The NFL preseason is winding down, and with games ending Thursday night, teams are getting ready for the roster crunch that always follows. That means a fresh wave of free-agent interest could be coming fast, especially for veterans who have been sitting on the market waiting for the right call.
A handful of proven names still available could land somewhere soon after cutdown day. Some are working back from injuries, some are weighing retirement, and some are just holding out for the right fit. Either way, these six players stand out as the ones most likely to hear from teams in the coming days or weeks.
James Daniels is one of the more intriguing options because the talent has never really been the question. The concern is health.
He is coming off a pectoral injury in 2025, a year after a season-ending Achilles tendon injury in 2024, and he managed only three offensive snaps for the Miami Dolphins last season before that latest injury ended things. Still, he has not turned 30 and has already shown he can be a strong piece on an offensive line.
If he is fully recovered, his experience and versatility could make him a useful late pickup for a team hit by injury up front.
Taylor Decker has taken a quieter path so far, even with his name already connected to the Chicago Bears and Los Angeles Rams. Nothing has come together yet, but his track record is hard to ignore.
He started 145 games over 10 seasons with the Detroit Lions, and there is a good chance he still has a year or two left. For a team suddenly needing help at left tackle, Decker looks like the kind of steady veteran who can step in and hold things together.
Jonnu Smith also brings recent production that should keep him on radars. He spent the 2025 season with the Pittsburgh Steelers and was released in August after catching 38 passes for 222 yards and two touchdowns in his lone year there.
Before that, he earned a Pro Bowl nod with the Miami Dolphins in 2024, when he put up career bests with 88 receptions, 884 yards and eight touchdowns. That kind of output makes him a real option for a team searching for an experienced pass catcher who can contribute right away.
Cam Robinson fits the same general mold on the offensive line. He has been a longtime starter and has plenty of experience at left tackle, which matters even more this late in the offseason. One injury or one unexpected cut can change a depth chart in a hurry, and Robinson’s background as a starter could make him a quick solution for a team that suddenly needs one.
Matt Milano is probably the most accomplished linebacker still out there. He was a first-team All-Pro in 2022 and also made the Pro Bowl that season, cementing his reputation as one of the league’s better coverage linebackers.
The injuries have been the issue since then. Milano played five games in 2023, four in 2024, and then returned for 12 games last season, finishing with 67 tackles and 3.5 sacks.
If a team wants experience and is willing to bet on health, he is one of the names to watch.
Kenny Moore II has been waiting since May, when the Indianapolis Colts released him after they couldn’t work out a trade. He had asked for a move after his role changed under defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo.
When he is at his best, Moore has been one of the league’s top nickel cornerbacks, and he earned a Pro Bowl selection in 2021. Now nearly 31, he is clearly looking for the right situation, not just the first one.
If a secondary injury hits before the season, he could finally get that opening.
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The Browns 31-7 loss to the Bills in their second preseason game of 2026 brought another rough night for Deshaun Watson, and another reminder of how quickly the attention around him can shift from the field to everything around it. Watson completed five of 12 passes for 36 yards with one interception, a line that did little to quiet the scrutiny that has followed him through his time in Cleveland and into another preseason setting.
Bills fans had plenty to enjoy from the lopsided game, but the bigger conversation afterward centered on Watsons reaction to boos from the crowd and the way he handled the moment. His comments about fan behavior drew immediate notice, and the postgame buzz only grew when Shannon Sharpe weighed in on Watsons appearance during a media show, keeping the spotlight on a quarterback who seems to generate reaction wherever he goes. [Read more 🡒]
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Bills Bubble Players Are Making Buffalos Final Roster Decisions Tougher
The Bills kept their preseason rolling with a 31-7 win over the Browns, and the more encouraging part for Buffalo may be how many fringe players kept showing up when the roster picture got tighter. After taking a 14-7 lead into halftime, the Bills pulled away in the second half, and the game offered another look at the kind of bottom-of-the-roster competition that can shape the final cutdown decisions.
Kyle Allen and Joe Andreessen were among the players who helped themselves with strong performances, while Mecole Hardman Jr. was among those who did not have as clean a night. For a team that is already trying to sort out where the depth stands, those kinds of showings matter, and the final roster decisions could come down to exactly these sorts of preseason reps. [Read more 🡒]