All 32 NFL teams were required to trim their rosters from 75 to 53 players over the weekend, which set the stage for some unexpected moments in player movement.
Seismic trades, surprising cuts and sudden waiver claims highlighted the cutdown weekend.
Here are the biggest, most surprising moves made since Saturday:
Vikings trade for Sam Bradford
Minnesota and Philadelphia started the weekend with a bang, completing a landscape-shifting trade which sent Bradford to the suddenly quarterback-needy Vikings in exchange for a first-round pick and a conditional fourth-rounder on Saturday morning. It was a stunning move, with the Vikings getting a new starting quarterback and the Eagles recouping a first-rounder in a deal that doesn’t even seem Madden worthy.
Losing Teddy Bridgewater to a horrific injury left the Vikings desperate, and the Eagles pounced on the opportunity to dump a player with no future in the organization. Bradford is undoubtedly one of the NFL’s top 32 quarterbacks, but Minnesota gave up a lot for a quarterback with as many major injuries as big wins.
Packers release Josh Sitton
No cut was as surprising as the Packers dumping Sitton, a three-time Pro Bowler and a fixture on Green Bay’s offensive line. He turned 30 in June, and the Packers have had concerns about his chronically painful back, but Sitton showed no signs of slowing down this preseason—when he played exclusively with Green Bay’s first-team offense. The All-Pro left guard was entering the final year of his deal, which could have created an environment of tension for both player and organization.
Still, Sitton was one of the Packers best players, and his release now creates a huge hole at left guard for a team with Super Bowl aspirations. One day after being cut, Sitton agreed to a three-year deal with the rival Chicago Bears.
Cowboys sign Mark Sanchez
The Cowboys held serve on Sanchez, who the Broncos attempted but failed to trade after naming Trevor Siemian the team’s starting quarterback. Holding out saved Dallas a draft pick, and bringing in Sanchez now gives the Cowboys a veteran, low-cost placeholder behind rookie Dak Prescott.
Who knows how long Sanchez will last in Dallas, especially with Tony Romo (back) staying on the active roster. But Sanchez at least provides some temporary relief for the Cowboys’ backup woes, even if he’s a turnover machine who couldn’t beat out a former seventh-round pick in Denver.
Bears cut Robbie Gould
Cutting Gould wasn’t hugely surprising, but it was still unexpected. The Bears kicker since 2005, Gould was sent packing after setting new franchise records for points scored, field goals made and kick accuracy.
Chicago was quick to replace him, signing Connor Barth to handle the kicking duties. Gould now joins the likes of Brandon Marshall and Matt Forte as recent Bears mainstays to depart Chicago. Barth, 30, made 23 of 28 field goals in 2015.
Ravens sign Devin Hester
The Ravens new returner will be Hester, who has made four Pro Bowls and holds the NFL record for return touchdowns. The former Chicago Bear is 33 years old, and he doesn’t have a return touchdown since 2014, but it’s hard to argue with getting another year of the most productive returner in league history.
If healthy, Hester could still provide some juice to Baltimore’s return game, even if new league rules have been designed to take away kickoff returns.
Teams give draft busts the boot
Several teams rid themselves of former bad draft picks. The Titans released former second-rounders Bishop Sankey and Justin Hunter, the Jets cut Dee Milliner and Jace Amaro, the Browns shipped Justin Gilbert to the Steelers, the Patriots waived Aaron Dobson, the Broncos cut Ronnie Hillman, the Ravens dumped Terrence Brooks and the Giants sent Andre Williams packing.
Making poor draft picks is bad enough, but keeping bad players on your roster because they were high picks creates added sunk cost. Sometimes it’s best to just part ways.