Preseason games do not count on the official ledger, but they are important tools for NFL personnel executives in determining active roster construction. Players on the bubble in one environment could be bottom-of-the-roster candidates who make an impact in other situations. Last year, there were 21 trades made in August.
There were an additional 31 players claimed on the first week of the 2025 waiver system. Those two methods of personnel acquisition nearly equate to the construction of a 33rd roster. As teams look ahead to this year's Aug. 30 deadline to reduce rosters to the 53-man active regular-season limit, they will be mining depth charts across the league to identify potential contributors at positions of weakness.
Players waived as part of final roster cuts are exposed to the waiver wire, which is in order, from worst to best, of last season's win-loss records. If a team believes a player of interest would be claimed prior to its position in the waiver line, then it behooves that team to explore acquiring that player via trade. The majority of moves made at this stage of the NFL calendar will be of the small, incremental variety.
It is an effort to fill out a roster with depth. Players occupying those last few roster spots will be expected to contribute on special teams. Below are some of the position groups that could be targeted either via trade or waivers.
There are multiple factors to consider when determining which players may be available and of interest to other teams. It is often, but not always, players on rookie contracts who are moved and those players may be expendable if they were a draft pick of a former head coach and/or general manager. Baltimore has a few offensive linemen who meet that criteria: Andrew Vorhees, Carson Vinson and Emery Jones Jr.
It is unlikely they could keep all three if the team hopes to fit seventh-round pick Evan Beerntsen onto the active roster. Interior offensive linemen Danny Pinter and Jovaughn Gwyn, who has prior experience with offensive line coach Dwayne Ledford. The defensive line will be worth monitoring as well with Nnamdi Madubuike back in the fold.
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