2022 NFL final roster cuts: 32 takeaways include pressure on Trey Lance, Eagles upgrade, and more

The 2022 NFL preseason is within the rear view, and now all 32 groups have finalized their rosters for the common season. “Finalized” is a free phrase right here, contemplating lineups will probably be tweaked from now till the tip of the yr. However we now have a transparent take a look at what most golf equipment will appear like going into Week 1. Listed here are 32 key takeaways from Tuesday’s deadline for ultimate cuts:

1. The stress is on Trey Lance. Actions communicate louder than phrases, and the 49ers fortunately welcoming again Jimmy Garoppolo on a revised contract suggests Kyle Shanahan cannot absolutely stop his oft-injured flame. Sure, quarterback insurance coverage is critical. However think about being Lance, now having your predecessor again within the room as you try to not solely win video games however win over everybody on and across the staff.

2. The Eagles have upgraded mainly each certainly one of their positions of want after buying and selling for Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, the feisty ex-Saints slot nook. Gardner-Johnson will slide in as a beginning security in a secondary additionally that includes Darius Slay and James Bradberry. Possibly it is not flawed to purchase into the Philly hype.

3. It is James Cook season in Buffalo, with pass-catching specialist Duke Johnson launched. Devin Singletary and Zack Moss will stay the highest conventional operating backs, however the rookie is now primed for a respectable function.

4. Dameon Pierce is much more poised to make noise at RB, with former Colts starter Marlon Mack amongst these reduce. The rookie Florida product ought to be a straightforward option to deal with the highest job, with Rex Burkhead as a complement.

5. Malik Willis‘ preseason electrical energy wasn’t for naught, with the Titans reducing Logan Woodside as Ryan Tannehill’s prime backup. Quietly, this example is analogous to the Lance-Garoppolo pairing of 2021. It is in all probability a matter of time till Tennessee is itching for Willis’ athleticism beneath middle.

6. The Cowboys do not worth the backup QB place. After reducing all three of Dak Prescott’s reserves (Cooper Rush, Will Grier, Ben DiNucci), they’re reportedly planning to deliver no less than one again as soon as they will transfer different veterans to injured reserve. Which means they belief they’re going to be out there, which implies everybody else across the NFL thinks little or no of them. Which is ok, should you consider any prolonged lack of Dak means the season is doomed anyway. Nonetheless, legit No. 2s can go a good distance.

7. Josh McDaniels cares not for the investments of the Jon Gruden-Mike Mayock period. Slicing 2021 first-rounder Alex Leatherwood is an admission of a foul gamble at proper deal with, however buying and selling Trayvon Mullen, a 24-year-old beginning cornerback, is kind of the endorsement of a remade secondary headlined by Rock Ya-Sin.

8. The Jaguars actually do have a deeper receiving corps, as evidenced by the discharge of Laquon Treadwell, who emerged as a favourite goal of Trevor Lawrence down the stretch in 2021.

9. The Dolphins are going to wish further effort from former first-rounder Noah Igbinoghene with beginning nook Byron Jones out for no less than 4 video games coming off an Achilles damage. Or simply much more huge performs from Xavien Howard and Jevon Holland.

10. Talking of big-time CB accidents within the AFC East, it is time for Kaiir Elam to make an early influence in Buffalo, the place All-Professional Tre’Davious White can be assured to overlook no less than 4 video games as he recovers from an ACL tear.

11. Brian Robinson Jr.’s inclusion on the Commanders‘ energetic roster, simply days after gunfire struck him in an tried carjacking, confirms he is on monitor for a giant function of their offense. The rookie seemingly overtook Antonio Gibson as Washington’s major ball-carrier because the summer time progressed.

12. The Panthers are constructed to play some rugged, dink-and-dunk soccer. They already had Christian McCaffrey and D.J. Moore, and now Laviska Shenault has been free of Jacksonville through commerce as a spicy outlet for Baker Mayfield.

13. Taking a cue from their NFC East brethren in Dallas, the Giants are rolling the cube when it comes to QB well being and depth, reducing the wire on Davis Webb’s second stint on the town to depart solely a banged-up Tyrod Taylor behind Daniel Jones. Then once more, Webb might very properly return to the follow squad.

14. Josh Gordon’s NFL profession may be over after his launch from the Chiefs, who had been looking forward to WR assist this offseason after dealing Tyreek Hill. Now 31, he is caught all of 12 passes in 17 video games during the last three seasons.

