Whose Jobs Are in Jeopardy After the NFL Draft?

All three days of the 2014 NFL draft are done, and now it's time to prematurely judge the events and what they mean for the coming season.

While there is a lot to come which will shape the reality that is the 2014 NFL season, there are some picks which (at least on the surface) could spell trouble for people currently employed in the NFL.

The following are players (and one executive) who might find their jobs in jeopardy based on things which transpired this past week.

Let's meet them.

Look out Brian Hoyer, Here Comes Johnny Football!

Mary Kay Cabot of The Plain Dealer says Johnny Manziel will have to “earn his job”, and Manziel himself says he needs work (as relayed by Cleveland.com’s Terry Pluto). So it seems as though Brian Hoyer’s job should be safe.

Or is it?

We don’t know what Hoyer will look like in new offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan’s offense. Hoyer was great before he was injured last season, but that was in a Norv Turner system. He may not be able to replicate that success under Shanahan, whose offensive approach is more geared towards utilizing a mobile quarterback.

Coming off an ACL injury, Hoyer might lose speed and mobility. While he wasn’t a statue, he wasn’t Johnny Manziel. So, will Hoyer be able to hold off Manziel?

And here’s another question.

The Browns had a lot of excitement when Manziel was drafted, much of which died when Josh Gordon was reported to be facing a year-long suspension by the NFL (per ESPN.com’s T.J. Quinn and Don Van Natta Jr.).

With the wind taken out of the fanbase’s sails, putting “Johnny Football” under center could be a short-term, quick-fix way of saving it. Even if Hoyer starts the season as the quarterback, if he falters, can the team afford to let him stay as starter?

The fans might riot.

Sam Baker Should Look over His Shoulder

The Atlanta Falcons offensive line was rated as 30th in the NFL by Pro Football Focus’ Khaled Elsayed (subscription required), so they have set out to improve it this offseason.

Sam Baker is in the middle of a six-year, $41 million contract but is playing more like he’s being paid $41.

Baker is a much better fit at right tackle, where his struggles protecting Matt Ryan won’t get the quarterback killed, as it’s not the quarterback's blind side.

Matthews was my top tackle in this year's draft, a guy who can pass block as well as run block. He’s not the most athletic tackle in the world, but his technique is without par and he is tough to beat.

While the team has said they will not move Baker to right tackle, all it will take is a few blindside hits on Ryan and Matthews will get his shot. And even if it doesn’t happen this year, it will at some point.

Matthews is the left tackle of the future. It’s just a matter of how quickly the future arrives.

A Warning Shot for Tamba Hali

Recently, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that when Tamba Hali arrived at offseason workouts 20 pounds over his playing weight.

This is apparently a consistent problem for Hali, and it could be that the selection of Auburn OLB Dee Ford is a frustrated Kansas City front office firing a shot across Hali's bow.

This is especially true when considering how much the team needed receivers and offensive linemen. According to Rotoworld.com, the team would save $9 million by cutting Hali, but we don’t expect that to happen.

Still, if Ford can come on strong in training camp, Hali, who is in the second-to-last year of a massive contract, could start being phased out.

Wide Receivers? Dave Gettleman Don't Need No Stinkin' Receivers!

Chuck Burton/Associated Press

YOLO

Carolina Panther fans won’t like this, but I add it with the explanation that we never really know how things will shake out in a few months.

That said, I look at their draft and don’t understand how a team which allowed its receiver corps to wither didn’t address this deficiency very much or very well.

Kelvin Benjamin was selected when Marqise Lee was still on the board, and while the 6'5" Benjamin is a huge target, he doesn’t use his body well, isn't a polished route-runner and is overall quite raw as a wideout.

Lee was injured in 2013 and has had some drop issues, but his tape in 2012 is exceptional.

But let’s say I’m wrong and Benjamin is fantastic. That’s one guy. Where is anyone else?

No other receivers were selected. I like Jerricho Cotchery, whom the Panthers signed this offseason as a free agent, but he’s not a number one WR and is barely a number two. Nobody else in Carolina's receiver group is going to scare anyone.

I don’t understand this offseason, where instead of building on a great 2012, they allowed the team to get worse offensively. Hopefully a strong run game and tight end Greg Olsen can mask the deficiencies among the wideouts.

