Overview

• Clubs trimmed offseason rosters from 90 to 53 by 4 p.m. ET Tuesday, sending roughly 1,184 players onto waivers or into free agency depending on service time.
• Younger players must pass through waivers — where priority follows draft order with Tennessee first — while vested veterans became free agents immediately.
• High‑profile releases spanned positions, including QBs Tyler Huntley and Hendon Hooker, OL La'el Collins, CB Mike Hilton, RB Cam Akers, WR Donovan Peoples‑Jones, and P Ryan Stonehouse.
• New England’s initial 53 lists Drake Maye as starter with Joshua Dobbs as backup and keeps eight wide receivers, with former first‑rounder Cole Strange waived and UDFA Efton Chism making the team.
• The Patriots placed WR Ja’Lynn Polk on season‑ending IR and LB Jahlani Tavai on IR with a designation to return, as teams brace for further churn through waiver claims, practice‑squad additions, and injury settlements.