10 veterans who could be cut ahead of Saturday's deadline

Not only will young players deemed not up to NFL standards be victims of the sweeping wave of roster cuts ahead of Saturday's 4 p.m. ET deadline, but experienced players will also see the chopping block due to inflated salaries, injuries, or poor performance.

Here we look at 10 veterans at risk of missing out on a spot on a 53-man roster as we near Week 1 of the 2018 season.

Randall Cobb, WR, Packers

The Packers are heading into the season with just under $11 million in cap space, according to Over The Cap, but releasing Cobb on the final year of his deal would save them an extra $9.47 million. Also, the Packers may favor a youth movement at receiver after selecting three wideouts in April's draft. The Ringer's Michael Lombardi insisted on his podcast that Cobb is available for trade, but said Cobb doesn't have the same value he once had due to his injured ankles.

The recently-turned 28-year-old hasn't approached 1,000 yards receiving since the 2014 campaign, his only Pro Bowl season. The return of quarterback Aaron Rodgers would likely allow him to improve on a career-worst 9.9 yards per reception from last season, when he worked primarily with Brett Hundley. Cobb's still a reliable pass-catcher over the middle and could be an excellent compliment to a younger quarterback.

Mike Gillislee, RB, Patriots

Gillislee has fallen a long way since opening his Patriots tenure with a three-touchdown performance in the 2017 season opener. He scored again the following week but would add just one more touchdown, in Week 15, while totaling 383 yards rushing on the season.

The Patriots brought in former Cincinnati Bengals running back Jeremy Hill as a free agent, and Hill seemed to outperform Gillislee over their three preseason games; neither rusher played in Thursday's finale.

The fifth-round pick from the 2013 draft could be signed to fill a standard goal-line role on a team with a thinner backfield.

Ameer Abdullah, RB, Lions

Abdullah has gradually faded away since he was the breakout star of his first preseason in 2015, when he rushed for 82 yards on just 12 attempts over three games. He started a career-high 11 games last year but averaged a personal-worst 3.3 yards per attempt and found the end zone just four times as a rusher.

The second-round pick from the 2015 draft is now part of a crowded backfield in Detroit with the free-agent signing of LeGarrette Blount and drafting of Kerryon Johnson, both of whom outperformed Abdullah during the preseason. But he has youth on his side and can be a reliable pass-catcher on a thinner team. He graded in the top 10 of qualified backs as a pass-catcher last year, according to Pro Football Focus, and could be signed on a cheaper deal to fill that specific role.

Robert Griffin III, QB, Ravens

Griffin completed 65.9 percent of 41 attempts with two touchdowns against one interception in four games this preseason before sitting out Thursday's finale. He even showed some of his old athleticism while rushing for 41 yards against the Miami Dolphins.

Releasing him saves only $1 million against the cap, so there's the chance Baltimore could hang on to the veteran if they choose to be extra patient with rookie Lamar Jackson. If they opt to sever ties, Griffin proved enough to beat out several incumbent backups elsewhere while also proving to be a strong mentor.

Brandon Marshall, WR, Seahawks

Marshall is attempting to make his way back from an ankle injury that ended his 2017 season after just five games, but his only real action of the preseason came in the third game when he caught three passes for 34 yards. It may be enough to protect him until the Seahawks are sure of Doug Baldwin's health.

He made the Pro Bowl as recently as 2015 and had 788 yards receiving in 2016. With the Seahawks seemingly set on trying to get younger, Marshall may not fit their vision. His name carries enough weight to earn him some phone calls as a free agent, but his diminished speed and a declining catch rate would limit his role.

Breshad Perriman, WR, Ravens

The top three receivers on the Ravens' projected depth chart, Willie Snead, Michael Crabtree, and John Brown, were all added this offseason, while rookie Jordan Lasley was chosen in the fifth round.

Perriman's made just four starts since he was taken with the 26th pick of the 2015 draft, and he's caught just 43 of 101 targets. Speed was considered his major asset entering his rookie season, but three injuries to his right knee, according to sportsinjurypredictor.com, seem to have taken their toll.

Kevin White, WR, Bears

The Bears would eat $5.27 million in dead money without saving anything against the 2018 cap if they release White. That's what could keep the receiver on the team's roster.

The No. 7 overall pick from 2015 has appeared in just five games and is yet to find the end zone. The Bears paid up for wide receivers Taylor Gabriel and Allen Robinson, and tight end Trey Burton, in free agency, and drafted Anthony Miller in the second round to address a poor passing attack. White could still serve as depth with a reasonable amount of upside, but his injury risk may be too high to trust him with a valued spot on the 53-man roster.

Paxton Lynch, QB, Broncos

Lynch may have saved his roster spot in his last possible opportunity to prove himself to the Broncos. The first-round pick from the 2016 draft completed 14 of 15 passes in Thursday's final preseason game, throwing for 128 yards and two touchdowns. It was the first game of the preseason in which Lynch appeared to outperform Chad Kelly, his rival to back up Case Keenum, and a seventh-round pick last year.

Lynch should've been expected to perform this well against his competition, as only a handful of players from either team who appeared in the game will make the final rosters. He has the cap working in his favor, as the Broncos would actually need to pay him more this season to cut him with two years left on his rookie deal.

Byron Maxwell, CB, Seahawks

Maxwell earned himself another one-year deal this offseason after returning to the Seahawks for the final seven games of the 2017 season, recording an interception and a forced fumble while making six starts.

The Super Bowl XLVIII champion failed in stints with the Philadelphia Eagles and Dolphins, and could again be the victim of a roster squeeze with the Seahawks moving toward youth. He missed the final preseason game due to a hip injury, missing out on one last chance to prove himself. However, he can provide veteran experience while playing a lesser role on a hopeful contender.

Jason McCourty, CB, Patriots

The 31-year-old McCourty made an unenviable veteran appearance in the Patriots' final preseason game. His stay with the Patriots could be short-lived after a trade in March reunited him with twin brother Devin.

McCourty has 16 interceptions over nine seasons split between the Tennessee Titans and Cleveland Browns. He'd be a standard cap casualty as the Patriots would be clear of his full $2.97-million salary, but he could still help another team on a smaller contract.

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