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7 potential shocking roster cuts during NFL training camp

With training camps around the NFL beginning, we are one step closer to the regular season getting underway. It also means that a lot of players are about to be out of jobs.

The toughest thing for NFL organizations is cut downs. They have to give pink slips to players ranging from rookies to 10-year veterans that are just trying to hold on at the end of a roster. There will be plenty of recognizable names hitting free agency in the coming weeks, as front offices look to squeeze out some extra salary cap space or young players have surprisingly strong camps that lead to veterans becoming expendable.

Who are some players we could see hit the open market sometime in training camp? Here are seven shocking roster cuts that could occur in the coming weeks.

7. LB Jordan Hicks, Arizona Cardinals

This selection has little to do with production, as Jordan Hicks has been excellent for the Arizona Cardinals in the second level of their defense. Hicks has played the sixth most snaps and recorded the sixth-most tackles in the NFL since joining the Cardinals in 2019.

But the team used their first-round pick on linebackers Isaiah Simmons and Zaven Collins the last two years and announced them as starters earlier in the offseason. That likely means Hicks’ time in the desert will be coming to an end sooner than later. 

6. QB Nick Foles, Chicago Bears

The Chicago Bears made an aggressive move during the 2021 NFL Draft, trading up with the New York Giants to snag Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields. Fields is the future of the franchise, but veteran Andy Dalton has the starting job right now, leaving Nick Foles as the No. 3 QB at best.

There is very little reason for the Bears to hold onto Foles as third on the depth chart despite talking highly of him throughout the offseason. There are better ways to spend money and a roster spot than on a 32-year old quarterback when an experienced veteran is already on the roster.

5. RB Mark Ingram II, Houston Texans

The Houston Texans took an odd strategy to fill out their running back room this offseason. They restructured the contract of David Johnson and then added three more veterans to the mix along with him.

Philip Lindsay, Rex Burkhead and Mark Ingram II were all brought in. There is very little reason to keep all three, and Ingram looks like the odd man out at this point. Ingram is the oldest of the bunch and offers the least diverse skill set of three, offering nothing on special teams.

4. QB Josh Rosen, San Francisco 49ers

Josh Rosen is one of the unluckiest players in the NFL in recent history. It was only 3 years ago that he was selected No. 10 overall by the Arizona Cardinals but he has yet to get a real chance at proving himself as a starter.

The Cardinals select Kyler Murray a year after picking Rosen. He landed with the Miami Dolphins, who selected Tua Tagioviola. In December he was picked up by the San Francisco 49ers and re-signed on a one-year deal. They moved up and selected Trey Lance, meaning Rosen’s time in the Bay Area will likely come to an end in the coming weeks.

Still only 24, Rosen should be able to latch on with a team in a developmental role at the very least.

3. CB Josh Jackson, Green Bay Packers

The Green Bay Packers had to upgrade their secondary this offseason. They have a star in cornerback Jaire Alexander but have been unable to find a player to succeed opposite of him. Josh Jackson is one of the players that have failed to step up.

Jackson received a PFF grade of 52 last season, which could lead to him being shown the door in training camp. The Packers used a first-round pick on Eric Stokes and a fifth rounder on Shemar Jean-Charles to shore up the secondary, making the former second-round pick in Jackson expendable.

2. LB Anthony Hitchens, Kansas City Chiefs

The Kansas City Chiefs did everything they could to upgrade in the trenches during the offseason, revamping their offensive line. That left them with little flexibility when it comes to the salary cap, but that could be fixed with the release of someone such as Anthony Hitchens.

Hitchens has been a very good player for Kansas City, but the chance to clear $6.4 million in cap space may be too much to pass up. Hitchens played only 56 percent of the defensive snaps last season, so the Chiefs may find him expandable, clearing money to shore up other areas of the roster.

1. S Landon Collins, Washington Football Team

Landon Collins left the New York Giants for the Washington Football Team in 2019, agreeing to a monster six-year deal. Collins wasn’t living up to that contract before injuring his Achilles last year, so he could be on the way out.

Washington could save $7.7 million from cutting Collins and they already have a replacement on the roster. Kamren Curl, who was selected in the seventh round in 2020, had an incredible season with 88 tackles, three interceptions and two sacks. Putting up production like that, at a fraction of the cost of Collins, could lead to Washington moving on from their former big free-agent acquisition.

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