NFL training camps have opened, and before you know it, all 32 teams will be practicing in pads, headlong into their preparation for the start of the 2024 regular season. Camps will be moving at breakneck pace, and jobs will be won and lost across the league.
With that in mind, here are 12 veteran players who might be in danger of losing their starting roles in 2024, arranged according to position (offense first, then defense).
There simply aren't that many true quarterback battles around the NFL heading into camp, with the majority of competitions featuring bridge QBs trying to hold off rookies. In Las Vegas, though, we have a legit duel between two interesting but flawed quarterbacks: Minshew and Aidan O'Connell.
Now, Minshew is the newcomer to this equation as an offseason signee, and if he emerges as the starter, he'd actually be displacing O'Connell, who started 10 games for the Raiders as a rookie last season. But Minshew is still the more established veteran, and backing up O'Connell would mark a definite step down after he started 13 games (and earned a Pro Bowl nod) for the Colts in 2023. Not to mention, Vegas gave him pretty good money on a two-year, $25 million contract.
Minshew clearly has the stronger body of work as a pro, with 37 NFL starts over five seasons. He actually offers a decent floor, generally keeping his interceptions low, flashing some running ability and keeping plays alive with his never-quit approach. But that reads more like the template for a higher-quality backup than a full-season starter.
Sure, the Raiders could open with Minshew in the starting lineup and allow O'Connell the opportunity to win the job over the course of the season. But giving O'Connell a shot now feels like the smarter move. Head coach Antonio Pierce has said that O'Connell deserves a chance to start based on what he did in 2023. O'Connell stood out especially in his final six starts, when he threw for nine TDs, committed only one turnover and cut back on the sacks he took. If the 2023 fourth-round pick flames out in Year 2, so be it; the Raiders can always turn to Minshew then. But this is likely O'Connell's one best shot at winning the job for the long haul, and the Raiders know they need to find out what he can do before potentially turning their attention to improving the QB position in the 2025 offseason.
By the end of last season, Jaylen Warren had begun to cut into Harris' workload. And he was more effective on a per-touch basis over the course of the entire campaign, averaging 5.5 yards vs. Harris' 4.2. Still, Harris logged more carries than Warren in each game last season, and he's started all 53 games (playoffs included) in his career.
During his long tenure in Pittsburgh, Mike Tomlin has typically favored more of a bell-cow approach in the backfield, with Harris pacing the NFL in touches (381) as a rookie. That appears to have changed with the emergence of Warren, who logged 210 touches in 2023 -- making him the only other Pittsburgh player since Harris arrived to crack 200 in a season. The Steelers declined Harris' fifth-year option, and though he figures to still have a major role in 2024, it won't be shocking if Warren gets yet more involved, perhaps even taking over the starting job. He's more of a three-down back than Harris, and new Steelers OC Arthur Smith called an offense in Atlanta last season with a lot of work for his backs in the passing game.
I'm taking a bigger risk here, as Williams currently sits alone atop the Broncos' RB depth chart, and Sean Payton just praised his slimmed-down frame. But there's still an opportunity for this scenario to unfold.
Williams isn't coming off a great season, is just two years removed from a torn ACL and is entering a contract campaign. Over his past 20 games (17 starts), he's had a long gain of 21 yards -- on 327 touches! The Broncos appeared to draft his successor, Audric Estimé, this spring, and they signed promising undrafted RB Blake Watson. They also have Jaleel McLaughlin, who figures to earn more touches after flashing enticing juice last season as an undrafted rookie.
There are some potential pitfalls to this prediction. Williams is younger (24) and cheaper ($2.8 million cap hit, per Over the Cap) than Samaje Perine (28 years old with a $4.5 million cap hit); if the Broncos want to hang on to just one veteran back, Williams could thus have a leg up on Perine in a head-to-head battle. Estimé and Watson also enter camp with health questions, so their chances of supplanting Williams are likely contingent on being ready sooner rather than later. Could Williams be a trade chip for a team such as the Cowboys?
