Most NFL Roster Cuts make sense – click the link to see the full list – but there were some names that made me scratch my head. There are certainly some gems to be had in the waiver-wire market, so let’s look at the 10 best players who didn’t make their 53-man rosters.
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1.
Alex McGough, QB, Seahawks
The Seahawks once had a tremendous front office, but their ability to evaluate talent has decline sharply in recent years. Cutting Alex McGough is an obvious example of that. McGough scored very high marks in my Rookie Quarterback Grades page, as I viewed McGough as a Russell Wilson clone; he’s a quarterback with great mobility and pocket maneuverability, and he has a great arm. McGough is raw and needs to be developed, but I believe he can be a solid starting quarterback some day. I imagine the Seahawks are attempting to stash McGough on their practice squad, but a smart team would be wise to scoop him up and add him as their No. 2 quarterback. The Chargers, for example, don’t have a successor for Philip Rivers, and McGough would be perfect in that role. McGough is definitely better than Brett Hundley – it’s not even close – so I don’t understand the logic of keeping Hundley over McGough.
2.
Corey Coleman, WR, Bills
The Bills are one of the most dysfunctional organizations in the NFL, and this is the latest piece of evidence for that. What the hell are they doing by cutting Corey Coleman? Sure, Coleman didn’t do anything for them after being acquired, but that’s because he was new to the roster. He barely had any time to learn the playbook. Coleman is an exceptional talent who has flashed when healthy, so there was a good chance that he would’ve been productive for the Bills at some point. Simply just releasing him after barely giving him a chance is absolutely foolish.
3.
John Simon, DE/OLB, Colts
John Simon is a solid 3-4 edge player who is good enough to start. Ideally, he’s a top reserve, but teams can get away with him being in the opening lineup. So, why did the Colts cut him? Because they moved to a 4-3, and he simply didn’t fit their new scheme. I wonder if Simon will head back to Houston, where he would provide some excellent insurance behind Whitney Mercilus and Jadeveon Clowney once again.
4.
Kony Ealy, DE, Cowboys
Kony Ealy played well for the Jets last year, so the only reason I can come up with for the Cowboys releasing him, outside of incompetence, is that they felt they didn’t need him with Randy Gregory coming back from suspension. Ealy never lived up to his potential – i.e. what we saw from him in the Super Bowl loss to the Broncos – but he’s still a young (26) edge rusher who still has time to blossom. Teams lacking edge-rushing depth should acquire Ealy.
5.
Dan Bailey, K, Cowboys
Yes, a kicker made this list! Dan Bailey, prior to his injury-plagued 2017 campaign, never hit worse than 84 percent of his field goals. He’s still one of the better kickers in the NFL, so he should definitely be rostered.
6.
Mike Gillislee, RB, Patriots
Mike Gillislee is a solid new name on the running back market, and the 49ers would be wise to consider him in the wake of Jerick McKinnon’s injury. Gillislee is a decent back, but he entered Bill Belichick’s doghouse when he lost a fumble in a game last year. Gillislee simply disappeared and was never heard from again. It’s quite difficult to escape Belichick’s ire, but perhaps Gillislee will have some success in a new home.
7.
Austin Howard, OT, Colts
There was plenty of interest in Austin Howard’s services last offseason, and he ended up signing a $16 million contract with the Ravens. Baltimore couldn’t afford him, however, so the team let him go. I expected him to do well in Indianapolis, but he embarrassed himself in some preseason stints. Still, Howard has played well in the past, so I think he could be a valuable swing tackle for a team in need of depth at the position.
Chase Litton, QB, Chiefs
Was Andy Reid eating snacks during the second of the preseason games? Is that why he didn’t notice that Chase Litton was far more impressive than proven loser Matt McGloin? I really don’t understand the logic of dumping Litton in favor of McGloin, and I say this as a Penn State alumnus. Litton is someone who earned high marks in my Rookie Quarterback Grades page, so a team looking for a young quarterback to groom would be wise to give him a shot.
9.
David Amerson, CB, Chiefs
Once upon a time, David Amerson was viewed as a very talented cornerback. He was so good that the Raiders gave him a $38 million extension a couple of years ago. Amerson has struggled since, as lethargy has derailed his career. Perhaps failing to make a 53-man roster will serve as a wake-up call for Amerson, who still has potential. He’s only 26 despite it seeming that he’s been in the NFL forever, so he’s still young enough to turn his career around.
10.
Travis Swanson, C, Jets
Travis Swanson struggled in Jets training camp and the preseason games, so I’m not surprised that he failed to make the roster over Spencer Long. However, Swanson has played well when healthy in the past. I don’t know why he would suffer such a sharp decline, so perhaps he’s not completely healthy. Of course, that’s been a problem for him over the years, but I would take a chance on Swanson as a backup interior lineman. Perhaps he’ll rebound once he gets to rest his possible injuries.
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