All 32 NFL franchises were tasked with submitting their initial 53-man rosters ahead of Tuesday's mid-afternoon deadline. Players with less than four years of service are subject to the waiver claims process. The league office will process any waiver claims submitted on eligible talents on Wednesday at noon ET.
The waiver wire order is determined by the 2024 NFL Draft order, meaning the Carolina Panthers hold top priority, and the Super Bowl-winning Kansas City Chiefs are 32nd. We've identified three talents that could garner interest on the waiver wire.
Bailey Zappe, QB, New England Patriots
The New England Patriots were always expected to waive Bailey Zappe considering they have veteran Jacoby Brissett and rookies Drake Maye and Joe Milton III on the roster. Zappe, who will be exposed to waivers as a fourth-round 2022 pick, was sacrificed as a result. He could definitely garner interest on the market.
Zappe has 14 NFL appearances with eight career starts under his belt. The former Western Kentucky standout owns a record of 4-4 and is a 63.5% completion percentage passer with a TD:INT ratio of 11:12. If you're questioning whether or not Zappe is a rosterable quarterback, remember that he is significantly more proven of a player than Malik Willis, who was traded to the Green Bay Packers on Monday.
Zappe would contend for backup duties on offenses like the Detroit Lions and Los Angeles Chargers. The new emergency QB rule was recently updated (to its previous terms) to prevent teams from elevating a quarterback from the practice squad an unlimited amount of times. That adds a little incentive for GMs to roster a third quarterback if they want one.
KJ Henry, EDGE, Washington Commanders
Washington Commanders sophomore pass rusher KJ Henry was the victim of a regime change. A fifth-round selection in the 2023 NFL Draft, Henry flashed legitimate developmental upside as a rookie. The former Clemson standout recorded multiple quarterback pressures in three separate games last season.
The Commanders hired Adam Peters as general manager and Dan Quinn as head coach earlier this summer. Peters signed several edge rushers Quinn is familiar with as he installs his defense, including Dorance Armstrong and Dante Fowler Jr. Henry got somewhat lost in the shuffle as a result despite him producing 10 pressures and a league-high nine hurries in the preseason.
Terrace Marshall Jr., WR, Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers had a logjam at wide receiver entering cut-down day, prompting them to release Terrace Marshall Jr. New general manager Dan Morgan drafted Xavier Legette with a first-round pick earlier this summer, and also acquired Diontae Johnson through trade. Offensive-minded head coach Dave Canales had to sort through his must-haves at the position.
The Panthers also have 2023 receiving yards leader Adam Thielen still under contract. Sophomore second-rounder Jonathan Mingo is a holdover from the previous regime with developmental upside. That made Marshall, a 2021 top 60 selection, expendable. Marshall caught a touchdown in the preseason finale and should receive consideration from various teams via the wire.