The 2023 first-rounder started 10 of 17 games as a rookie, including eight of the final nine. And though his first season didn't go as planned, the thinking was that he'd have every shot to solidify a starting spot after the Chargers cut Mike Williams and traded Keenan Allen. Plus, new head coach Jim Harbaugh was a first-hand witness to Johnston's talent in college, watching him catch six passes for 163 yards and a 76-yard touchdown that ended up being the game-winner for TCU against Harbaugh's Wolverines in the 2022 College Football Playoff.
But the reports this summer suggest that Joshua Palmer has grabbed the lead role for now, while rookie Ladd McConkey might be cemented in the slot and DJ Chark could jump ahead of Johnston for the WR3 role.
The Chargers are already expected to be a run-heavy operation, with a lot of multi-TE formations. That doesn't bode well for Johnston's chances of carving out a major role, unless he starts impressing the new coaching staff quickly or injuries emerge at the position.
This is setting up as a critical year for Pierce, who has flashed some big-play ability but hasn't come close to becoming a steady performer in his first two pro seasons.
In spite of playing 95 percent of the Colts' offensive snaps last season, Pierce was targeted a mere 65 times (3.8 per game), catching just 32 of those passes. Even with the QB shuffling last season, those would be low marks for a tight end, let alone a receiver. Indy had no better options, and while the team surely values Pierce's other contributions, such as blocking, the Colts need more from their starting outside receiver opposite Michael Pittman Jr.
Adonai Mitchell arrived in Round 2 and could make an instant impact. In terms of raw talent, he far outshines Pierce and is more dynamic with the ball in his hands. A lack of WR depth and Pierce's affordable contract make him a candidate to stick around, even if he doesn't maintain his starting role, but you have to wonder how he'd contribute as a WR4 (with second-year pro Josh Downs manning the slot), given that he's logged just four career special-teams snaps thus far.
It wasn't a pretty first season for Smith-Schuster in New England, as he battled knee trouble and never seemed in sync with the offense. Some of that -- maybe a lot -- can be blamed on the Patriots' QB and scheme troubles in 2023; they were a mess virtually everywhere on that side of the ball. Still, the eye test wasn't encouraging, as Smith-Schuster appeared older and slower than a player who won't turn 28 years old until late November. And he reportedly didn't look much better during offseason workouts, raising the importance for a big training camp.
Pop Douglas and Kendrick Bourne (coming off an ACL tear) figure to land two roles on offense. Draft picks Ja'Lynn Polk and Javon Baker will make the team and have roles. K.J. Osborn has a good shot at a roster spot, too. That could leave one spot for Smith-Schuster, Kayshon Boutte, Tyquan Thornton and Jalen Reagor to battle for. With all the changes the Patriots have made this offseason, going younger at the position wouldn't be a surprise.
Believe it or not, Alie-Cox has been in Indianapolis since 2018, lasting through three head coaches and 10 different starting quarterbacks over that span. But he's a notoriously streaky player who has some holes in his game. Do the Colts finally have enough TE depth to move on?
Drew Ogletree and Kylen Granson began cutting into Alie-Cox's starts and playing time last season, and Will Mallory had enough eye-opening moments down the stretch to earmark more work for him, too. The biggest change could come via the return of Jelani Woods, who looked promising in 2022 before hamstring injuries completely derailed him last season.
Alie-Cox didn't play more than 35 snaps in any one game in 2023, so he might be a "starter" in name only. But the Colts have continued to keep him near the top of the depth chart while the younger options develop. The team owes the 30-year-old tight end $5.9 million in 2024, and that feels way too high for a player who should face major challenges from multiple younger, less-costly players.
Two things work in Conklin's favor as he tries to regain his starting spot in Cleveland: The Browns are paying him quite well, thanks to the major extension he signed late in 2022, and Conklin recently proclaimed himself healthy following the knee injury that ended his 2023 campaign in Week 1.
In fact, all three of the Browns' potential starters at tackle are coming off season-ending knee injuries. But that doesn't mean they're all on even footing. Dawand Jones was a pleasant surprise as a rookie last season after replacing Conklin and could hold his place in the lineup, especially considering the line as a whole appeared to play its most cohesively with Jones at right tackle.
The Browns could see if Conklin can beat out either Jones at RT or Jedrick Wills Jr. (who is entering a contract year) on the blind side, though Conklin has almost exclusively been a right tackle in his NFL career. Of course, Wills and Conklin will both have to come off the PUP list first. Conklin's manageable salary-cap figure of $10.6 million this season could open some trade possibilities if Wills and Jones eventually lock down the starting spots.
Davenport has been penciled in as a starter the past few seasons with the Saints and Vikings. The problem? Davenport's injuries have forced both of those teams to break out the eraser far too often. He's missed 21 of 51 potential regular-season games over the past three seasons, and only once in six pro campaigns has he played more than 13 games.
The Lions signed Davenport as a provisional starting option, and there's not a ton of question that the 2018 first-round pick is capable of upgrading the front if he's healthy. But that's just too big a stretch for me, especially after Davenport opened camp on the PUP list.
Aidan Hutchinson is a rock at one edge-rush spot, but the Lions need a complementary bookend. Davenport is the kind of well-rounded end who should have a shot to fill that role with aplomb. But if he's falling behind for health reasons, there are other candidates to step up, including Josh Paschal, John Cominsky, James Houston (another injury wild card) and reigning CFL Most Outstanding Defensive Player Mathieu Betts.
One of the things new Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald did so well during his time with the Ravens was move his defensive pieces around to achieve maximum flexibility and output. Baltimore had 108 sacks in 34 regular-season games with Macdonald at defensive coordinator, and it was the result of a collective effort, even with Justin Madubuike logging 13 sacks last season. In 2022, the Ravens had 10 players with two or more sacks, and nine players hit that mark in 2023.
Jones is coming off a disappointing debut season in Seattle under the previous coaching staff, registering just 4.5 sacks while shuffling from more of an interior role early in 2023 to more work on the edge down the stretch. The good news is that Macdonald has said he likes Jones' versatility and plans to cross-train him at multiple spots, including linebacker, in this new scheme.
But is there a starting spot available? Jarran Reed and Leonard Williams figure to eat up a lot of interior snaps, with first-rounder Byron Murphy II also in line for extensive work. At edge rusher, Boye Mafe led the team in sacks last season (nine), and Uchenna Nwosu and Darrell Taylor each had 9.5 sacks in 2022. There's also 2023 second-rounder Derick Hall, who gets a fresh start with the new staff.
I'm not saying Jones won't have a role or be an important piece. He just might not be a true starter, a change that might actually unlock more value per snap than the Seahawks received from Jones last season.
The Saints handed Taylor starting nickel duties last season, and he suffered through his share of struggles, giving too much cushion in coverage and missing tackles in space. He had a target on his back most weeks, and even with some promising moments and games, it was clear Taylor wasn't a perfect fit inside.
Assuming Marshon Lattimore and the Saints are back on the same page, he'll be starting on the outside opposite 2023 breakout Paulson Adebo. Taylor will have a chance to keep his nickel spot, but second-round pick Kool-Aid McKinstry figures to be hot on his heels. That should be an interesting camp battle, assuming McKinstry can work himself into an early role.
My view is that Taylor is best as an outside corner, where he played better as a rookie in 2022. The Saints don't have tremendous depth at the position, but there's enough to where Taylor could be the fourth CB by the start of the season.
Grant has been a disappointment as a former second-rounder, earning a starting role the past two seasons but not always producing optimal results. The biggest bugaboos have been his coverage lapses and tackling inconsistency. Grant's pass-rush ability and performance closer to the line of scrimmage have offered some value, but not enough to prevent the former staff from benching him in favor of seventh-round rookie DeMarcco Hellams down the stretch last season.
How will Raheem Morris and the new coaching staff use Grant? Well, he's making starter's money and figures to get a shot at winning the job next to Jessie Bates III. The cheaper Hellams looks to be Grant's biggest competition after he was just a bit more steady in his coverage duties and tackling last season. Hellams has also been praised for his intangibles, which can't be overlooked.
Grant will hit the Falcons' cap at nearly $4 million this season, which is a starter-caliber figure at safety. But if he can't break out early in Year 4, the new staff likely wouldn't hesitate to make a change.