The NFL preseason has come to an end, leading to one of the most challenging times for NFL general managers. They have to trim their preseason rosters down to 53 players, a task that often results in big-name players ending up on waivers available for all 32 teams to claim.
From players who just didn’t have a spot on their respective teams to veterans who have lost a step to young players who fizzled out with their former teams, all kinds of players wound up being placed onto waivers on cut day. A vast majority of players cleared waivers, obviously, but a select few did get claimed, including some big names.
Here are the biggest ones worthy of your attention.
Most notable NFL waiver claims after cut day
- Marquez Valdes-Scantling joins NFC West rival
- Patriots take shot on former Giants fan favorite
- Hendon Hooker joins crowded QB room in Carolina
- Saints continue to add WR depth with Trey Palmer claim
Marquez Valdes-Scantling joins NFC West rival
Marquez Valdes-Scantling signed a one-year, $4 million deal with the Seattle Seahawks expected to play a fairly sizable role, but Seattle got solid preseason production from guys like Jake Bobo, Dareke Young and Cody White to justify parting ways with the veteran wideout. Valdes-Scantling wound up with the San Francisco 49ers, joining his fourth team in the last year alone.
Valdes-Scantling is far from a perfect player which is why he’s bounced around so much, but he’s a veteran with playoff experience, and he joins a Niners team with all sorts of injury questions. Brandon Aiyuk is still injured, Demarcus Robinson was suspended, and Jauan Jennings is hurt while also dealing with contract negotiations. The Niners needed anyone to play receiver for them which is why they traded for Skyy Moore, and is why they’ve now added MVS.
Patriots take shot on former Giants fan favorite
Remember when New York Giants fans for a brief period thought Tommy DeVito might’ve been their savior? Well, that’s no more. DeVito had some good moments in New York and even showed some flashes this preseason. He was so impressive in the preseason finale, in fact, to the point where the team DeVito shredded, the New England Patriots, claimed him off waivers.
DeVito went 17-for-20 for 198 yards and three touchdowns against the Patriots. Sure, most of his work was done against second and third stringers at best, but he clearly showed enough for the Patriots to give him a Week 1 roster spot. DeVito will begin the season slotted in behind Drake Maye and veteran Joshua Dobbs on the depth chart and will hope to earn an opportunity to play, somehow.
Hendon Hooker joins crowded QB room in Carolina
The Carolina Panthers are Bryce Young’s team (for now) and if he struggles or suffers an injury, Andy Dalton, one of the league’s best backups, is still in town. Despite having a pretty set QB room, the Panthers decided to take a shot on former Detroit Lions signal caller Hendon Hooker.
Hooker, a third-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, only appeared in three games for the Lions last season and threw a total of nine passes. Despite that lack of experience and a poor preseason showing, the Panthers are taking a chance on Hooker’s talent and seeing if he can amount to anything. It isn’t the worst gamble to take, if we’re being honest.
Saints continue to add WR depth with Trey Palmer claim
This story will be updated.
