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Which NFL veteran players could lose their jobs in 2023? Mike Fanelli provides an answer while offering insight and analysis into the upcoming NFL season for RotoBaller.
The 2023 NFL regular season is less than two months away. However, training camp is right around the corner.
While the fans couldn’t be happier, training camp isn’t the best time of the year for NFL players. In addition to the physical and mental rigors of camp, veteran players are often dealing with the stress of trying to fend off younger players for their spot on the depth chart. Many veterans end up losing their job during training camp or the preseason every single year.
Furthermore, their job isn’t guaranteed even once the regular season even begins. There is little job security in the NFL. With that said, let's look at 10 veterans that could lose their starting job this season.
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Ryan Tannehill, QB, Tennessee Titans
After spending the past four years with the Titans, Tannehill’s time with the franchise is ending. The veteran is entering the final year of his contract and Tennessee traded up during the 2023 NFL Draft to select Will Levis, which means any chance of Tannehill returning in 2024 is over.
The veteran has played well over the past four years, totaling 89 passing touchdowns to only 33 interceptions, which is a 2.7:1 ratio. By comparison, Tannehill had 123 passing touchdowns and 75 interceptions during his six years with the Miami Dolphins, posting a 1.6:1 ratio. If the Titans struggle this season, no one should be surprised if the team benches the veteran in favor of the former Kentucky Wildcat star.
Robert Woods, WR, Houston Texans
Woods has bounced around the NFL during his 10-year career. After spending four years with the Buffalo Bills, the veteran had five productive years with the Los Angeles Rams. Unfortunately, he suffered a torn ACL in 2021, ending his season and time with Los Angeles. Woods was then traded to the Tennessee Titans last offseason. However, he only spent a year with the team before getting released.
While the veteran wasn’t the most productive wide receiver in 2022, Woods quickly signed with the Texans following his release from the Titans. The former USC star will start the year as C.J. Stroud’s No. 1 wide receiver, thanks to his experience. However, Houston will eventually limit Woods’ snaps, giving those reps to their young wide receivers instead. Unfortunately for the veteran, the Texans will have little reason to keep him on the field late in the year.
D.J. Chark, WR, Carolina Panthers
The former second-round pick had a breakout season in 2019 as a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars. That year, Chark had 73 receptions on 118 targets for 1,008 receiving yards and eight touchdowns, which were all career highs. However, his production has regressed since that special season. The veteran has also played only 44.1% of the games over the past two years because of injury. Yet, Chark found a new home this offseason after spending last year with the Detroit Lions.
Carolina traded away DJ Moore this offseason, leaving their wide receiver core lacking veteran leadership. Therefore, they signed Adam Thielen and Chark to be the Week 1 starting wideouts. However, Terrace Marshall Jr. and Jonathan Mingo impressed the coaching staff during team minicamp. Meanwhile, Chark only signed a one-year deal with the team, meaning the veteran could lose his starting role before the beginning of the regular season.
Donovan Peoples-Jones, WR, Cleveland Browns
Many predicted Peoples-Jones would have a career year in 2022. The former Michigan star had 61 receptions on 96 targets for 839 receiving yards and three touchdowns last season, all career highs. However, the numbers weren’t good enough to keep the Browns from making multiple additions to the wide receiver room during the offseason.
First, the team signed Marquise Goodwin and Jakeem Grant Sr. in free agency. Then Cleveland traded for Elijah Moore. The former Ole Miss star will take over as the No. 2 wide receiver on the depth chart behind Amari Cooper. Unfortunately for Peoples-Jones, the Browns also used their top draft pick on University of Tennessee wide receiver Cedric Tillman, despite having other needs on their roster. Peoples-Jones is entering the final year of his contract and it’s only a matter of time before Tillman takes the No. 3 role from him.
Donovan Smith, OT, Kansas City Chiefs
Smith was a second-round pick in the 2015 NFL Draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The former Penn State star started all 16 games as a rookie and only missed 4.6% of the contests during his eight years with the team. However, the Buccaneers released the veteran offensive tackle this offseason, as the team is entering a rebuilding phase and needed the salary cap space.
