2022 NFL final roster cuts: 32 takeaways include pressure on Trey Lance, Eagles

The 2022 NFL preseason is in the rear view, and now all 32 teams have finalized their rosters for the regular season. “Finalized” is a loose word here, considering lineups will be tweaked from now until the end of the year. But we now have a clear look at what most clubs will look like going into Week 1. Here are 32 key takeaways from Tuesday’s deadline for final cuts:

1. The pressure is on Trey Lance. Actions speak louder than words, and the 49ers happily welcoming back Jimmy Garoppolo on a revised contract suggests Kyle Shanahan can’t fully quit his oft-injured flame. Yes, quarterback insurance is necessary. But imagine being Lance, now having your predecessor back in the room as you attempt to not only win games but win over everyone on and around the team.

2. The Eagles have upgraded basically every one of their positions of need after trading for Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, the feisty ex-Saints slot corner. Gardner-Johnson will slide in as a starting safety in a secondary also featuring Darius Slay and James Bradberry. Maybe it’s not wrong to buy into the Philly hype.

3. It’s James Cook season in Buffalo, with pass-catching specialist Duke Johnson released. Devin Singletary and Zack Moss will remain the top traditional running backs, but the rookie is now primed for a legitimate role.

4. Dameon Pierce is even more poised to make noise at RB, with former Colts starter Marlon Mack among those cut. The rookie Florida product should be an easy choice to handle the top job, with Rex Burkhead as a complement.

5. Malik Willis‘ preseason electricity wasn’t for naught, with the Titans cutting Logan Woodside as Ryan Tannehill’s top backup. Quietly, this situation has similarities to the Lance-Garoppolo pairing of 2021. It’s probably a matter of time until Tennessee is itching for Willis’ athleticism under center.

6. The Cowboys don’t value the backup QB position. After cutting all three of Dak Prescott’s reserves (Cooper Rush, Will Grier, Ben DiNucci), they’re reportedly planning to bring at least one back once they can move other veterans to injured reserve. That means they trust they’ll be available, which means everyone else around the NFL thinks very little of them. Which is fine, if you believe any extended loss of Dak means the season is doomed anyway. Still, legit No. 2s can go a long way.

7. Josh McDaniels cares not for the investments of the Jon Gruden-Mike Mayock era. Cutting 2021 first-rounder Alex Leatherwood is an admission of a bad gamble at right tackle, but trading Trayvon Mullen, a 24-year-old starting cornerback, is quite the endorsement of a remade secondary headlined by Rock Ya-Sin.

8. The Jaguars really do have a deeper receiving corps, as evidenced by the release of Laquon Treadwell, who emerged as a favorite target of Trevor Lawrence down the stretch in 2021.

9. The Dolphins are going to need extra effort from former first-rounder Noah Igbinoghene with starting corner Byron Jones out for at least four games coming off an Achilles injury. Or just even more big plays from Xavien Howard and Jevon Holland.

10. Speaking of big-time CB injuries in the AFC East, it’s time for Kaiir Elam to make an early impact in Buffalo, where All-Pro Tre’Davious White is also guaranteed to miss at least four games as he recovers from an ACL tear.

11. Brian Robinson Jr.’s inclusion on the Commanders‘ active roster, just days after gunfire struck him in an attempted carjacking, confirms he’s on track for a big role in their offense. The rookie seemingly overtook Antonio Gibson as Washington’s primary ball-carrier as the summer progressed.

12. The Panthers are built to play some rugged, dink-and-dunk football. They already had Christian McCaffrey and D.J. Moore, and now Laviska Shenault has been freed from Jacksonville via trade as a spicy outlet for Baker Mayfield.

13. Taking a cue from their NFC East brethren in Dallas, the Giants are rolling the dice in terms of QB health and depth, cutting the cord on Davis Webb’s second stint in town to leave only a banged-up Tyrod Taylor behind Daniel Jones. Then again, Webb could very well return to the practice squad.

14. Josh Gordon’s NFL career might be over after his release from the Chiefs, who were eager for WR help this offseason after dealing Tyreek Hill. Now 31, he’s caught all of 12 passes in 17 games over the last three seasons.

15. Tyler Johnson’s career just might be getting started after the former fifth-round pick was a surprise cut from a crowded Buccaneers WR room. A big-play threat coming out of Minnesota, he figures to be a hot target as a developmental option after two relatively quiet years in Tampa Bay.

16. It’s safe to count on decent workloads for both Chase Edmonds and Raheem Mostert in Miami, where the Dolphins said goodbye…