Not every NFL star gets a storybook ending. Sometimes, the best move is a fresh start. Whether it's a fading role, a shaky team situation, or just the right time to go, plenty of players could use a change in 2025. From aging veterans to young talents stuck in bad fits, here are 32 players who might be better off elsewhere this offseason.

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The Bills took Elam in the first round of 2022, but it just hasn't clicked. He's been mostly a backup and hasn't proven he can lock down a starting spot. With Rasul Douglas hitting free agency, Buffalo could use help at the corner, but Elam doesn't seem to be their guy. A fresh start might be his best shot at proving himself. — Alaina Getzenberg

32. CB Kaiir Elam – Buffalo Bills

Versatility isn't the problem—consistency is. Eichenberg has played every O-line spot for Miami but struggled with shaky performances. He ranked near the bottom in pass block win rate and gave up the 10th-most sacks among guards last season. As the Dolphins revamp their line, Eichenberg might be better off finding a new home. —Marcel Louis-Jacques

31. Liam Eichenberg – Miami Dolphins

Brissett started 2024 as QB1 but quickly gave way to rookie Drake Maye. With Maye locked in as the starter and Joe Milton III showing promise, there's no room for Brissett in New England. The veteran wants another shot at a starting job—he'll have to find it elsewhere in free agency. —Mike Reiss

26. New England Patriots

30. Jacoby Brissett – New England Patriots

Lazard followed Aaron Rodgers to New York, but with Rodgers gone, his time with the Jets is likely up. He's admitted he plays better with Rodgers, and cutting him would save $6.6 million in cap space. A fresh start feels inevitable. —Rich Cimini

29. Allen Lazard – New York Jets

From Baltimore's highest-paid free agent to a midseason benching, Williams' decline has been steep. QBs torched him last season, posting a staggering 148.4 passer rating. The Ravens are expected to move on with a post-June one release. "You never pin it on any one thing; there's no way to pin it on any one thing," John Harbaugh said. "You have to kind of look at it as a whole, and there are a lot of factors in there." —Jamison Hensley

28. Marcus Williams – Baltimore Ravens

The Bengals paid big to protect Alex Cappa, but he hasn't delivered. Back-to-back bottom-tier pass-blocking grades make him a prime-cut candidate. Dropping Cappa frees up $8 million in cap space — a tempting move for a team desperate to rebuild its trenches. Tough business, but Cincinnati may be ready to pull the plug.

27. RG Alex Cappa - Cincinnati Bengals

Once a top-10 pick, Wills' time in Cleveland may be running out. Injuries limited him to just five games in 2024, and Dawand Jones' rise makes Wills expendable. His contract voids this offseason, leaving the Browns with $8.7 million in dead cap — not ideal, but possibly unavoidable.

26. LT Jedrick Wills Jr., Cleveland Browns

Four straight 1,000-yard seasons, yet Pittsburgh is ready to move on. The Steelers declined his fifth-year option, sending Harris to free agency. He's a bruiser with underrated pass-catching skills, but his 3.9 yards per carry won't cut it. A fresh start in a more creative offense could unlock his full potential.

25. Najee Harris – Pittsburgh Steelers

Kenyon Green's comeback season flopped — and badly. He gave up seven sacks, led Houston's O-line in pressure rate, and couldn't even crack the lineup after returning from IR. For a 2022 first-round pick, that's brutal. The Texans may be ready to cut ties and move on.

24. LG Kenyon Green - Houston Texans

Ehlinger has barely seen the field, stuck as the Colts' No. 3 QB for two straight seasons. He's improved since entering the league but still lacks the physical tools of top-tier passers. Can another team give him a shot as a true backup?

23. Sam Ehlinger – Indianapolis Colts

Cisco never became the game-changing safety Jacksonville envisioned. Despite flashes of playmaking, he managed just one forced turnover in 2024 while struggling in coverage. The Jaguars' secondary gave up far too many big plays, and Cisco was part of the issue. A fresh start could be the best move for both sides.