15. Tyler Johnson’s profession simply may be getting began after the previous fifth-round choose was a shock reduce from a crowded Buccaneers WR room. A giant-play risk popping out of Minnesota, he figures to be a sizzling goal as a developmental choice after two comparatively quiet years in Tampa Bay.

16. It is secure to rely on respectable workloads for each Chase Edmonds and Raheem Mostert in Miami, the place the Dolphins stated goodbye to Sony Michel earlier than the ex-Patriots and Rams starter took a single regular-season snap. Edmonds bought good cash to depart Arizona again within the spring, and Mostert has a historical past working beneath Mike McDaniel.

17. Whereas RBs are as replaceable as ever (see: Michel, Sony), the veteran market has a brand new plug-and-play choice in Phillip Lindsay, who could not crack the Colts behind Jonathan Taylor and Nyheim Hines. At RB2 or RB3, you are able to do a lot worse.

18. Justin Fields nonetheless has an unsightly WRs corps past Darnell Mooney, and Chicago maintaining seven on the 53-man roster simply proves it, with Velus Jones Jr., Byron Pringle and N’Keal Harry — none of them overly encouraging on their very own — all banged up and candidates to hit IR.

19. The Jets weren’t proud of no matter commerce presents they might have gotten for Denzel Mims, the previous second-rounder who balled out within the preseason finale. However there’s nonetheless time for them to dangle him forward of — or early in — the 2022 season.

20. Pittsburgh is a little bit higher on the margins after swapping draft picks for a few low-floor veterans: Jesse Davis at guard and Malik Reed off the sting. The previous began each O-line spot besides middle throughout a four-year run with the Dolphins, and Reed quietly totaled 13 sacks in his final two seasons with the Broncos.

21. Shaquille Leonard, previously referred to as Darius, is on monitor to overlook minimal time after avoiding a Bodily Unable to Carry out designation. He underwent again surgical procedure this summer time. A visit to IR is not out of the query, but it surely appears farther-fetched.

22. The Vikings actually weren’t proud of Kellen Mond’s growth, reducing the previous third-rounder only one yr into his profession, and handing the No. 2 job behind Kirk Cousins to the newly acquired Nick Mullens.

23. The Broncos nonetheless see one thing in Brett Rypien, who’s set to be the backup to Russell Wilson after Josh Johnson’s launch. Or else they’re plotting an extra transfer on the place within the wake of different groups’ cuts.

24. The Lions, like their rivals in Minnesota, weren’t content material with no matter was occurring on the backup QB spot, reducing ex-Packers reserve Tim Boyle and tentatively turning to David Blough as Jared Goff insurance coverage. Gulp?

25. Jalen Reagor might properly have a future in Philadelphia. The 2020 first-rounder, relegated to a near-nonexistent function with A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith giving the WR room some actual juice, survived ultimate cuts and may be higher off with out the stress of performing atop the depth chart, a la Nelson Agholor years in the past.

26. Buccaneers middle Ryan Jensen may be a safer guess than anticipated to return this season, regardless of his extreme knee damage throughout camp. That is as a result of Tampa Bay reportedly reduce veteran security Logan Ryan with the intention of quickly shifting Jensen to IR, re-signing Ryan and hoping to designate Jensen for a regular-season return down the street.

27. O.J. Howard simply may not be the pass-catching weapon everybody envisioned when he got here out of Alabama. If it wasn’t obvious throughout his Buccaneers run, maybe it’s now, after the Bills reduce him free after a single summer time.

28. Mike McDaniel believes in Skylar Thompson’s potential. The rookie seventh-rounder dominated the preseason, incomes a 53-man spot behind Tua Tagovailoa and Teddy Bridgewater somewhat than hitting waivers for a possible practice-squad transfer.

29. Chargers nook J.C. Jackson may be prepared sooner somewhat than later, avoiding PUP regardless of lately present process ankle surgical procedure that was anticipated to sideline him for as much as a month. He is nonetheless an official chance to go well with up for Week 1.

30. Lance McCutcheon’s preseason wasn’t a fluke, no less than within the eyes of Sean McVay, who’s maintaining the undrafted Montana State product in his WR room whereas Van Jefferson recovers from knee surgical procedure.

31. The Chiefs’ RB room is as unpredictable as ever, with former Bucs starter Ronald Jones securing a job regardless of a sluggish begin to camp and preseason. He might cut up time with Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Jerick McKinnon and Isiah Pacheco.

32. It is lastly OK to get pumped for actual soccer. Let’s go!