As NFL teams approach the 2025 roster cut deadline, even established players aren’t guaranteed a spot on their 53-man rosters. Injuries, draft additions, salary cap concerns, and shifting team dynamics can turn household names into surprise casualties. Here’s a closer look at seven NFL players who could be cut in 2025, including former starters and first-round picks.
Brian Robinson Jr. — RB, Washington Commanders
NFL insider Jordan Schultz reported that the Washington Commanders are actively shopping Brian Robinson Jr. to teams around the NFL.
Robinson, a former third-round pick, has seized control of the starting job in the backfield in Washington since returning from being shot as a rookie. Since then, he’s compiled 2,329 rushing yards and 20 total touchdowns but has never finished with over 800 yards in a single campaign.
Robinson Jr. has reportedly fallen behind on the Commanders depth chart behind Austin Ekeler and seventh-round rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt, leaving his spot on the 53-man roster in jeopardy. With the deadline for roster cuts just around the corner, there seems to be little incentive for teams to deal for the former third-round pick out of Alabama.
Romeo Doubs — WR, Green Bay Packers
Romeo Dobbs has been Green Bay’s most productive receiver since being drafted in 2022 but suddenly finds himself as the odd man out in the WR room. The Packers used two of their first three picks in the 2025 NFL Draft on wide receivers Matthew Golden and Savion Willams, who are expected to step in and contribute right away.
Doubs has never eclipsed 675 receiving yards in a single season and clashed with head coach Matt LaFleur last season, leading to a one-game suspension for conduct detrimental to the team.
Green Bay could save $3.4 million by cutting Doubs and leaving him off the 53-man roster.
Robert Woods — WR, Pittsburgh Steelers
Robert Woods signed a one-year, $2 million deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers, adding a veteran presence to the wide receiver room.
Renowned for his work as a blocker on the outside, the 33-year-old hasn’t lived up to expectations since joining the roster. The 33-year-old hasn’t been the same since returning from a torn ACL in 2021, scoring just three touchdowns over the last three seasons combined.
DK Metcalf is the undisputed WR1 in Pittsburgh but Woods has suddenly fallen behind Calvin Austin III, Roman Wilson, and Scottie Miller on the Steelers depth chart, leaving him in danger of missing the 53-man roster.
Kendrick Bourne — WR, New England Patriots
Kendrick Bourne’s time in New England could be coming to an end. Bourne led the Patriots receivers with 800 yards and five touchdowns in 2021 but hasn’t been able to recapture the magic of his breakthrough campaign.
Since then, he’s finished with fewer than 435 receiving yards in each of the last three seasons while struggling to stay on the field. Bourne is suddenly on the wrong side of 30 and doesn’t seem to fit in a wide receiver room that now includes Stefon Diggs, Mack Hollins, and rookie Kyle Williams.
With Javon Baker’s willingness to play special teams and the emergence of undrafted rookie Efton Chism III, Bourne could be the odd man out in a group that also includes DeMario Douglas, Kayshon Boutte, and 2024 second-round pick Ja’Lynn Polk.
Diontae Johnson — WR, Cleveland Browns
Once thought to be one of the NFL’s top up-and-coming wide receivers, Diontae Johnson has struggled to find a new home since being traded by the Pittsburgh Steelers. Since then, he’s failed to make an impact in stops at Carolina, Baltimore, and Houston, while developing a troublesome reputation as a distraction in the locker room.
Johnson signed a one-year deal with Cleveland but the experiment hasn’t gone as initially planned. He turned heads with several drops in joint practices with the Eagles and ran a bad route in Saturday’s preseason game, which led to a Dillon Gabriel pick-six.
The Browns recently added undrafted rookie Isaiah Bond, making the possibility of cutting the veteran wide receiver a realistic possibility.
Azeez Ojulari — EDGE, Philadelphia Eagles
Despite signing a one-year, $3 million deal in March, Azeez Ojulari might be one of the surprise cut candidates for the reigning Super Bowl champs. A former second-round pick, Ojulari flashed his potential by racking up 22 sacks in limited action during his time with the New York Giants. However, he’s currently the fourth edge rusher on the roster behind Nolan Smith Jr., Jalyx Hunt, and Josh Uche, making him expendable.
Cole Strange — G, New England Patriots
A former first-round pick, Cole Strange is in a difficult spot as he enters his fourth season in New England. One of the final holdovers from the Bill Belichick era, Strange wasn’t drafted by the current regime, so there’s no pressure to keep him on the roster.
Rookie Jared Wilson has already overtaken Strange on the depth chart as the starting guard, and even though there’s an obvious need at center with Garrett Bradbury getting hurt, Ben Brown seems to have the backup center spot locked down.
That leaves Strange with no obvious role in New England, which already declined his fifth-year option.
Taysom Hill — TE, New Orleans Saints
Taysom Hill is a fan-favorite in New Orleans but is currently on the PUP list while he recovers from a torn ACL. Head coach Kellen Moore recently revealed that Hill isn’t close to returning to the field, which complicates matters for the Saints.
Since Hill is on the PUP list, New Orleans doesn’t have to use a roster spot to keep him on the team, but the Saints could save $10 million towards the 2025 salary cap by cutting him before the start of the season.
This would be a cost-cutting move for a team in the midst of what could be a long rebuilding year.