If the team crashes and burns, you might see some people start calling for general manager Dave Gettleman’s head.

And the loudest might be Jerry Richardson.

Chad Henne with a Bad Case of the Bortles

Jacksonville Jaguars GM David Caldwell says that they would like Chad Henne to be their starting quarterback next season (as told to Mike and Mike on ESPN Radio per ProFootballTalk.com).

I want Angelina Jolie to love me. We don’t always get what we want.

The fact is that the team took Blake Bortles with the third overall pick brings pressure with it. Even when a team decides to sit a prospect, they often end up putting them in at some point during their rookie season.

Jake Locker is the last one I can remember whose team opted to have him start his career watching from the sideline—and he was in by Week 11 (though not full time). Minnesota's Christian Ponder sat out the first few weeks of his rookie season in 2011 but took over in Week 6 (per Footballguys.com, subscription required). Tim Tebow sat most of his rookie season, getting a look only at the end of the season (per Footballguys.com).

Perhaps Jacksonville keeps Bortles on the bench to start the season. At some point the fans are going to want a look at the new guy, and if Henne struggles, who could blame them?

The fact is, even if Henne plays well, the writing is on the wall. The Jaguars drafted a new quarterback with a high pick.

Henne’s clock is ticking regardless of what he does.

Quarterback Issues Are Just Water Under the Bridge(water)

The Minnesota Vikings moved back into the first round for a quarterback, Louisville’s Teddy Bridgewater. It’s hard to imagine he doesn’t get a crack at the starting job almost immediately.

It’s not a done deal, because we know anything can happen, but we’ve yet to see anything which tells us Christian Ponder and Matt Cassel are true alternatives.

Bridgewater played in a pro-style offense and showed grit and determination in many pressure-filled situations. He is probably the most pro-ready quarterback and fell into a situation set up for success.

A Hall of Fame running back, a good O-line, solid receivers and what looks like a totally revamped defense all will make any quarterback’s job easier. At the end of the day, though, whether Bridgewater starts this season under center or not, he’s the quarterback of the future.

Cassel and Ponder had their chances and they biffed it.

There’s very little standing between Bridgewater and the starting job or Cassel/Ponder from the bench.

The Jaguars Look to the Future with Marqise Lee

Justin Blackmon probably set the ball rolling with his own idiocy.

As the Jaguars do not expect him to return in the coming season, per Hays Carlyon of Jacksonville.com, the Jaguars needed to address the wide receiver position.

And really, it’s a matter of planning for the long term, since the next mistake by Blackmon could give him a lifetime suspension.

Aside from that, you can’t count on him.

So the team selected USC receiver Marqise Lee when he fell to the second round. Lee is an underrated receiver and great value pick in the second. His tape from 2012 is fantastic, and while he had some drop issues in 2013, his production dipped because of coaching changes, poor quarterback play and injury more than lack of ability.

The team also added Penn State’s Allen Robinson, an athletic receiver with a lot of upside.

The Jags may not be giving up on Justin Blackmon yet, but they are certainly preparing for life without him.

A New Right Tackle for Buffalo?

With all the maneuvering in the first round, we’ve missed what could be one of the biggest moves of the draft for Buffalo.

While Alabama tackle Cyrus Kouandjio’s knees are a concern for some (per AJ.com’s Andrew Gribble), he has the talent to have been a first-rounder.

He’s certainly got the potential to be better than current right tackle Chris Hairston. That’s not to say Hairston isn’t a decent tackle, just that Kouandjio is expected to be better.

Ironically, both have had lower-leg injury issues: Kouandjio with his knees, while Hairston was on the Active/PUP list with ankle and foot injuries. He has yet to be cleared to practice as of March 25, according to Tim Graham of The Buffalo News.

Despite the fact that Kouandjio’s knee issues can be a concern, he still is a first-round talent who will make a push to be a starter.

And that will probably mean a seat on the bench for Hairston.

Andrew Garda is a member of the Pro Football Writers Association. He is also a member of the fantasy football staff at FootballGuys.com and the NFL writer at CheeseheadTV.com. You can follow him @andrew_garda on Twitter.