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There are a lot of NFL veterans sweating a lot more after last weekend's draft, seeing their teams select a player or players at their position.
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| So what do you know about Joe Flacco, Mr. Boller? (US Presswire) |
Coaches eat it all up. They love the competition, anxious to see it all play out on the field. It might make some of the vets run an extra sprint or two or lift a few more reps this week, which is always good for the team.
It isn't easy being in the crosshairs of a young rookie, especially when your job is on the line.
Here is a list of draft pick-veteran challenges that should be interesting to watch once training camp opens in the fall.
Arizona Cardinals
In the crosshairs: CBs Eric Green and Rod Hood
Threat: Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie
Verdict: The Cardinals wanted Rodgers-Cromatie to upgrade their secondary. He should be an opening-day starter. There's a chance Hood could still be the guy and Eric Green could sit down, but the guess here is that Hood moves to nickel corner.
Atlanta Falcons
In the crosshairs: QB Chris Redman
Threat: Matt Ryan
Verdict: Teams usually don't want to rush a rookie passer into the lineup, but what do the Falcons have to lose? They will be bad, no matter what. Letting the kid play is better than letting him watch. Ryan takes over in the summer.
Baltimore Ravens
In the crosshairs: QB Kyle Boller
Threat: Joe Flacco
Verdict: The Ravens traded up to get Flacco, and they've never been happy with Boller. But jumping from small-school Delaware to starting NFL quarterback in a year is a tough jump to make. Boller will hold him off for a while, maybe until next season.
Buffalo Bills
In the crosshairs: WRs Josh Reed, Roscoe Parrish
Threat: James Hardy
Verdict: The Bills want to upgrade the position opposite Lee Evans to take some coverage away from his side. Reed doesn't have the speed or the size to do that. Parrish is too small. Hardy has the size and runs well for a 6-6 receiver. It does take time for receiver to catch on, so this might be half a season before Hardy takes the spot.
Carolina Panthers
In the crosshairs: RB DeAngelo Williams
Threat: Jonathan Stewart
Verdict: Williams showed well in 2007, enough to let DeShaun Foster leave. But when a team uses the 13th pick overall on a running back, that player will get a chance to carry the football. Williams will be the starter, but look for Stewart to take away a lot of his carries.
Chicago Bears
In the crosshairs: RB Cedric Benson
Threat: Matt Forte
Verdict: The Bears didn't like what they got from Benson last season when he was made the starter. They used a second-round pick on Forte, which some thought was too high, but he will be given a chance to win the job. Benson better be prepared for a fight.
Cincinnati Bengals
In the crosshairs: LB Dhani Jones
Threat: Keith Rivers
Verdict: This one is over before it starts. Rivers is the speed linebacker the Bengals badly need. Jones is a steady player, but he doesn't run as well as he did. Rivers will be an opening-day starter.
Cleveland Browns
In the crosshairs: TE Steve Heiden
Threat: Martin Rucker
Verdict: Neither one of these guys has a chance to take over for Pro Bowl tight end Kellen Winslow, but the backup job is open. Heiden has been a steady player for the last six years. He blocks well. Rucker doesn't, but he is a better receiver. Heiden will hold him off, but Rucker will play on passing downs.
Dallas Cowboys
In the crosshairs: RB Marion Barber
Threat: Felix Jones
Verdict: Barber has one year left on his contract, so Jones makes sense as a first-round pick. It gives the Cowboys safeguards in case Barber is unrealistic with his contract demands. Jones is more of a home-run threat than Barber, so look for him to get 10-12 touches a game.
Denver Broncos
In the crosshairs: WRs Darrell Jackson, Brandon Stokley, Samie Parker and Keary Colbert.
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| Beware, Denver receivers: Eddie Royal wants your job. (US Presswire) |
Verdict: The Broncos have receiver issues. Brandon Marshall, their best receiver, is coming off a severe laceration to his arm. The Broncos have added several veterans to the mix, but none is a lock to start. Royal is fast and quick and should find his way onto the field in passing situations. He might not start, or even be the third receiver, but he'll have a chance.
Detroit Lions
In the crosshairs: RT Jon Scott
Threat: Gosder Cherlius
Verdict: The Lions had big problems at right tackle last year, which is why Cherilus was taken so high. He played the left side in college, but most scouts said he was a natural right tackle. Cherilus will take this job and Scott could eventually move inside to guard.
Green Bay Packers
In the crosshairs: QB Aaron Rodgers
Threat: Brian Brohm
Verdict: This battle probably won't really get going until 2009. But it will be interesting to see how Rodgers handles having a second-round pick with a nice pedigree playing behind him.
Houston Texans
In the crosshairs: LT Ephraim Salaam
Threat: Duane Brown
Verdict: I used to call Salaam "The Turnstile" for the way he used to get beat. He played better last year, but he isn't good enough to hold off Brown, the team's first-round pick. He might win the job in camp, but Brown will take it at some point during the season.
Indianapolis Colts
In the crosshairs: RB Kenton Keith
Threat: Mike Hart
Verdict: Keith is the primary backup to Joseph Addai, but he has some off-field issues hanging over his head. Hart was a productive college runner who can move the chains. He isn't fast, but the good thing is he blocks. That is a must in the Indy offense.
Jacksonville Jaguars
In the crosshairs: DE Reggie Hayward
Threat: Derrick Harvey
Verdict: You don't trade up in the first round to take the speed rusher you so badly need with the idea he will sit on the bench. Hayward ruptured an Achilles tendon in 2006 and he's still fighting his way back. If he gets back all the way, then Harvey might take aim at Paul Spicer's job. If not, Spicer could move to left end to take over for Hayward and Harvey would play right end.
