Emerald City Sports Spotlight with Peter D~ From Many Cuts to One: The NFL’s New Roster Reduction Format Brings Strategy and Emotion Front and Center

By Peter Duncan-Bey, The Facts Newspaper Sportswriter

The NFL’s approach to trimming rosters has undergone a major transformation in recent years. Once a gradual process marked by multiple checkpoints, the reduction from 90 to 53 players is now executed on a single, high-stakes day. For teams like the Seattle Seahawks, navigating this new terrain requires clarity, structure, and leadership—qualities second-year head coach Mike Macdonald is leaning into with full force.

Then vs. Now: A Fundamental Shift

Prior to 2023, NFL teams trimmed their rosters in stages during the preseason. After the first preseason game, rosters would drop from 90 to 85. The second game brought a cut to eighty, and finally, after the third game, rosters were finalized at 53 players. This method allowed coaches to distribute reps more evenly and gradually make tough decisions.

But beginning in 2023, the league did away with staged cuts, opting instead for a single, final cutdown day. In 2025, that date falls on Tuesday, August 26, just one day after the preseason concludes. Teams are permitted to carry ninety players throughout training camp and all three preseason games, then must slash nearly 40% of their roster in a 24-hour window.

Macdonald’s Deliberate Process in Year Two

As he enters his second year at the helm, Mike Macdonald is proving to be a coach who values both performance and process. He is not rushing to judgment—and the league’s new cutdown rules suit his approach.

“We're going to let the play speak for itself,” Macdonald said early in training camp. “We're not going to force the decision. We're going to be intentional in what happens probably within the first two weeks.”

This deliberate mindset allows the Seahawks to fully evaluate fringe roster players, late-round draft picks, and undrafted free agents—many of whom might have been released under the old cutdown schedule before ever getting meaningful snaps.

Development and Connection at the Forefront

Beyond evaluation, Macdonald is placing a premium on player development and team culture. He has emphasized the importance of maintaining strong relationships with players—even those who may ultimately be cut.

“It matters how we coach them,” he told reporters at the VMAC. “Whether they make the fifty-three or not, it is about growth, assessment, and doing right by these guys. You never know when you’ll cross paths with them again.”

That focus on long-term development resonates in a system that no longer gives players early notice. Instead, all thirty-two teams must finalize their 53-man roster simultaneously, sending more than 1,000 players to the waiver wire in one chaotic sweep.

League-Wide Reactions: Opportunity Meets Emotion

Across the league, reactions to the single cutdown format are mixed. Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton sees upside: “A lot of time and energy is spent on the right 53,” he said, referencing the chance to discover talent in the chaos—like he did in 2017 with now-utility weapon Taysom Hill.

But others acknowledge the emotional cost. “Cutdown’s a tough day,” said Jets GM Joe Douglas. “We’ve got to say goodbye to 37 guys who gave everything they had for the last few months.”

Expanded practice squad rules (up to sixteen players per team) do offer a soft landing for many, but the competition to claim and retain those slots is as fierce as ever.

Seahawks Stay True to Blueprint

As the August 26 deadline looms, Seattle’s approach remains clear: compete, develop, and communicate. Macdonald’s second-year philosophy centers on measured decisions—balancing the performance he sees on tape with the relationships he is building behind the scenes.

In a league increasingly driven by data and speed, Macdonald’s emphasis on intentionality could give the Seahawks an edge not just in roster management, but in player trust and long-term development.

For Seattle, the cut to fifty-three is no longer a series of small steps—it’s one giant leap. But under Macdonald’s watch, it’s a leap taken with purpose.