22. Andre Cisco – Jacksonville Jaguars

Petit-Frere started strong in 2022 but fell off last season, giving up a brutal 14 sacks. That's not what you want from a starting tackle, and the Titans lost faith, benching him late in the year. Once a highly regarded prospect, he's now an afterthought on the depth chart. If he wants another shot at proving himself, it's probably not happening in Tennessee.

21.Nicholas Petit-Frere – Tennessee Titans

Williams once looked like a future star, but injuries have drained his explosiveness. After back-to-back seasons averaging under four yards per carry, the Broncos phased him out late in 2024. He still contributed as a pass-catcher, but that won't be enough to secure his role moving forward. If he wants to prove he can still be a lead back, it's probably time to find a new home.

20. Javonte Williams – Denver Broncos

Morris had a shot to claim the Chiefs' left tackle job but never even made it a real competition. When he finally got on the field, his struggles were so bad that Kansas City benched him again. By the playoffs, he was fully sidelined and healthy but inactive for all three games. If he doesn't make major strides this offseason, his time in KC could be over before it ever really started.

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19. Wanya Morris – Kansas City Chiefs

Minshew won the Raiders' starting job but couldn't hold onto it, struggling with turnovers and inconsistency. A broken collarbone ended his season, but even before that, his 9:10 TD-to-INT ratio wasn't cutting it. With a $14 million cap hit looming, Vegas can save big by moving on. The Raiders need a fresh direction at QB, and Minshew likely isn't part of it.

18. Gardner Minshew – Las Vegas Raiders

Pipkins got shifted to guard and never found his footing, struggling in run blocking and ranking dead last among Chargers lineman. With no guaranteed money left on his deal, the team can free up $6.75 million by cutting ties. Moving on would let Pipkins return to his natural tackle position elsewhere. For both sides, the writing is on the wall.

17. Trey Pipkins III – Los Angeles Chargers

Clark went from leading the Cowboys in tackles (115) in 2023 to barely seeing the field in 2024. His snap count plummeted, finishing with just 35 tackles in 163 snaps, and he was even inactive three times. With a new defensive coordinator in town, his role is uncertain, and the Cowboys need playmakers at linebacker. If he wants to get his career back on track, a change of scenery might be his best shot.

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16. Damone Clark – Dallas Cowboys

Hyatt went from WR2 in training camp to a complete afterthought in the offense. He finished 2024 with just eight catches for 62 yards—nowhere near what the Giants expected. The explosive speedster averaged over 16 yards per catch as a rookie, but last season? A disaster. With frustration mounting, a move might be the only way for Hyatt to get back to making big plays.

15. Jalin Hyatt – New York Giants

Bradberry's time in Philly looks done. After losing his starting job in 2023, he shifted to safety but never saw the field due to injury. With two rookie studs now locked in a corner, there's no clear path for him in the Eagles' secondary. A fresh start in 2025 could be his last shot at proving he's still got it.

14. James Bradberry IV – Philadelphia Eagles

Allen's time in D.C. could be coming to an end. The veteran defensive tackle has been given permission to seek a trade, but Washington is unwilling to extend his deal. His cap hit sits at $23 million for 2025, but a move would free up $16.3 million in space. After back-to-back Pro Bowl years in 2021-22, injuries and declining production have raised questions about his future.

13. Jonathan Allen – Washington Commanders

Jenkins has been one of Chicago's best linemen—when healthy. The problem? He's missed 22 games in four seasons, making durability a real concern. The Bears might want him back at a discount, but as a pending free agent, he'll likely test the market for a bigger payday and a long-term starting role.

12. Teven Jenkins – Chicago Bears

Martin barely saw the field last season, playing just two games and logging one tackle. A preseason knee injury kept him sidelined until late November, but even after returning, he failed to carve out a role. In two seasons, the former third-round pick has played just five games with one start. With a new defensive staff coming in, his future in Detroit looks shaky.

