Cut day has come and gone ahead of the 2026 NFL season. While many former Clemson greats had their roster spots locked up a long time ago, a few had to claw and scratch their way toward being one of the 53 men to make their respective teams. Unfortunately, a slew of former Tigers standouts did not make the cut after the third preseason game. This is always a sad day for everyone involved.
SportsTalk Media Network did the heavy lifting for those with Clemson ties getting cut last weekend.
- DE Cade Denhoff (Cut by Buffalo Bills)
- DB Mario Goodrich (Cut by Tennessee Titans)
- OL Tristan Leigh (Cut by Minnesota Vikings)
- RB Phil Mafah (Cut by Dallas Cowboys)
- WR Ray-Ray McCloud (Placed on injured reserve by Chicago Bears)
- DT Payton Page (Cut by New York Jets)
- K BT Potter (Cut by Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
- WR Cornell Powell (Cut by Pittsburgh Steelers)
- OL Will Putnam (Cut by Las Vegas Raiders)
- RB Adam Randall (Placed on injured reserve by Baltimore Ravens)
- LB Baylon Spector (Cut by Jacksonville Jaguars)
- LB Isaiah Simmons (Cut by Carolina Panthers)
- QB DJ Uiagalelei (Cut by Los Angeles Chargers)
- DB K'Von Wallace (Cut by Baltimore Ravens)
Among the biggest names to be released by their former teams include quarterback DJ Uiagalelei, Phil Mafah, and Isaiah Simmons. Uiagalelei lost the primary backup quarterback job on the Los Angeles Chargers to Trey Lance. Mafah was unable to find a role for himself in the Dallas Cowboys' backfield. Former first-round pick Simmons' career may be winding down after Carolina released him.
As far as those who made NFL teams, ESPN has these former Clemson players making NFL rosters.
- TE Davis Allen (Los Angeles Rams)
- TE Jake Briningstool (Kansas City Chiefs)
- DT DeMonte Capehart (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
- LB Barrett Carter (Cincinnati Bengals)
- DE Tyler Davis (Los Angeles Rams)
- RB Travis Etienne Jr. (New Orleans Saints)
- DE Clelin Ferrell (Miami Dolphins)
- WR Tee Higgins (Cincinnati Bengals)
- DE Grady Jarrett (Chicago Bears)
- QB Cade Klubnik (New York Jets)
- QB Trevor Lawrence (Jacksonville Jaguars)
- DT Dexter Lawrence II (Cincinnati Bengals)
- G Jordan McFadden (Chicago Bears)
- S RJ Mickens (Los Angeles Chargers)
- OT Blake Miller (Detroit Lions)
- DE Myles Murphy (Cincinnati Bengals)
- DT Ruke Orhorhoro (Jacksonville Jaguars)
- LB TJ Parker (Buffalo Bills)
- P Bradley Pinion (Miami Dolphins)
- DT DJ Reader (New York Giants)
- RB Will Shipley (Philadelphia Eagles)
- G John Simpson (Baltimore Ravens)
- LB Trenton Simpson (Baltimore Ravens)
- CB AJ Terrell (Atlanta Falcons)
- CB Avieon Terrell (Atlanta Falcons)
- LB Jeremiah Trotter Jr. (Philadelphia Eagles)
- QB Deshaun Watson (Cleveland Browns)
- CB Nate Wiggins (Baltimore Ravens)
- WR Antonio Williams (Washington Commanders)
- LB Wade Woodaz (Houston Texans)
- DT Peter Woods (Kansas City Chiefs)
The Clemson Tigers come out of NFL cutdown day better than expected
Even if a dozen former Clemson players did not make NFL rosters, more than double that number are still part of their teams' plans. This does not include former Clemson defensive lineman Bryan Bresee, who saw his season come to an end after tearing his ACL in the early part of the preseason for the New Orleans Saints. The former first-round pick should bounce back next season once he is healthy.
Former Clemson linebacker Xavier Thomas was put on injured reserve by the San Francisco 49ers, so his NFL career could be coming to a close here soon. He does not carry the same cachet as Bresee does as an injured former Clemson great. As far as what becomes of Uiagalelei, Mafah, Simmons, and the rest of these former Tigers to be cut, we will have to wait this out and give it time. Let's be patient.
In Uiagalelei's case, he nearly made the Chargers' roster. While Justin Herbert firmly has the starting quarterback job on lock, it is not like Lance has proven to be anything more than an NFL Draft bust at this point. Uiagalelei might be closer to making an NFL roster than we give him credit for. The talent is still clearly there from his earliest days at Clemson. Can he shake off the cobwebs from Florida State?
As far as Mafah is concerned, this is probably the most surprising cut. He was a well-thought-of and productive player in the Clemson backfield for years. Even though the game has become increasingly passing-centric, it is hard to win games without multiple running backs on any given forster. Football is a game of injuries, so it may only be a matter of time before he joins an NFL roster later this season.
Overall, Clemson ended up in a better spot when it came to NFL cut down day that we ever expected.
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