Kansas City Chiefs
In the crosshairs: RB Kolby Smith
Threat: Jamaal Charles
Verdict: The Chiefs want more from their backup to Larry Johnson, which is why they used a third-round pick on Charles. He has big-play speed. The Chiefs can give him 10 touches a game in relief of Johnson as he wins the backup job.
Miami Dolphins
In the crosshairs: QB John Beck
Threat: Chad Henne
Verdict: Is Beck the guy for this Dolphins' regime? It doesn't appear that's the case. If so, why did they take Henne in the second round? Look for an open competition, and you can bet the lean will be toward Henne, this regime's "guy."
Minnesota Vikings
In the crosshairs: QB Tarvaris Jackson
Threat: John David Booty
Verdict: It's rare that one would ever think a fifth-round pick might push out a starting quarterback, but Jackson has struggled his first two years, so it could happen. It's not likely, but you never know. Booty understands playing in an NFL offense from his days at USC.
New England Patriots
In the crosshairs: LBs Eric Alexander, Victor Hobson
Threat: Jerod Mayo
Verdict: This really isn't a fair fight. Mayo will have this job from the start of camp. The Patriots will now move Adalius Thomas back outside. That leaves Alexander and Hobson in the spot for now, but Mayo will take the position in training camp.
New Orleans Saints
In the crosshairs: DT Hollis Thomas
Threat: Sedrick Ellis
Verdict: The Saints traded up to get Ellis. That tells you what they think about his abilities. Thomas has struggled with his weight in recent years, and he is replaceable. Look for Ellis to win this job in camp.
New York Giants
In the crosshairs: S Sammy Knight
Threat: Kenny Phillips
Verdict: Knight is a smart, heady veteran. But he doesn't run that well and slower safeties get eaten alive in today's NFL. Phillips has great range and even played some corner in college. The Giants need somebody who can run at safety. Phillips is that guy and he should win this job in camp.
New York Jets
In the crosshairs: TE Chris Baker
Threat: Dustin Keller
Verdict: Baker caught 41 passes last season, and wasn't happy about the Jets trading back into the first round to take Keller, but he doesn't have the pass-receiving skills Keller possesses. Keller will help stretch the middle of the field. Look for him to take over as the starter early next season.
Oakland Raiders
In the crosshairs: RB Justin Fargas
Threat: Darren McFadden
Verdict: I've been a big fan of Fargas since he began his college career at Michigan. He has always been a tough, hard-nosed runner. But he won't be able to fend off McFadden. The rookie is too explosive, and we know how Al Davis loves speed.
Philadelphia Eagles
In the crosshairs: WRs Hank Baskett, Jason Avant
Threat: DeSean Jackson
Verdict: The Eagles need to improve their passing game, and Jackson can do that. He is small, but he is fast. He will push Avant and Baskett for the third-receiver spot. The bet here is that Jackson wins that job at some point this season.
Pittsburgh Steelers
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| Limas Sweed is on his way to Pittsburgh, Nate Washington. (US Presswire) |
Threat: Limas Sweed
Verdict: Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger asked for a bigger receiver and he has one now in Sweed. Look for Sweed to push Washington for the third receiver spot behind Santonio Holmes and Hines Ward, and probably win the job. When Ward retires, Sweed will take over as the starter.
St. Louis Rams
In the crosshairs: WRs Dane Looker, Dante Hall
Threat: Donnie Avery
Verdict: Rams coach Scott Linehan wants more from his slot receivers, which is why the team used a second-round pick on Avery. He fits what the Rams want from that position, a quick player who also has the speed to stretch the middle of the field. Here's a bet that Avery has this job by the first game. There really isn't a lot of competition.
San Diego Chargers
In the crosshairs: CB Paul Oliver
Threat: Antoine Cason
Verdict: The Chargers took Oliver in the supplemental draft last summer. He spent the season watching. But when Drayton Florence signed with the Jaguars, Oliver looked to have the lead in the race to be the team's nickel corner. Cason's selection in the first round will make for a nice competition.
San Francisco 49ers
In the crosshairs: Gs Adam Snyder, David Baas
Threat: Chilo Rachal
Verdict: Baas tore a pectoral muscle recently and will be out until training camp -- at the earliest. Snyder takes over for the retired -- we think anyway -- Larry Allen. Rachal has been compared to a young Allen -- which is high praise -- and will find a way to win one of the guard spots.
Seattle Seahawks
In the crosshairs: TEs Will Heller and Jeb Putzier
Threat: John Carlson
Verdict: The Seahawks took Carlson in the second round in large part because they had a huge hole at the position. Heller and Putzier aren't the long-term answers, while Carlson can be. Look for him to be an opening-day starter.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
In the crosshairs: CB Phillip Buchanon
Threat: Aqib Talib
Verdict: Tampa Bay coach Jon Guuden told Talib he reminded him of Charles Woodson, whom Gruden coached in Oakland. Those types of players don't spend time on the bench. Buchanon played well last season, but Talib will take this job.
Tennessee Titans
In the crosshairs: DE Jevon Kearse
Threat: Jason Jones
Verdict: If Kearse can't get back to his pre-injury form, Jones could push him for playing time. Jones is a bigger defensive end, which is what teams prefer on the left side to anchor against the run. The guess here is that Kearse will bounce back and play well, which would relegate Jones to backup duties.
Washington Redskins
In the crosshairs: WR Antwaan Randle El
Threat: Devin Thomas and Malcolm Kelly
Verdict: The Redskins would probably prefer that Randle El be the third receiver. That would leave Thomas and Kelly, two second-round picks, to fight it out for the starting spot opposite Santana Moss.
