10 NFL Veterans Who Could Be on the Roster Bubble

Devin Hester, WR, Atlanta Falcons

While he was definitely signed primarily as a return specialist, Devin Hester actually had his best season on a per-target basis as a member of the Atlanta Falcons in a part-time receiver role. In 2014, he was offered 59 targets, catching 38 of them for 39.36 Reception NEP (0.67 Reception NEP per target). That said, one of the NFL’s all-time greats in the return game is just not worth $3.83 million in terms of his cap hit. He also had no catches or targets in 2015 and lined up at wide receiver for only 43 snaps.

Hester turns 34 this year and has absolutely no place to play except deep waiting for the kickoff or punt. Julio Jones and Mohamed Sanu are locked in as starting wide receivers, and Justin Hardy is the likely candidate for the third wide receiver role. Even sacrificing the wide receiver “depth,” Hester’s release would be well worth the $833,000 the Falcons would have in dead money by cutting him.

Cut Savings: $3.00 million