Furthermore, Smith’s play started to slip last season. The veteran offensive tackle led the NFL in penalties by an offensive lineman with 13. While the Kansas City Chiefs signed Smith to replace Orlando Brown Jr. at left tackle, the team also spent a third-round pick on Wanya Morris, who plays the same position. If the veteran struggles, the rookie could take over at some point during the year. Remember, the Chiefs have no problem starting rookie offensive linemen with Patrick Mahomes under center.
Cam Robinson, OT, Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars knew Robinson was facing a suspension before the 2023 NFL Draft and the team planned accordingly. No one should have been surprised that Jacksonville used their first-round pick on tackle Anton Harrison. Some will argue that the team drafted the rookie after losing Jawaan Taylor in free agency but that simply isn’t the case.
Jacksonville spent a second-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft on Walker Little and the former Stanford offensive tackle was always going to replace Taylor at right tackle. More importantly, the Jaguars recently learned Robinson would miss the first four games this season for violating the league's PED policy. Meanwhile, Jacksonville can release the veteran next offseason with little penalty. If he doesn’t get his starting job back in Week 5, Robinson should put his house on the open market.
Chandler Jones, EDGE, Las Vegas Raiders
Last year the veteran edge rusher signed a massive three-year deal with the Raiders after spending the previous six years with the Arizona Cardinals. Jones had totaled at least 10.5 sacks in six of the previous seven seasons before last year, with the lone exception coming in 2020 when he only played in five contests. Unfortunately, the veteran had only 4.5 sacks in 2022 with Las Vegas, the lowest mark of his career when playing more than five games.
While Las Vegas didn’t release the former Syracuse star edge rusher, the team made other moves this offseason. Despite having several other needs on their roster, the Raiders used their first-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft on Tyree Wilson. The former Texas Tech star will pair with Maxx Crosby for the foreseeable future. If the veteran isn’t careful, Jones could lose his starting spot to the rookie early in the season.
Preston Smith, EDGE, Green Bay Packers
Unfortunately, the Packers defense struggled last year after losing Rashan Gary to a torn ACL in Week 9. Smith led the team with 8.5 sacks in 2022 but that was a slight decline from his total the year before. Meanwhile, the veteran struggled to make tackles last season. According to PFF, Smith had a career-high missed tackle rate of 24.2% last year.
More importantly, Green Bay likely drafted his replacement in April. The Packers used their first-round pick on Lukas Van Ness from the University of Iowa. Meanwhile, Smith could be entering his final year with the franchise. While his contract runs through the 2026 season, the Packers can release the veteran next offseason and save some money towards signing Gary to a long-term contract.
Patrick Queen, LB, Baltimore Ravens
Many had high hopes for the former LSU star linebacker after he finished third in the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year award race in 2020. That year, Queen had 106 tackles, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, three sacks, and a defensive touchdown. Unfortunately, Queen’s production has slipped since then.
Baltimore knew they had an issue at the linebacker position as the team sent multiple 2023 NFL Draft picks to the Chicago Bears for Roquan Smith at the trade deadline. Then the Ravens signed the veteran to a massive five-year deal worth $100 million. More importantly, Baltimore used their third-round pick in the 2023 draft on Clemson linebacker Trenton Simpson. Many believe that Simpson should have been a top-50 selection. After declining his fifth-year option earlier this offseason, Queen might lose his starting job before Week 1.
Josey Jewell, LB, Denver Broncos
Jewell has always been a limited linebacker. While he is a tackling machine, the former Iowa star struggles in coverage. The veteran has scored lower than a 66 PFF coverage grade in all but one season of his five-year career. Unfortunately, Jewell was also an inconsistent tackler last season, posting a 9.2% missed tackle rate.
Meanwhile, the Broncos used their second selection in the 2023 NFL Draft on Drew Sanders. The rookie linebacker was outstanding last season at Arkansas, totaling 103 tackles and 9.5 sacks. He also earned a 77.8 coverage grade from PFF. Jewell is entering the final year of his contract as well. The veteran might hold onto his starting role early in the season but eventually will lose it to the rookie linebacker.
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