Cutdown Blog: AFC South

It’s not as flashy as it’s free agency brother, but “cutday” may be the most frantic for all NFL front offices.

There isn’t another time of the year where they have to be so reactive to every move every team is making, ready to pounce on possible talents who might improve their roster or be worth developing on their practice squad.

To help you keep up to date we’re going to be providing details on all the moves in each divisional page. Keep coming back for each and every player released with stats, snaps and grades on all of them.

Of course this might not be enough for you, in which case you’ll need yourself a PFF Premium Membership.

 

AFC East   |   AFC North   |   AFC South   |   AFC West

NFC East   |   NFC North   |   NFC South   |   NFC West

 

Houston Texans

Dennis Johnson, RB: Johnson was in a three-way fight for one roster spot but was clearly outperformed by his competitors. Unfortunately for him showed some poor ball security by fumbling twice on 15 snaps that earned him the lowest grade (-1.3) of the Texans running backs.

Deji Karim, RB: Desperately unlucky that Cierre Woods showed just that little bit more as Karim was well worth his +2.0 grade after averaging a very good 5.3 yards per carry. He doesn't really make defenders miss but was a nice fit in the Texans scheme and it wouldn't be a surprise if they come calling during the season if they're short on depth. Presuming he doesn't get picked up before then.

Tyler Clutts, FB: The job was always going to be Greg Jones to lose, and as the team protected him with just 22 snaps in preseason so it proved. Clutts did at least have an opportunity to showcase his skills with 58 snaps of his own. He handled himself reasonably well (+1.0) and will start looking for his next NFL team.

Uzoma Nwachukwu, WR: Didn't make the most of his 109 snaps, catching just two of three targets and rather disappointingly dropping another. His -2.0 grade was the lowest on the team for receivers.

Michael Smith, WR: Didn't get on the field during the season and was released with an injury settlement.

Andy Cruse, WR: Turned 59 snaps into four receptions and a touchdown. Telling that guys like Nwachukwu and others got more snaps as he battled for playing time with third stringers.

Jake Byrne, TE: The team would have been real happy with Ryan Griffin playing so well. He locked up a roster spot with the highest grade of tight ends during preseason which left them with an easy choice as to who the third tight end would be. Byrne was solid enough (+0.7) and could find himself on a practice squad.

Tyler Horn, OL: Earned a +2.1 grade when he was used at guard but then stunk it up at center against the Cowboys to earn a -4.3 grade in that game. That sealed his fate.

Alex Kupper, OL: The undrafted free agent earned a +2.2 grade for his early season work but when jobs were on the line against Dallas he turned in his worst performance (-0.7) of preseason.

Nate Menkin, OL: Got 44 snaps late in preseason but didn't impress with two hurries allowed and a -0.4 run block grade.

Daniel Muir, DL:

David Hunter, DL:

Chris Jones, DL

Keith Browner, DL:

Delano Johnson, DL:

Cameron Collins, LB:

Mike Mohamed, LB:

Roc Carmichael, DB:

Jawanza Starling, DB:

Elbert Mack, DB:

Orhian Johnson, DB:

 

Indianapolis Colts

Chandler Harnish, QB:

Robert Hughes, FB:

Jabir Sambrano, WR:

Lanear Sampson, WR:

Jeremy Kelly, WR:

Dominique Jones, TE:

Emmett Cleary, OL:

Thomas Austin, OL:

Ben Ijalana, OL:

Bradley Sowell, OL:

Lee Ziemba, OL:

Martin Tevaseu, DL:

Drake Nevis, DL:

Lawrence Guy, DL:

Shawn Loiseau, LB:

Monte Simmons, LB:

Daniel Adongo, LB:

Josh McNary, LB:

Dax Swanson, DB:

Sheldon Price, DB:

Marshay Green, DB:

Larry Asante, DB:

 

Jacksonville Jaguars

Matt Scott, QB: It wasn't pretty watching him in preseason with his spell against the Jets where he had three consecutive passes dropped by defenders one of the low points in quarterback play this century. His -7.4 grade and 46.9 QB rating are reasons why you don't worry about another team poaching him up when you release him.

Mike Kafka, QB: May have set a record for the amount of miscommunications he and his receivers had against the Falcons. Besides that wasn't overly terrible (-0.4) but didn't do enough to make you forget about his efforts in Philadelphia. Had the third lowest adjusted accuracy percentage of all quarterbacks in preseason.

Jonathan Grimes, RB: With Denard Robinson offering something different it was likely to come down to Grimes and Jordan Todman for the final spot. You don't need us to tell you Todman walked away with this one as he picked up 223 yards in preseason in 29 carries. Grimes did average a solid 4.5 yards per carry but just couldn't compete.

Charly Martin, WR: Came in later and didn't make a big enough impression compared to some around him. Just 33 snaps and two catches weren't enough.

Tobais Palmer, WR: Caught just one of seven targets thrown his way as he struggled for chemistry with his quarterbacks.

Toney Clemons, WR: A tough preseason period. Was thrown at eight times but could only turn that into three catches and 13 yards. When you drop two passes you're going to end up with a grade like the -2.8 he picked up.

Jeremy Ebert, WR: The second lowest receiver in preseason, turning in a -1.5 grade after catching five and dropping two of his 10 targets. Just not enough playmaking.

Ryan Otten, TE:

R.J. Dill, OL:

Pat McQuistan, OL:

Drew Nowak, OL:

Pannel Egboh, DL:

D'Anthony Smith, DL:

Ryan Davis, DL:

T.J. Barnes, DL:

Julian Stanford, LB:

Brandon Marshall, LB:

Mike Zimmer, LB:

Steven Terrell, DB:

Marcus Trufant, DB:

Kevin Rutland, DB:

 

Tennessee Titans

Rusty Smith, QB: The team has to be confident with two quarterbacks heading into the season with the weak armed Smith cut today. He'll always remember his one NFL start where he seemed to think Glover Quin was one of his receivers, but failed to impress in preseason with a -0.9 grade.

Jalen Parmele, RB: Averaged the lowest amount of yards of the Titans backs with just 2.6 yards per carry and was always the odd man out. Lacks the special teams value of Darius Reynaud or running ability of any of the other guys still on the roster.

Collin Mooney, FB: Couldn't do enough (-2.1) to convince the team to part with Quinn Johnson as he struggled with his lead blocking. May be stashed away on the practice squad as they give him time to develop.

Dontel Watkins, WR: Found it hard to get on the field with the teams top six receivers getting the majority of work. Just 19 snaps and two targets (none of which were catchable) didn't really give him a chance to build a case.

Rashad Ross, WR:

Jack Doyle, TE:

Brandon Barden, TE:

Daniel Baldridge, OL:

Kasey Studdard, OL:

Fernando Velasco, OL:

Zach Clayton, DL:

Nigel Nicholas, DL:

DaJohn Harris, DL:

Stefan Charles, DL:

Scott Solomon, DL/LB:

Gary Guyton, LB:

Tim Shaw, LB:

Jonathan Willard, LB:

Khalid Wooten, DB:

Corey Lynch, DB:

Al Afalava, DB: