Predicting Every NFL Team's Toughest Roster Cut

Projecting Every NFL Team's Most Difficult Roster Cut By Kristopher Knox Aug 11, 2015 Matt Rourke/Associated Press Over the next month, NFL teams are going to use training camps and the preseason to evaluate what they have available on their rosters. At the end of the period, each team will have to trim its roster to 53 men.Some of the coming roster cuts are going to be difficult.On the final day of cuts, every coach and general manager will have to make the painful decision to part ways with at least one player who almost did enough to win a job. In many cases, these guys go on to find a place on a practice squad or start for another team.In some cases, a player like Minnesota Vikings receiver and former Cleveland Browns practice-squad member Charles Johnson will do both.This is the kind of difficult roster cut we're going to try to predict for each team today. Since we're only entering the first full week of preseason action, there will be at least some degree of guesswork here (and it may all look a little foolish in a few weeks). However, we'll try to avoid picking on the career fifth-stringers and undrafted long shots of the league in order to keep it interesting.We'll focus primarily on past performances, injury history, system fit and salary when projecting our cuts, though recent reports and rumors will certainly have some influence.Atlanta Falcons: Dezmen SouthwardChris Keane/Associated Press Atlanta Falcons defensive back Dezmen Southward was a third-round pick only a year ago. However, the Falcons have a new head coach in place with Dan Quinn, and it appears Southward is going to have to make a successful switch from safety to cornerback to make the final roster.Though he has the raw talent to make a successful conversion, it's not like he excelled when he got opportunities for playing time in 2014. According to Pro Football Focus, he ranked just 166th among all safeties for the season.Southward also underwent knee surgery back in May, which has caused him to miss time during the offseason.Atlanta recently released its first depth chart of the preseason, and Southward is near the bottom of the cornerback group. A depth chart this early in the preseason has little bearing on the coming season, but it does show that Southward will have to beat out a number of talented players to have a shot at making the final roster.His future may depend on how many cornerbacks the Falcons decide to keep on the final roster.Veterans Desmond Trufant, Robert Alford and Phillip Adams are probably locks for the roster, as is second-round draft pick Jalen Collins. Undrafted rookies Akeem King and Kevin White may also make the roster over Southward, who has zero ties with Quinn.Carolina Panthers: Fozzy WhittakerChuck Burton/Associated Press In addition to having one of the coolest names in the entire NFL, running back Fozzy Whittaker was a virtual multi-tool for the Carolina Panthers in 2014. He filled in at running back, returned kicks, played special teams and caught a handful of passes out of the backfield. However, he may have to beat out a number of players—including rookie Cameron Artis-Payne and offseason addition Jordan Todman—in order to stick on the final roster in 2015.Jonathan Stewart should remain the starter, and fullback Mike Tolbert should own a roster spot as well. The offseason acquisition of return specialist Ted Ginn may also hurt Whittaker's value on special teams.Depending on how many backs the Panthers decide to keep, there could be a battle between Whittaker and Todman for a single roster spot.Tom Sorensen of the Charlotte Observer likes Todman to make the final roster:“ Jordan Todman, the running back whom the Carolina Panthers signed in March, is the early leader. The guy runs with authority and for a little guy he blocks with authority, too. I saw him handle linebacker A.J. Klein on a blitz, and I’m a Klein fan. Now, because Todman played three seasons for Jacksonville, started a game for Jacksonville last season and ran 62 yards for a touchdown last season, you could say he’s not a long shot.”Tolbert also seems to like Todman. "He's a tenacious cat," he said, per David Newton of ESPN.com. "We call him 'Sir Purr' just because he's always on the move. You watch the game and Sir Purr is always running around, moving, dancing, doing whatever he can."If Carolina only decides to keep three tailbacks on the final roster, Whittaker could easily be the odd man out.New Orleans Saints: Josh MorganChris Tilley/Associated Press Depending on how many wide receivers the New Orleans Saints decide to carry into the regular season, the team could face a few difficult decisions in the near future.Wideouts Marques Colston and Brandin Cooks are locks to make the final roster. When the Saints released their first depth chart of the preseason, Brandon Coleman, Lance Lewis, Nick Toon and Joe Morgan were listed as primary backups.If the depth chart remains constant, it would leave seven-year veteran Josh Morgan on the cutting pile.Morgan has a ton of NFL experience to go with 209 career receptions, so it's hard to believe that cutting him would be a simple decision. He appeared in 14 games for the Bears last season, though he only had 12 touches for 100 yards and a touchdown.The problem for Morgan is that he is 30 years old and doesn't play special teams.Jeff Duncan of NOLA.com believes Morgan will wind up battling a handful of younger players for the final receiver spots. If this is how things play out, the Saints could well turn to a player with youth and special teams value over Morgan.Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Garrett GilkeyAssociated Press Offensive lineman Garrett Gilkey appeared in all 16 games for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last season and is competing to make this year's roster as a backup.The reason he has value is that he can provide depth at either guard position and at center. The reason he may wind up as a cut casualty is that he didn't perform well when he had opportunities last season.Pro Football Focus rated Gilkey 54th overall among 70 centers in 2014 and 119th overall among guards. He knows he will have to be better to make the team in 2015."After the season Coach Warhop shared with me and said, 'You are going to have to fight for your spot on this team,'" Gilkey said, per Mark Cook of PewterReport.com. "'You had every opportunity to take that starting guard spot and you didn't take it. You only squandered it.' And he is right. I did."If Gilkey squanders his preseason opportunity this year, his versatility may not be enough to earn him a job in the regular season.For every team....link