NFL teams trimmed their roster from 90 to 53 players before the deadline at 6 p.m. ET on Sunday. As usual, it was one of the most emotionally taxing weekends in the league.
Some of these players will get a second chance if another club picks them up on the waiver wire before Monday at 1 p.m. ET, or if the team they played for in preseason re-signs them to its practice squad. For others, unfortunately, it marks the end of their football journey.
It’s painful for all involved, but it’s something teams are required to do. With that in mind, here are the five most notable cuts from Sunday’s deadline.
Nothing has gone right for Kentucky Wildcats star Levis since he unexpectedly fell to the Titans at pick No. 33 of the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft. Many thought that may have been a steal for Tennessee.
“I don’t have a crystal ball, but I would bet on Will Levis. He’s in a great situation there in Tennessee,” ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. told Jim Wyatt of the team website in 2023.
That take aged poorly. Levis went 5-16 in 21 regular-season games, posting a below-average 82.7 passer rating before 2025 No. 1 pick Cam Ward replaced him. This preseason, Levis failed to attract trade suitors, finishing 21-of-39 passing (53.8 percent) for 200 yards.
Tennessee’s dysfunction didn’t help. It fired former head coach Mike Vrabel after the 2023 season and replaced him with Brian Callahan. He was fired after going 4-19 in two seasons. Levis still didn’t blame the franchise after confirming he had been waived. It was a mutual decision.