The 2025 NFL Season: Teams Define Their Rosters
The 2025 NFL season is about to begin. The defending Super Bowl champion, the Philadelphia Eagles, will host the Dallas Cowboys on September 4th. In preparation for this exciting start, teams had to finalize their 53-player rosters by Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET.
This period of staff cuts has generated significant movements across the league, including cuts and transfers that reshape team strategies.
Here’s a look at the most important moves in the National Football Conference (NFC East) East Division.Dallas Cowboys
Most notable move: Given Micah Parsons’ uncertain situation for the opening game, James Houston (one sack, three pressures, and two tackles for loss in 2024) could be one of the beneficiaries, as Dallas decided to carry six pass rushers on the 53-man roster. Houston has been disruptive in practices and during games.
The Cowboys will likely get Hakeem Adeniji back as their backup tackle and cornerback C.J. Goodwin to the roster as early as Wednesday, when they can place running back Phil Mafah (shoulder) and cornerback Caelen Carson (knee) on the reserve/designated to return list.Transferred: OL Asim Richards (New Orleans)Cut/Released: OT Hakeem Adeniji, DL Tommy Akingbesote, LB Justin Barron, OL Nick Broeker, WR Jalen Brooks, DL Earnest Brown IV, OL Saahdiq Charles, OL Geron Christian, S Alijah Clark, OL La’el Collins, WR Jalen Cropper, RB Malik Davis, DT Denzel Daxon, TE Princeton Fant, TE Rivaldo Fairweather, CB C.J. Goodwin, QB Will Grier, CB Kemon Hall, LB Darius Harris, WR Traeshon Holden, LB Buddy Johnson, WR Josh Kelly, CB Christian Matthew, DB Israel Mukuamu, TE Tyler Neville, CB Michael Ojemudia, CB Troy Pride Jr., CB Robert Rochell, S Mike Smith Jr., TE John Stephens Jr., RB Deuce Vaughn, DE Tyrus Wheat.Reserves/Injured: WR Jonathan Mingo, DE Payton TurnerReserves/Physically Unable to Perform: LB DeMarvion Overshown, CB Josh ButlerNon-football related reserve/injury: CB Shavon Revel Jr.New York Giants
Most notable move: The Giants cut Tommy DeVito. It was expected and became a certainty when they signed Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston, and also selected Jaxson Dart in the draft. DeVito was the fourth quarterback throughout the spring and summer, and the Giants were not going to keep four quarterbacks on the active roster.
Perhaps DeVito will land on the practice squad, but even that seems unlikely. However, he will have other options. That Ihmir Smith-Marsette didn’t get a chance as a returner was significantly more surprising than DeVito’s move. Smith-Marsette returned a kickoff for a touchdown, and also a punt, although it was nullified by a penalty, while averaging nearly 35 yards per kickoff return in 2024. One would have thought that would earn him another chance to be the returner. But the Giants, instead, chose Gunner Olszewski over Smith-Marsette to be their returner at the start of the season.Cut/Released: QB Tommy DeVito, RB Dante Miller, RB Jonathan Ward, TE Greg Dulcich, TE Jermaine Terry II, CB Tre Hawkins III, CB Dee Williams, DL Elijah Chatman, DL Jeremiah Ledbetter, DL Jordon Riley, DL Cory Durden, DL Elijah Garcia, G Jake Kubas, OL Bryan Hudson, OT Stone Forsythe, K Jude McAtamney, OLB Trace Ford, OLB Tomon Fox, S Raheem Layne, S Makari Paige, WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette, WR Juice Wells Jr., WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey, WR Dalen Cambre, WR Da’Quan FeltonPhiladelphia Eagles
Most notable move: The additions of tackle Fred Johnson and quarterback Sam Howell bolster the depth in a couple of key areas. QB number 2 Tanner McKee has earned the organization’s trust, but suffered an injury to the throwing hand finger at the end of training camp. Rookie Kyle McCord is not yet ready for NFL action, so the Eagles turned to Howell, who has 18 career starts.
Johnson spent the last two seasons in Philadelphia before signing with the Jaguars earlier this offseason. As no one stood out at training camp this summer, he may assume the role of backup tackle on game day.Traded: OL Darian KinnardAcquired: OT Fred Johnson, QB Sam HowellCut/Released: LS Charley Hughlett, OLB Patrick Johnson, T Kendall Lamm, WR Terrace Marshall Jr., CB Parry Nickerson, WR Avery Williams, WR Ife Adeyi, LB Chance Campbell, CB Tariq Castro-Fields (injured), WR Elijah Cooks, LB Lance Dixon, DT Joe Evans, LB Dallas Gant, G Kenyon Green, S Maxen Hook, TE E.J. Jenkins, CB Brandon Johnson, RB Montrell Johnson Jr., TE Cameron Latu, OLB Ochaun Mathis, QB Kyle McCord, WR Taylor Morin, TE Nick Muse, T Hollin Pierce, RB ShunDerrick Powell, OLB Antwaun Powell-Ryland Jr., CB Eli Ricks, DE, Jereme Robinson, RB Keilan Robinson, DT Justin Rogers, S Andre’ Sam, WR Ainias Smith, DT Jacob Sykes, T Laekin Vakalahi, CB A.J. WoodsWashington Commanders
Most notable move: Washington’s most important move on the roster came last week, when they traded running back Brian Robinson Jr. to San Francisco. But the Commanders’ most significant move on Tuesday was keeping right guard Sam Cosmi on the physically unable to perform list. That means he will be sidelined for at least the first four weeks of the season while he continues his rehabilitation from a torn right ACL suffered in the NFC divisional round in January.
Nick Allegretti has been working in his place. The Commanders have shown optimism about Cosmi’s recovery, but it’s an injury that often has a recovery timeframe of nine to 12 months.Cut/Released: WR K.J. Osborn, WR Michael Gallup, WR Chris Moore, WR Braylon Sanders, DE Clelin Ferrell, DE Jalyn Holmes, C Nick Harris, DT Norell Pollard, LB Duke Riley, CB Bobby Price, OL Tyre Phillips, OL Foster Sarell, CB Essang Bassey, QB Sam Hartman, DT Carl Davis Jr., CB Car’lin Vigers, DE Andre Jones Jr., RB Demetric Felton, WR Tay Martin, S Robert Mc
