NFL teams are just days away from trimming their active rosters down to that critical 53-man limit, and if last year was any indication, things are about to get absolutely bonkers. This ain’t just about cuts, fam. This is about every squad across the league scrambling to grab those last, crucial pieces before the regular season kicks off.
Last August alone, we saw 21 trades go down! Twenty-one! And that’s not even counting the 31 players who got scooped up on waivers during the first week of 2025. Teams are playing chess, not checkers, trying to figure out who’s gonna drop, who they can snag, and if they need to make a move *now* to beat another team to the punch. Remember, the waiver wire goes from worst to best win-loss record from last season, so if you want a guy and you know he’s gonna get claimed before your pick, you gotta trade for him. We just saw it happen Tuesday with the Giants sending reserve offensive lineman Joshua Ezeudu over to the Chiefs for some draft compensation. It’s wild out there, and every team is trying to patch those hidden holes at the bottom of the roster.
The AFC North’s Sneaky Needs Are About To Pop Off
Forget the obvious stuff, we’re talking about those specific, sneaky depth issues that could make or break a team later in the season. Over in the AFC North, there are some glaring spots teams are probably eyeing right now.
For the **Cincinnati Bengals**, it’s linebacker depth. Rookies Demetrius Knight Jr. and Barrett Carter got thrown into the fire last season and, let’s be real, they struggled sometimes. Hopefully, that makes ’em better long term, but the depth behind them is super muddy. Oren Burks played some snaps, but that’s about it. Cornerback was a worry too, but sounds like those young guys have really stepped up this summer. Still, that middle of the field needs some love.
The **Cleveland Browns** are all about finding another edge rusher. They were looking even before Alex Wright went down with a season-ending injury. They’ve been trying to make defensive tackle Mike Hall Jr. work on the end, but that was more about “we gotta make this work” than “this is the plan.” Grabbing another pass rusher means Hall can stay where he belongs, inside. And hey, cornerback is another spot they’re definitely keeping an eye on.
Then you got the **Baltimore Ravens**, who are seriously struggling to find six wide receivers to even make their 53-man roster. This is not ideal! And Rashod Bateman’s recent arrest just complicates the numbers even more. The NFL takes its sweet time with judgments, but that whole situation is absolutely worth monitoring. You need bodies there.
And finally, the **Pittsburgh Steelers** are suddenly on the hunt for tight end help. A year ago, everyone was wondering what they’d do with Jonnu Smith, Darnell Washington, and Pat Freiermuth. Now, Smith’s gone, and while Washington and Freiermuth are still there, the depth behind them is thin, with just Robert Tonyan mentioned. They need another option to beef up that position group.
The Clock’s Ticking: What’s Next For The League
So what’s the takeaway? Every team, from the top contenders to those rebuilding, is looking for that one final piece. The next few days are gonna be a whirlwind of phone calls, trade offers, and waiver claims. Keep your eyes glued, because these last-minute moves are often the ones that set the stage for how a team performs when the real games kick off. It’s officially crunch time, and nobody wants to be left holding the bag with a glaring hole on their roster.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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