Three NFL veterans who may have just become roster-cut candidates

NFL teams have less than two weeks to reduce their bloated preseason rosters to 53 players. A few recognizable veterans may not survive the process.

Recent additions have made several position groups uncomfortably crowded. These three NFL veterans are not guaranteed to be released, but their roster security looks considerably shakier than it did when training camp opened.

Devin Singletary, New York Giants

Singletary already accepted a considerable pay cut to remain with the Giants this offseason. His base salary reportedly dropped from $5 million to $1.3 million, with another $1 million available through incentives.

That saved his job in March. Najee Harris’ arrival could end it in August.

New York now has Harris, Cam Skattebo, Tyrone Tracy Jr. and Singletary competing for carries. Keeping all four is possible, particularly because Harris and Skattebo are returning from major injuries. It would also leave the Giants using a roster spot on a 28-year-old running back who rushed for exactly 437 yards in each of the past two seasons.

Singletary has started only six games during that stretch. Tracy passed him on the depth chart in 2024, and Skattebo became one of New York’s most important offensive players before suffering a season-ending injury last October.

Harris is not yet in football shape following his torn Achilles, according to Giants coach John Harbaugh. Once Harris is ready, however, Singletary may become the fourth option in a backfield that only needs three.

Sam Williams, Dallas Cowboys

Dallas’ decision to sign Von Miller created a problem for every pass rusher near the bottom of its depth chart.

Williams returned to the Cowboys on a one-year prove-it contract carrying a $2.5 million cap hit. The agreement includes at least $2 million guaranteed, which gives Dallas a financial reason to keep him. The actual competition may give the team several reasons not to.

The Cowboys already had Rashan Gary, Donovan Ezeiruaku, first-round rookie Malachi Lawrence and James Houston before adding Miller. Houston recorded 5.5 sacks last season and reportedly strengthened his case with a productive preseason opener.

Williams has flashed ability since Dallas selected him in the second round in 2022. Injuries, penalties and off-field problems have repeatedly interrupted that progress. He is now 27, playing on a one-year contract and stuck inside one of the NFL’s deepest collections of edge-rushers.

The guaranteed money makes a release painful. Carrying seven players at essentially the same position would be worse.

Kristian Fulton, Kansas City Chiefs

Fulton may be the most surprising name of the three.

Kansas City signed him to a two-year deal before the 2025 season, but injuries limited him to eight games and two starts. He now carries a $13 million cap charge, making him rather expensive for someone who may open the season as the Chiefs’ third or fourth outside cornerback.

Kansas City selected Mansoor Delane with the sixth overall pick in April. Nohl Williams is pushing for a larger role after being drafted in 2025, while former Chief L’Jarius Sneed has returned with extensive knowledge of Steve Spagnuolo’s defense.

The current depth chart lists Fulton behind Williams and Sneed. Releasing Fulton would create approximately $5 million in cap room, although it would also leave Kansas City with substantial dead money.

That is not normally how the Chiefs conduct business. Neither is paying $13 million for a veteran cornerback they may not trust to start.

Fulton still has time to change the conversation. If Delane, Williams and Sneed have already secured the meaningful roles, Kansas City may decide that an expensive insurance policy is one luxury it can live without.