Detroit Lions: 5 Key Veterans Who'll Take a Backseat in 2012

For a team as young as the Detroit Lions, they sure are concerned with retaining their veterans.

The Lions haven't so much jumped into free agency as they have stood on the shore and fished out the things they lost. Jeff Backus and Shaun Hill have re-signed with the Lions, but there is no indication of the Lions going after players that weren't with the team last season.

Of course, that doesn't mean these vets are going to be around forever. Quite the opposite, in fact. Many of the veterans in Detroit are likely to see their playing time fall in the near future, as younger players grow into the role.

The ability to replace veterans from within the ranks is a sign of a well-managed team (and good drafting), and these five players could find themselves on the bench-side looking in by the end of the season.

Nate Burleson

Last season, Nate Burleson and Titus Young pretty much went toe-to-toe in total stats.

Burleson caught 73 passes for 757 yards and three touchdowns.

Young hauled in 48 passes for 607 yards and six touchdowns.

At first glance, it seems like Burleson was more impressive overall, but Young caught more touchdowns and had a better YPR average with 26 fewer targets.

Now, I'm certainly not saying Burleson is going to fall off the map entirely in 2012, but Young is clearly getting better while Burleson gets older. Now that Young has a full offseason to grow more accustomed to the offense, it stands to reason his comfort level and chemistry with Matthew Stafford will increase accordingly.

Ideally, Burleson and Young both put up good numbers in 2012. That will mean the Lions' passing game is clicking, and Stafford is doing a good job of spreading the ball around.

But still, I would be very surprised if Burleson sees more receptions/targets than Young by the end of the 2012 season.

Stephen Peterman

As it stands, Stephen Peterman is the best player on the team at right guard.

I'm hoping that isn't still the case after this year's NFL Draft.

I don't know if the Lions will get Georgia prospect Cordy Glenn in the first round, and even if they do, I don't know if they would play him at guard.

What I do know is that the Lions can't run the ball because the offensive line can't push anyone off the point of attack, and Peterman is a major culprit.

Even if the Lions draft an offensive lineman in the second or third round, I expect him to push Peterman by the end of 2012. Even if they draft a G/T prospect like Glenn who takes the place of Gosder Cherilus, Cherilus should take over for Peterman.

One way or another, somebody ought to be taking the place of Peterman this season, so the Lions can stop sending their running backs into the brick wall that is Peterman's blocking assignment.

Kyle Vanden Bosch

At one point, Kyle Vanden Bosch was considered, by some, a candidate for the chopping block.

With a high veteran salary, a history of injuries, and declining production, Vanden Bosch seemed an obvious choice to cut and save some money. Lawrence Jackson and Willie Young are both highly serviceable players with plenty of upside, so presumably the Lions would have been no worse off.

Or so it seemed. The leadership Vanden Bosch brings can't be quantified the way sacks can, and the Lions are approaching a point where veteran leadership is going to be a key component of the team. Clearly, they thought that was worth his salary cap hit.

But that doesn't mean he's going to play as consistently as he did last season. Willie Young came on strong as a speed rusher last season, and he might see more time rushing from Vanden Bosch's blind side after proving last season that he could get the job done.

Jeff Backus

It's a very good thing that Jeff Backus is back in the fold for the next two years.

But if this situation is the same two years from now, it will be time to seriously question the "In Mayhew We Trust" mantra.

At this point in his career, Backus should be a safety net. He will start the 2012 season almost without question, but it should only be while the Lions prepare his successor. If that successor is not on the roster already (faith in Jason Fox has to be waning at this point), the Lions need to find him in the draft very quickly.

Backus might not actually take his backseat until the second year of his deal, in 2013. But even after signing a brand new two-year contract, the writing is already on the wall for the end of Backus' career in Detroit and the NFL in general.

Corey Williams

Like Kyle Vanden Bosch, Corey Williams is still too good a player, and has too much intangible value, to have him cut off the roster entirely.

But Williams is also in the final year of his contract, and the only reason he got so much playing time last year is the injury to Nick Fairley.

Fairley struggled with a nagging foot injury last season, and every time he thought it was okay to play on, he aggravated it. A full offseason of rest and treatment should change that, and the result should be reduced snaps for everyone, not just Williams.

But Ndamukong Suh is still a All-Pro caliber player, and if Fairley steps up to the same standards, it will be far too tempting to play them both on a majority of downs. Eventually, we may see Fairley replace Williams as the starter.

Because of Jim Schwartz's defensive line rotation, a diminished role for Williams is still a big one. But if we're talking about players taking a backseat, Williams fits the bill as he moves over to give a first-round pick his due playing time.