The 2026 NFL trade deadline has come and gone, removing most all impact players from joining a new team until after the season is over.
However, teams still do have the ability to release certain players who may not fit into long-term plans and allow them to get a fresh start and/or join a contender. It's most pervasive when bad teams allow for aging veterans to latch on elsewhere in the league before their careers are over.
Are there any players who fit the bill here? As much as this is pure speculation, we've still identified some players who could feasibly get released before the end of the season and boost a contender.
Again, none of these are likely cuts, necessarily, but we do imagine they'd all have interest if released.
Falcons QB Tua Tagovailoa
The Atlanta Falcons
have a suitable backup for Michael Penix Jr. in Andy Dalton. Tagovailoa is very unlikely to return to Atlanta in 2027, too. If a quarterback job opens up somewhere in the second half of the season, it wouldn't be a shock for the Falcons to cut Tagovailoa loose and allow him to get playing time elsewhere.
Fits: Philadelphia Eagles, Arizona Cardinals, Team TBD
Ravens DE Calais Campbell
Campbell is 40, but he's still an ageless wonder. He's also a free agent after this season who could opt to retire. If the Baltimore Ravens keep taking the downward slope for 2026, the Ravens could always release the future Hall of Famer and allow him to close out his NFL career with a contender. It'd be a showing of goodwill for an NFL legend.
Fits: Jacksonville Jaguars, Chicago Bears, Kansas City Chiefs
Jets CB Nahshon Wright
Wright is a one-year free agent for New York that hasn't panned out. The Jets may just want to keep him around for depth, but we also could see the team elevating a player from the practice squad and letting Wright get more playing time elsewhere for the rest of the 2026 season.
Fits: Chicago Bears, Los Angeles Rams, Jacksonville Jaguars
Chargers OLB Bud Dupree
The Los Angeles Chargers are a lost cause at this point, but Dupree is still a decent rotational edge rusher who could help a Super Bowl team. Los Angeles could allow him to walk and join a team that has championship aspirations.
Fits: San Francisco 49ers, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions
Eagles DE A.J. Epenesa
The Philadelphia Eagles probably won't rebound in the second half of the season, which could inspire Howie Roseman to let Epenesa walk so he can get a better look at another player at the position. Epenesa could be a plus addition for a team trying to win a Super Bowl.
Fits: Buffalo Bills, Detroit Lions, Chicago Bears
This article originally appeared on For The Win: 5 possible post-2026 NFL trade deadline veteran cuts, including Tua Tagovailoa
