In order to address issues and plug gaps on their roster, a number of teams used the 2024 NFL Draft; some of them selected possible future starters in multiple rounds. Here are five guys that might likely lose their starting positions to rookies this season now that the draft has officially concluded. Green Bay Packers’ OT Rasheed Walker Jordan Morgan, the rookie According to Pro Football Focus, Walker played 966 snaps at left tackle in the previous season, giving up six sacks, 36 pressures, and 24 hurries. Among offensive lineman for the Packers, he gave up the most sacks and the second-most pressures and hurries. At Arizona, the 320-pound, 6-foot-6 Morgan played roughly 2,500 snaps at left tackle, giving up just 10 sacks in five seasons and just one instance of more than 20 pressures. Morgan might contend for Green Bay’s starting left guard role if he has a strong camp and preseason performance. C.J. Gardner-Johnson, S. Eagles of the Philadelphia First-timer Cooper DeJean In 2023, Gardner-Johnson’s torn pectoral muscle kept him from playing in only three games. Gardner-Johnson was one of the best safeties in the NFL in 2022 before his injury, and his love of smack talk helped him dominate against rival receivers. Though he is returning off a significant injury, he will need to stave off a motivated rookie who is probably feeling left out after starting the season as a predicted top-20 pick and dropping to Round 2. DeJean is a dynamic player with outstanding ball-tracking abilities and a strong zone coverage game. Gardner-Johnson has expressed his willingness to switch from cornerback to safety, a position he has played. However, with third-year safety Reed Blankenship securing Philly’s other spot, Gardner-Johnson may be passed over by the new guard. Atlanta Falcons DT David Onyemata Ruke Orhorhoro and Brandon Dorlus are the rookies. The Falcons have struggled recently to get to the quarterback, so they used three of their first four selections on front-seven players. With Calais Campbell gone, Atlanta’s senior defensive tackle, Onyemata, is now the team’s starting defensive tackle. He might not want to settle in too much, though, as Dorlus and Orhorhoro were both highly regarded prospects who might have gone late in the first round. Dorlus led Oregon in pressures (46), hurries (35) and sacks (five), and Orhorhoro contributed well to Clemson’s run defence with five sacks of his own. Josh Downs, Wide Receiver with the Colts Adonai Mitchell, rookie Downs quickly overtook Alec Pierce as the Colts’ number-two receiver on the depth chart. With 68 receptions on 98 targets, 771 yards, and two touchdowns in his rookie campaign, he had a respectable campaign. However, with Anthony Richardson back to 100%, there’s a strong chance Mitchell does to Downs what he did to Pierce the previous season. Mitchell, a 6-foot-4, 198-pound wideout, has the strength and quickness to be Indianapolis’ primary deep threat. He outran Downs in the 40-yard dash (4.48 to 4.34), has a wide catch radius, and excels at taking in passes close to the boundary. Watch for Mitchell to start making huge reception after big catch and separating himself near the top of the depth chart if head coach Shane Steichen opens up the playbook for Richardson. Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner Trey Benson, the rookie Yes, Conner did carry for more than 1,000 yards in the previous season, but that was a first for him in his seven-year career, and at 28, he’s probably getting close to the end of his playing days. For good reason, Benson was the second running back off the board. At Florida State, he ran for 900 yards in back-to-back seasons and scored 23 touchdowns in the final two years. Following his departure from Oregon in 2022, Benson averaged 6.1 yards per carry and recorded 37 runs of 15 yards or more during that time, including 54 runs of 10 yards or more. Benson is a big play waiting to happen, so don’t be shocked if he starts to get a boost in workload and red-zone touches if Conner has a rough start.
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