NFL Cuts 2016: Release Predictions for Some of League’s Toughest Decisions

From rookies to longtime veterans, roster cuts are always a scary time for everyone in the NFL. As teams try to settle on a final roster before the season begins, noteworthy players will end up without a job.

Organizations are allowed to keep 90 players on their rosters for the first few weeks of the preseason before being forced to drop down to 75 after Week 3. The deadline to lose these 15 players is Tuesday, Aug. 30 at 4 p.m. ET.

It is just one step before eventually cutting down to 53 players for the regular-season roster. Whether it is due to injury concerns, too high of a salary or simply poor performance, here are some notable names that could end up being cut before the start of the 2016 season.

Matt Elam, S, Baltimore Ravens

The Baltimore Ravens have been known for their great drafting ability, especially on the defensive side of the ball. However, Matt Elam might be one first-round pick who doesn’t make it through his rookie contract.

After losing his starting job during his second season in the league, Elam missed all of 2015 with a torn bicep. The safety knew how important it was to get off to a good start in 2016, per Ryan Mink of the team’s official site:

This is my last chance, my last go-round.

I’ve been here for three years, didn’t live up to what I wanted to live up to. It’s my chance to prove everybody wrong and prove it to myself. This is it, do or die, winner take all. Every day is a championship game for me.

Elam might not even get that last chance after suffering a knee injury that would require arthroscopic surgery. As Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com noted, the injury could signal the end of his time with the Ravens.

“[General Manager] Ozzie [Newsome] will deal with it rosterwise however he decides to deal with it,” head coach John Harbaugh said, per Hensley.

This isn’t exactly a vote of confidence from the head coach, who hasn’t seen enough to defend his player with a roster spot.

Baltimore already has solid starting options at safety after signing Eric Weddle to join Lardarius Webb in the secondary. Keeping Elam would only be for depth, something it will be missing with an open roster spot until the young …

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