A huge wave of cuts occurred last month at the start of the new league year, but there are still a handful of veterans lingering on rosters who could get released this offseason.
Whether they become expendable in the next few weeks due to the draft or make it all the way to final cuts at the end of training camp, there's a real chance these big-name talents could be a late addition to the open market due to their declining production, high costs and other factors.
With that in mind, here are the five biggest names who could still realistically be cut during the 2023 offseason.
Corey Davis, WR, New York Jets
The New York Jets have some tough decisions to make as they prepare for the Aaron Rodgers era. The organization will obviously want to surround the superstar signal-caller with as many weapons as possible, but it may be financially imprudent to retain one of the current pass-catchers on their roster.
Corey Davis is set to earn $10.5 million in 2023, the final season of a three-year, $37.5 million deal he inked with Gang Green in 2021. The six-year veteran has never breeched the 1,000-yard receiving mark as a professional and hasn't come close to repeating his 65-catch, 984-yard, five-touchdown performance during his final campaign with the Tennessee Titans.
Davis' production has been uninspired during his first two seasons with the Jets, resulting in just 66 receptions for 1,028 yards and six touchdowns. While some of this can be blamed on the team's dismal quarterback situation, the 28-year-old doesn't exactly seem poised for a breakout at this stage of his career and has been surpassed by Garrett Wilson and Elijah Moore in the pecking order.
The 28-year-old appeared to be a slam-dunk-cut candidate at the conclusion of the 2022 campaign, due to the cap savings. The move could provide New York, who have the impending acquisition of Rodgers, the ability for the Jets to hang on to Davis, at least for now.
The Jets notably elected to pass on matching the Baltimore Ravens' $15 million offer for Odell Beckham Jr., but they could be waiting for the draft before making a final decision on Davis.
The team currently has three picks in the top-44—although one or more of them could be heading to the Green Bay Packers as compensation for Rodgers—and may get a chance to convert this capital into a high-end WR prospect.
If New York does land a blue-chip receiving prospect, Davis' days in the Big Apple could be over.
Hunter Henry, TE, New England Patriots
The New England Patriots' overhaul of the tight end position back in 2021 hasn't gone as well as they may have hoped. The club signed Jonnu Smith and Hunter Henry that offseason, but so far failed to return much value on the big-money contracts they dished out.
With Smith shipped off to the Atlanta Falcons last month, the Patriots could be on the verge of another full revamp of the tight end room in 2023.
Henry is still lingering on New England's roster after two mediocre seasons, but he hasn't done enough to justify his three-year, $37.5 million deal. The 28-year-old has tallied 91 catches for 1,112 yards and 11 touchdowns since joining the Pats, but his production waned with the rest of the offense in 2022, resulting in just two scores last year.
There's a possibility that Henry doesn't get an opportunity to improve upon that disappointing campaign in 2023. The seven-year veteran could be released to save over $10 million, a rather significant amount of cash that could be used to shore up the offensive line or secondary—two areas of concern for the Patriots at this point in the offseason.
The number of quality tight ends available in the upcoming draft certainly doesn't help Henry's chances to remain in New England.
There are five tight ends ranked in the top 50 of the Bleacher Report Scouting Department's latest big board, including a potential superstar in Notre Dame's Michael Mayer who the site ranked as the fifth-best overall prospect.
Considering the Patriots are holding onto 11 picks and head coach Bill Belichick's well-known propensity to wheel and deal during the draft, it would hardly be surprising for the club to wind up with at least two rookie tight ends and decide to move on from Henry.