NFL roster shakeup as Veteran Stars hit free agency

The NFL offseason is already in full motion, and several veteran names are at the center of major roster decisions just days before the new league year begins March 11.

From cap-saving releases to a high-profile trade, teams are reshaping their rosters in a series of moves that could significantly impact free agency.

Here are 4 key developments around the league.

Texans release Jimmie Ward

The Houston Texans are releasing veteran safety Jimmie Ward, according to ESPN. The move will save Houston $750,000 against the salary cap.

Ward did not play during the 2025 season. He began training camp on the physically unable to perform list while recovering from offseason foot surgery.

His absence came during a year marked by legal trouble. In June, Ward was arrested in Montgomery County, Texas, on suspicion of third-degree felony domestic violence. A grand jury later declined to indict him, and he was removed from the NFL’s commissioner exempt list in September. He was arrested again in August for violating release conditions after testing positive for alcohol.

Ward joined the Texans in 2023 during coach DeMeco Ryans’ first season and appeared in 20 games over two seasons, recording 98 tackles and three interceptions.

 Commanders move on from Marshon Lattimore

The Washington Commanders informed cornerback Marshon Lattimore that he will be released before the new league year, a move expected after he suffered a season-ending ACL injury in November.

Washington will save $18.5 million in cap space, giving the team one of the league’s larger financial cushions entering free agency.

Lattimore, 29, was acquired from the New Orleans Saints at the 2024 trade deadline. A four-time Pro Bowl selection early in his career, he has battled multiple injuries in recent seasons and has not played more than 10 games in a year since 2021.

Off the field, Lattimore was arrested in January in Lakewood, Ohio, and charged with improperly handling a firearm in a vehicle.

Texans trade Tytus Howard to Browns

Houston also agreed to trade starting right tackle Tytus Howard to the Cleveland Browns for a fifth-round draft pick.

Howard, who has spent his entire seven-year career with the Texans, started 93 games and played multiple positions along the offensive line. He will receive a new two-year, $45 million deal from Cleveland that begins in 2027.

The trade signals what appears to be a significant overhaul for both franchises. Cleveland ranked near the bottom of the league in pass and run block win rates last season, while Houston now has only two offensive line starters under contract for 2026.

 Chiefs part ways with Jawaan Taylor

The Kansas City Chiefs are also expected to release offensive tackle Jawaan Taylor in a cap-related move, continuing the theme of financial recalibration across contenders.

Kansas City’s decision comes as the team adjusts its roster structure following recent contract restructures, including changes tied to quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

A busy start to the offseason

With the new league year approaching, these moves underscore how quickly NFL rosters can shift. Cap flexibility, injury concerns and long-term planning are driving decisions that may redefine depth charts across the league.

As free agency opens, more veteran names could find themselves on the market in what is shaping up to be one of the more active early offseasons in recent memory.

Source: ESPN