Predicting the NFC North’s biggest surprise cuts: Quarterback of the future leads the way with surprise left tackle

The NFC North has some difficult cuts

Kole Noble, Mike Payton, Tyler Forness, Wendell Ferreira
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Cutdown day for the National Football League is fast approaching on Tuesday, August 26 at 3 p.m. CT. At that time, each team will have to be down to 53 players. The interesting thing with the final roster cuts are that players who need to be placed on injured reserve with the ability to return. They can’t go on injured reserve until the next day.

There will be some really interesting decisions across the NFC North, especially at the most important position in football. Who are the surprise cuts that could end up hitting the waiver wire and be a talented addition somewhere else? Our NFC North writers break it down.

NFC North surprise cut candidates

Minnesota Vikings beat writer Tyler Forness: CB Mekhi Blackmon

Cornerback has been a position that’s been up in the air the entire offseason. The Vikings did address it somewhat by signing Isaiah Rodgers and Jeff Okudah, but they are trusting them to be the CB2 and CB3. That’s not a world many believe the Vikings should be living in. With that said, the guy in Blackmon many thought would step up hasn’t.

It’s been a very up-and-down camp for Blackmon. Coming off of a torn ACL last year on the first day of training camp, he looked to build on his solid rookie season, but it hasn’t happened yet. With the ability to add a cornerback after roster cuts and having developmental options in Dwight McGlothern and Zemaiah Vaughn, Blackmon could be the odd man out.

Green Bay Packers beat writer Wendell Ferreira: WR Mecole Hardman

Super Bowl champion Mecole Hardman and Malik Heath are likely fighting for the Packers’ sixth wide receiver roster spot. However, Heath is a better offensive contributor and has been good on special teams coverage as well. Hardman brings value as a returner, but he is behind Keisean Nixon and Jayden Reed in this area, so at this point it’s hard to justify a roster spot despite him being the only veteran addition at WR in the offseason.

If the Packers can trade Hardman and get a late-round swap for a useful and experienced player, that would be important.

Chicago Bears beat writer Kole Noble: OT Kiran Amegadjie

Cutting a second-year player the team just drafted in the third-round is going to be a tough call to make for the coaching staff, especially for a player that needs serious development. Kiran Amegadjie got a serious look at the starting left tackle position earlier in camp, but suffered a leg injury that caused him to fall behind.

General manager Ryan Poles wouldn’t like giving up on Amegadjie this soon, and if he’s not claimed by another team, expect Chicago to bring him back to continue developing him on the practice squad. It’s just too rare to see a team keep five different tackles on the 53-man roster.

Detroit Lions beat writer Mike Payton: QB Hendon Hooker

Cutting Hendon Hooker might not seem like a surprise right now, but it’s a big surprise in the grand scheme of the year. When the Lions signed Kyle Allen, he was just supposed to be the third man who would push Hooker a bit, but almost immediately he showed to be a real challenge and by the third week into training camp, he’d won the job. Now the Lions are on the verge of cutting two third round picks from the same draft this summer with Hooker and Brodric Martin both likely gone.

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