2025 NFL Cuts: Tommy DeVito, Desmond Ridder, Diontae Johnson Among Notable Releases

The 49ers cut 16-year punter Thomas Morstead, a former Pro Bowler and Super Bowl champion, despite having no other punters on their roster.

Tommy DeVito of the New York Giants runs with the ball against the Detroit Lions at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., on Aug. 8, 2024. Ed Mulholland/Getty Images

The first Tuesday after NFL preseason is always one of the hardest days on the calendar because it’s when teams have to reduce their rosters to 53 players from as many as 90. That means hundreds of football players will be let go, marking the end of several football careers that likely started 10-plus years ago.

It’s usually end-of-roster players who get cut, but there are always several familiar names as well. Here are this year’s most notable.

Cowboys: QB Will Grier, RB Deuce Vaughn, DB C.J. Goodwin

Despite Dak Prescott getting hurt in three of the last five years, the Cowboys are going with just two quarterbacks, putting Will Grier on the waiver wire. As for Deuce Vaughn, his father is a  Cowboys scout. While that was enough to get Deuce drafted in 2023 and last two years with the club, it wasn’t enough for the 5-foot-6 running back to make it to Year 3. Meanwhile, C.J. Goodwin may not be a big name for the casual football fan, but he’s been a special teams standout for the last decade. He rarely sees the field on defense but played in 82 percent of special teams snaps for Dallas last season. He’s likely to be in pursuit of a team in need of a gunner.

Giants: QB Tommy DeVito, RB Dante Miller

Cult hero Tommy DeVito got caught up in the numbers game with New York adding quarterbacks Russell Wilson, Jameis Winston and Jaxson Dart in the offseason. A New Jersey native, DeVito infamously was living at home with his parents while being a starting QB for the Giants in 2023, so maybe the Jets will come calling and DeVito can continue his current living situation.