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Chris O’Meara / Associated Press
The NFL roster bubble remains a major facet of training camps this summer, no matter how unorthodox things are.
A number of new factors, however, make the bubble process more complicated than in most years. The NFL has reduced the roster limit to 80 players, and the possibility of a reduced salary cap in 2021 and beyond could mean more cost-driven cuts by teams.
But at the same time, a larger practice squad with more lenient appeal rules and protest protections means teams can get creative in how they hide talent.
Either way, there are some big names in the league that could end up being cut from the bubble due to the circumstances, production, and age of the cap. These are some of the bigger candidates to watch out for.
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Ben Margot / Associated Press
Back in 2018, running back Jerick McKinnon was one of free agency’s most notable signings when the San Francisco 49ers gave him a four-year contract worth $ 30 million.
But McKinnon hasn’t played in a regular season game since 2017.
Injury devastated McKinnon along with the 49ers. Even in 2017 with the Minnesota Vikings, his versatility was a godsend at 570 yards and three rushing and 51 catches for 421 extra yards and two scores.
But the 49ers have apparently moved on, with Raheem Mostert breaking out last year and benefiting from a restructuring. The front office also brought in Tevin Coleman in 2019 and gathered a handful of intriguing undrafted players.
McKinnon is still only 28, but injury history and the $ 2.91 million milestone could mean the 49ers are making an obvious call to the position.
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Wilfredo Lee / Associated Press
It wasn’t that long ago that Josh Rosen was one of the biggest names in the quarterback draft class, eventually becoming the 10th overall pick in 2018.
But Rosen is a good example of how quickly things can change in the NFL.
The Arizona Cardinals threw Rosen to Wolves as a rookie, and he completed 55.2% of his passes with more interceptions than touchdowns for a team staff who were ultimately fired. The organization then couldn’t pass up Kyler Murray to No.1, and Rosen went to the Miami Dolphins, which he got in just six games.
Now those Dolphins have made Tua Tagovailoa a first-round pick and have hung on to veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick. There are still some perks with Rosen (especially if a team ever allows him some consistency), but he clearly won’t topple the franchise’s potential new passer anytime soon.
And while the Dolphins could get creative with Rosen on the practice squad to technically line up three quarters, both sides might be willing to let him look for opportunities elsewhere as Fitzpatrick is clearly the starter until Tagovailoa. be ready.
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Matt Rourke / Associated Press
Rasul Douglas could be a strange man in high school for the Philadelphia Eagles.
Douglas was an intriguing and tall defensive back (6’2 “) when the Eagles made him a third-round pick in 2017. But the organization has made a notable effort to become faster and more versatile in the corners and in safety since. .
To that end, the Eagles caused a stir by acquiring Darius Slay, adding him to a depth roster with names like Nickell Robey-Coleman and Avonte Maddox. That leaves Douglas roughly fourth, at best per year, away from six touchdowns in coverage while still earning a Pro Football Focus rating of 52.4.
With Douglas carrying a cap of around $ 1million, the Eagles could be looking to use his spot on a younger, upward looking player behind the big names who are sure to get most of the shots in 2020.
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Chris Szagola / Associated press
The Chicago Bears have made it clear that Adam Shaheen is set to exit this offseason by bringing in Jimmy Graham and second-round rookie Cole Kmet. They then proceeded to trade Shaheen to the Miami Dolphins.
But these dolphins aren’t a lock on keeping Shaheen for very long, either.
A second-round pick by the Bears in 2017 who was then considered a risk coming from Ashland, Shaheen has only appeared in 27 career games in three seasons, recording just 26 assists.
But now Shaheen joins a deep draw featuring 2018 second-round pick Mike Gesicki, as well as 2018 fourth-round pick Durham Smythe and 6’5 “Chris Myarick. Considering the Dolphins only spent as a conditional seventh-round pick to get him in the door and he has a cap of $ 1.27 million in 2020, Shaheen could be out as quickly as he arrived if coaches don’t see a big early impact. .
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Matt Dunham / Associated Press
The proverbial writing has been on the wall for the Arizona Cardinals and Haason Reddick.
Arizona chose not to take the fifth-year option over the 2017 No.13 pick for obvious reasons, the main one being the fact that he has now changed positions four times. Now add the fact that the Cardinals took on another Swiss Army Knife defenseman with this year’s eighth pick Isaiah Simmons.
Simmons thinks of gnawing at the Reddick cliché like the experiences of the coaching staff. This is especially likely when you consider that Reddick recorded a miserable 40.2 PFF rating in 2019 while missing 12.6% of his tackles and allowing seven touchdowns in coverage.
While the Cardinals might choose to keep experimenting in the hopes that something stays, Reddick is carrying a cap of $ 4.29 million in 2020, and the defensive makeover could see the team using their place to keep someone. other long term.
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Mark LoMoglio / Associated Press
Six years, $ 40.8 million The deal the Tampa Bay Buccaneers gave tight end Cameron Brate in 2018 still looked odd.
Just in time, Brate had just 289 yards and six touchdowns in 2018, then followed in 2019 with 311 yards and four scores. Not only were the numbers worthy of a shrug, Brate only played 38% of the total offensive shots, winning a 66.3. PFF grade.
By comparison, OJ Howard has played 69 percent of the offensive shots, and joining him this year is Rob Gronkowski, former favorite target of new quarterback Tom Brady. In a normal squad, the Buccaneers coaches could get creative and use all three, but the Buccaneers are hardly normal given the presence of weapons like Mike Evans and Chris Godwin as well.
Considering Brate hit a high of $ 4.25million this year, north of $ 6million the next two years and $ 7.5million the following year, the Buccaneers might just cut ties. after the unexpected new arrivals of this offseason.
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Matt Rourke / Associated Press
Shaquem Griffin has yet to play a major role with the Seattle Seahawks since his fifth-round draft in 2018.
Over the next two years, the Seahawks used three picks for the job, the most notable being first-round Jordyn Brooks this year. It’s not hard to see why someone like the Seattle TimesBob Condotta considers Griffin a candidate for the bubble.
Griffin was involved in just 9% of defensive shots last year and 47% of special teams shots. He lobbied five times in a rotating role, but got a PFF score of 63.9.
While the Seahawks might still look to use Griffin more on the edge as a pass-rusher, coaches have said the same ahead of the 2019 season. When it comes to playing the numbers game, Griffin could be one of the few. most notable players to drop.
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Ed Zurga / Associated Press
LeSean McCoy is a late arrival for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but he could end up just being a camp corps despite his name recognition.
McCoy, now 32, spent last season with the Kansas City Chiefs and recorded just 101 runs (none in the playoffs).
Now Shady joins another backfield whose outlook is very good without him playing a major role.
Ronald Jones is already the favorite from head coach Bruce Arians at the start of the season after 724 yards and six scores on an average of 4.2 and 31 catches in 2019. The Buccaneers also passed a third round pick over Ke’Shawn Vaughn, who rushed for 30 touchdowns on a 5.8 average over four college seasons. And Dare Ogunbowale is a pass-catching option, the kind Tom Brady loved in New England.
With past trends and the current depth chart taken into account, McCoy might not be long for his new list.
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