The cruel reality of NFL roster cuts struck with devastating precision Tuesday afternoon. As teams slashed their rosters from 90 to 53 players, dreams died hard across locker rooms nationwide. But among the carnage, five particular roster cuts sent shockwaves through the football world—moves that left even seasoned observers scratching their heads and wondering what the hell just happened.

Mike Edwards: The Chiefs’ Stunning Betrayal

Nobody—and I mean nobody—saw this one coming. The Kansas City Chiefs releasing Mike Edwards wasn’t just surprising; it was downright heartless. Here’s a guy who bled championship gold, literally wearing two Super Bowl rings on his fingers. One with Tampa Bay in Super Bowl LV, another with Kansas City just last season in LVIII.

Edwards returned to Kansas City this past April, signing a one-year deal that felt like a homecoming. The 29-year-old safety had found his groove in Andy Reid’s system, providing veteran leadership and clutch plays when it mattered most. But Tuesday’s roster cuts showed that even loyalty and championship pedigree can’t guarantee your spot when the business side of football rears its ugly head.

The emotional toll on Edwards has to be crushing. Imagine celebrating a Super Bowl victory with your teammates, thinking you’ve found your forever home, only to get that dreaded phone call eight months later. It’s the kind of gut punch that reminds every NFL player that this league will chew you up and spit you out without a second thought.

Clyde Edwards-Helaire: From Championship Glory to Practice Squad Purgatory

The fall of Clyde Edwards-Helaire reads like a Shakespearean tragedy. This wasn’t supposed to be how the story ended for the former LSU Tiger who helped deliver a national championship to Baton Rouge in 2019. The Chiefs saw enough in him to make him their first-round pick in 2020, envisioning him as the perfect complement to Patrick Mahomes’ aerial assault.

For 4.5 seasons, Edwards-Helaire battled through injuries and inconsistency in Kansas City. When the Chiefs moved on, he thought he’d found redemption returning to Louisiana with the Saints. But even that homecoming couldn’t save him from Tuesday’s roster cuts.

The Saints’ decision to terminate his contract hits differently because of what it represents. Here’s a player who once carried championship aspirations, now reduced to a footnote in someone else’s depth chart. His brief stint in New Orleans—46 rushing yards on 13 carries and three catches for 24 yards—tells the story of a player fighting desperately to reclaim his former glory.

Isaiah Simmons: The Lost Potential of a Top-10 Pick

If there’s a poster child for NFL draft disappointment, Isaiah Simmons might be it. The Green Bay Packers’ decision to cut the former eighth overall pick represents the final nail in the coffin of what should have been a transcendent career.

Simmons came out of Clemson with all the physical tools you could dream of—speed, size, versatility, and football intelligence that made scouts drool. The Arizona Cardinals saw a future All-Pro linebacker who could revolutionize defensive schemes. Instead, they got a player who couldn’t find his identity on the field.

Three teams in five years tells you everything you need to know about Simmons’ NFL journey. Arizona gave up on him after three seasons. The Giants tried to salvage something over two years. Now Green Bay, known for developing defensive talent, couldn’t find a use for his skill set either.

The heartbreak for Simmons has to be overwhelming. At 27, he’s still young enough to contribute, but his reputation precedes him now. Teams see a first-round bust rather than untapped potential. It’s a cruel reminder that talent alone doesn’t guarantee success in this league.