5 NFL waiver claims after roster cuts that should intrigue fans

One day after NFL teams made roster cuts to get to 53 players, waiver claims went through on Wednesday. These five new additions have us intrigued.

Roster cuts from training camp to get to the final 53-man squad have been completed in the NFL but that’s the precursor to a bit more movement. After cuts and players being waived, the waiver-wire process starts with teams having the opportunity to claim available players with priority order based on the 2021 NFL Draft order.

This isn’t necessarily where NFL stars are born. However, it is sometimes a case where a player is heading into an opportunity where they will have a better chance to shine. It could also be the case of a team getting a player that addresses a need. Those make for intriguing waiver-wire claims, which is what we’re looking at.

Before that, here’s the full list of waivers that were awarded, via NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero:

Now, let’s dive into the five new additions from the waiver wire that should have the attention of NFL fans.

NFL waiver claims after roster cuts that deserve extra attention

5. Quincy Roche, EDGE, New York Giants (Waived by Steelers)

Roche entered last college football season as a top-100 player by many draft rankings but ultimately fell to the sixth round due to athleticism concerns. Still, he’s a polished pass-rusher who can make an impact, just not on the relatively deep Steelers. For the Giants, however, he could make an impact.

While the Temple and Miami (FL) product doesn’t fit the rangy mold we often see from edge defenders in New York, his ability to defend the run and do his job well could be valuable for a Big Blue defense that has taken steps forward already and now needs to shore up the margins under Patrick Graham.

4. Wyatt Ray, DE, Cincinnati Bengals (Waived by Titans)

There are plenty of reasons to be down on the Bengals, starting with the offensive line. But beyond that, the defense also leaves a lot to be desired. They have some solid vets and added Trey Hendrickson to a big deal in free agency. The depth and the overall quality, however, is clearly lacking, which is why Wyatt Ray could be intriguing.

Ray has bounced around since signing in Cleveland as a UDFA in 2019 but got some run in Tennessee last year, showing some development. He has some nice tools and is only 24 years old. For a team like the Bengals that need defensive line depth, this could be an opportunity for Ray to get some burn and finally prove he’s worth sticking on active rosters.

3. Will Grier, QB, Dallas Cowboys (Waived by Panthers)

Watching the Cowboys backup quarterback battle this preseason was certainly viewing a war of attrition. In the end, Cooper Rush beat out Garrett Gilbert and Ben DiNucci. When Cam Newton was released, Dallas was immediately thrown out as a landing spot. Instead, they landed former third-round pick Will Grier on waivers.

Grier made two starts for the Panthers as a rookie and didn’t look all that promising, completing only 28-of-52 passes for 228 yards with no scores and four interceptions. His preseason play showed some real progression, though, and he could challenge Rush to be the QB2 in Dallas if that continues.

2. Quincy Williams, LB, New York Jets (Waived by Jaguars)

Not only is Quincy Williams now playing alongside his brother, Quinnen, but the former could also be a nice cog for the Jets defense. Not only is New York a bit short at the position behind C.J. Mosley but Williams has a ton of athleticism that was not fully cultivated in a bad situation with the Jaguars.

Given the arrival of Robert Saleh as the Jets head coach, he’s made his bones thus far in his coaching career maximizing the talent of defensive players. Seeing a player with the tools of Williams under his watch could be exciting to try and make him a contributor who can jump off the screen at times.

1. KhaDarel Hodge, WR, Detroit Lions (Waived by Browns)

We’ve seen KhaDarel Hodge pop up a time or two over the past two seasons with the Browns, garnering 15 receptions for 256 yards over sporadic playing time. And he once again flashed in the preseason for Cleveland this year, catching four balls for 64 yards and two touchdowns.

Now that Breshad Perriman and other veterans have been cut from the Lions, the arrival of Hodge is fascinating. He’s clearly got a ton of talent but was in a crowded group with the Browns. Opportunities are abound in the Lions wide receiver corps, though, which could afford him the chance to be a breakout player in the Motor City.