11. Brodric Martin – Detroit Lions

This breakup feels inevitable. The two-time All-Pro has battled injuries, playing just seven games in each of the last two seasons, and his relationship with the team seems strained. He even admitted he had "nothing good to say" during last season's media availability. With a $17.5 million salary looming, the Packers may decide it's time to move on.

10. Jaire Alexander – Green Bay Packers

The Vikings keep treating Chandler like a backup, and that says it all. Twice now, they've traded for veteran Cam Akers instead of trusting him with the RB1 role. When given the chance in late 2023, he flashed his speed, racking up 419 yards over the final eight games. If the Vikings don't see him as a lead back, another team just might.

9. Ty Chandler – Minnesota Vikings

David Onyemata's 2024 season? Let's just say Father Time showed up—and he wasn't kind. The once-reliable disruptor saw his pressure rate sliced nearly in half despite playing more games. His run-stopping prowess also dipped, and with Atlanta strapped for cash, Onyemata's $8 million cap hit might be tough to justify. Tough decisions ahead in the ATL.

8. DT David Onyemata - Atlanta Falcons

Austin Corbett wants stability, but Carolina might be moving on. Injuries have kept him off the field, and Cade Mays stepped in without missing a beat. With the Panthers in full rebuild mode, spending big on a veteran center doesn't add up. Corbett may need to find a new home—one without a position battle waiting for him.

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7. C Austin Corbett - Carolina Panthers

Cameron Jordan is a Saints legend, but his future in New Orleans feels cloudy. The franchise sack king turned back the clock late last season with four sacks in his final eight games—but at 36 years old and with a $12.5 million price tag, the Saints have a tough call to make. Jordan's heart is in New Orleans, but will the front office's wallet agree? Stay tuned.

6. DE Cameron Jordan - New Orleans Saints

Jamel Dean has the tools—length, speed, and work ethic—but injuries have kept him from fully delivering. With nine missed games in the past two seasons and just one interception over that span, Tampa Bay may start questioning his $15.2 million cap hit. The Bucs' defense thrives when Dean's healthy, but that's been a big if. After parting ways with Carlton Davis III, Tampa's secondary can't afford more uncertainty.

5. CB Jamel Dean - Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Zaven Collins made the switch to edge rusher, but his role in Arizona is anything but secure. With BJ Ojulari returning and the Cardinals likely adding more pass-rush firepower, Collins could find himself squeezed out. He just signed an extension last August, but if he wants more snaps, his best fit might be elsewhere. Arizona has decisions to make—Collins' future is one of them.

4. LB Zaven Collins - Arizona Cardinals

Cooper Kupp's Rams run looks like it's ending—but what a run it was. From Super Bowl MVP to triple crown king, he once dominated defenses like few others. But injuries have piled up, and with a hefty $29.8 million cap hit, L.A. is ready to turn the page. Kupp still has magic in his hands—he just needs a fresh start to prove it.

3. WR Cooper Kupp - Los Angeles Rams

Deebo Samuel's hard-nosed, do-it-all style made him a fan favorite, but it's clear both sides are ready to move on. After a frustrating season, he's seeking a fresh start—and the Niners are giving him the green light. With $31.55 million in dead money and Kyle Shanahan's loyalty in the mix, it's a tough call. But for Deebo, this is a chance to shine again as the guy in a new offense.

2. WR Deebo Samuel Sr. - San Francisco 49ers

Tyler Lockett's Seahawks legacy is undeniable, but his time in Seattle may be winding down. Once a top target, he slid to the No. 3 role behind Jaxon Smith-Njigba—and now he's facing a hefty $31 million cap hit. Unless Lockett agrees to another pay cut, his 11th season in Seattle could be off the table. A tough ending for one of the franchise's most reliable playmakers.