Rome Odunze, and Luther Burden.  Ideally, Chicago would find a taker for Kmet and get something in return. Otherwise, it only makes sense to cut Kmet and save the cap space. The offense will be more than fine without him. Kristian FultonDec 25, 2025; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Kristian Fulton (8) misses an interception during the second quarter at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images The Kansas City Chiefs already made one notable roster cut, moving on from veteran offensive tackle Jawaan Taylor. That was at the start of the new league year. By no means should one believe that GM Brett Veach is done clearing out cap space. Last year, the Chiefs signed former Los Angeles Chargers cornerback Kristian Fulton to a two-year deal worth $20 million. Fulton struggled in his transition to Steve Spagnuolo’s defensive scheme and was limited to eight games in 2025 due to injury. Kansas City remade its cornerback room in the NFL offseason. They traded Trent McDuffie to the Los Angeles Rams and let Jaylen Watson walk to free agency. KC then moved up to take LSU corner Mansoor Delane with the No. 6 pick. Cutting Fulton would save the cap-strapped Chiefs $5 million before the 2026 season. That cap space could be used for Veach to bring in another serviceable veteran or two before preseason begins. Plus, the Chiefs always seem to develop rock-solid cornerbacks out of nowhere. The rest of their CB room outside of Delane and Fulton may be filled with nobodies. But cutting Fulton is worthwhile if it means saving precious cap dollars. Veach can just trust Spags and Andy Reid to develop quality replacements, too. Patrick QueenDec 7, 2025; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Patrick Queen (6) reacts after a defensive stop against the Baltimore Ravens during the second half at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-Imagn Images Queen had four up-and-down seasons with the Baltimore Ravens, who decided the bad outweighed the good. He left in 2024 free agency, signing with the archrival Pittsburgh Steelers on a three-year deal worth $41 million. Queen was supposed to add more juice to a stacked Pittsburgh front seven already featuring TJ Watt, Alex Highsmith, and Cameron Heyward. He had a solid first year with the Steelers, but regressed miserably in 2025 to finish the year with a Pro Football Focus grade of 44.0. Pittsburgh’s expensive and underperforming defense needs a reset, and cutting Queen could be the starting point. If the Steelers cut him, they would save a hefty $10.8 million against the salary cap. If GM Omar Khan can find a taker via trade, Pittsburgh would save $13.3 million. The reality is, Queen’s inconsistent production doesn’t justify his hefty salary. And new Pittsburgh head coach Mike McCarthy wasn’t here when Pittsburgh signed Queen. If he doesn’t think the two-time Pro Bowler fits, the Steelers have no reason to keep him. It feels like the Steelers are ready to rebuild from scratch when Rodgers inevitably retires next year. Why not get a head start now by moving on from one of your overpaid veterans?  Arik ArmsteadJacksonville Jaguars defensive tackle Arik Armstead (91) walks off the field after the game of an NFL football AFC Wild Card playoff matchup, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla. The Bills defeated the Jaguars 27-24. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union] Following his release from the 49ers in 2024, Armstead was scooped up by the Jacksonville Jaguars on a three-year deal worth $43.5 million.  After a miserable 2024 campaign, the veteran defensive end bounced back nicely with 5.5 sacks — his best since 2021 — helping the Jags to a surprise 13-win season and AFC South division crown. But the fact remains that Armstead makes too much money for a non-Pro-Bowl-caliber defensive lineman. And the Jaguars would save $14.48 million if they cut him before the regular season. Jacksonville already has two premier edge rushers in Travon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen. Rookies Albert Regis and Wesley Williams could seek meaningful reps as well if the Jaguars were to cut Armstead. And shed no tears for Armstead if the Jaguars decide to cut him in the 2026 NFL offseason. He would draw plenty of interest from other teams. Marlon HumphreyMarlon Humphrey. Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images Humphrey was once in the discussion as the NFL’s best cornerback. The 2017 first-round pick has been a mainstay in the Baltimore Ravens’ secondary, earning four Pro Bowl and two First-team All-Pro selections. But as everyone knows, the Ravens’ usually-stingy defense kept getting worse and worse under John Harbaugh before he was fired after the 2025 season. And Humphrey’s inexplicable regression was a key reason why the Ravens couldn’t hold onto double-digit fourth-quarter leads to save their lives. According to Pro Football Reference, Humphrey allowed 920 yards in coverage and an 84.6 passer rating when targeted. Numbers like that would get a cornerback benched mid-season on most teams. Just saying. The Ravens have a problem with being too loyal to certain players. Look at Mark Andrews, who just got a three-year extension even though he hasn’t been a difference-maker since 2022. And it’s amazing how long Rashod Bateman has lasted with “checks notes” one good season in five years. At some point, the loyalty thing has to go out of the window. They can at least start now. Cutting Humphrey, who’s entering the final year of his contract, would save Baltimore $15.2 million against the cap in 2026. And yes, the Ravens’ secondary should be just fine with Kyle Hamilton, Malaki Starks, and Nate Wiggins leading the way. Tony PollardTennessee Titans running back Tony Pollard (20) exits the field after the game against the Seattle Seahawks at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025. The one-time Pro Bowler has lived up to the first two seasons of a three-year deal he signed with the Tennessee Titans in 2024 free agency. Pollard has proven that he wasn’t a product of the Dallas Cowboys system, recording consecutive 1,000-yard rushing seasons in Tennessee. But Titans GM Mike Borgonzi wasn’t here when the Titans signed Pollard. And Borgonzi just hired a new head coach in Robert Saleh, with ex-New York Giants HC Brian Daboll taking over as the new OC. So, the loyalty aspect doesn’t apply here. Cutting Pollard would save the rebuilding Titans $7.25 million against the salary cap. They also have veteran Tyjae Spears waiting for a bigger role. Also, Borgonzi used a fifth-round pick on Penn State running back Nicholas Singleton. We doubt the Titans would draft Singleton to simply be a No. 3 running back. Pricy veterans with plenty of mileage are hard to trade. If the Titans could find someone to take on the last year of Pollard’s contract this NFL offseason, great. But that’s much easier said than done. So, Tennessee may as well cut Pollard and use an RB-by-committee approach with Spears and Singleton. With Pollard getting up there in age, he might even welcome a fresh start if it allows him to play on a more competitive team. Not like the Titans will do much in 2026. Anthony RichardsonIndianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson (5) celebrates after rushing for a touchdown Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, during a game against the Tennessee Titans at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Richardson lost his starting job to free agent signing Daniel Jones last year. With Danny Dimes putting together a career year before his season-ending injury, an A-Rich trade felt inevitable. And yet, it still hasn’t materialized. How much has Indy given up on Richardson? So much so that they brought a 44-year-old Philip Rivers out of a five-year retirement to take over as the QB1 after Jones tore his Achilles. The Colts gave Richardson permission to seek a trade before the new league year began. But even with the draft well behind us, the No. 4 pick of 2023 is still on Indy’s roster. Indy seems to like Riley Leonard as a backup to Jones. So, unless they find a trade partner for Richardson, the Colts should do the right thing and release him. There is no benefit to keeping around a young QB who needs a fresh start that would just leave in 2027 free agency anyway.