Early Predictions for This Year's Most Surprising NFL Veteran Roster Cuts

Predicting that someone is eventually going to lose to his job doesn't make for a pleasant assignment.

Still, the business that is the NFL has teams always trying to upgrade their rosters, and sometimes, those teams have to make difficult decisions.

In some cases, releasing a player is based strictly on performance. But there are also instances in which financial considerations come into play, hence an organization planning for the future during the draft as it gets ready to groom an eventual replacement.

So here are some choices in terms of veteran players whom their current teams will let go of in the not-too-distant future or this summer using the aforementioned criteria. We've kept the list to a minimum because, admittedly, it's very early in the process.

And we apologize if you don't think some or any of these names are super shockers. We hope you weren't expecting to see Peyton Manning and Tom Brady on the list.

But as we have also seen in recent weeks with the New England Patriots' releasing of cornerbacks Alfonzo Dennard and Kyle Arrington and the Houston Texans' releasing of safety D.J. Swearinger, it is apparently never too early as well.

T Andre Smith, Cincinnati Bengals

Tom Uhlman/Associated Press

Yes, we are talking No. 71 in the photo, not the other guy.

The Cincinnati Bengals selected University of Alabama tackle Andre Smith sixth overall in the 2009 NFL draft. However, the massive blocker has had his ups and downs in six seasons in the league and is coming off a season in which he missed seven games as well as the team's playoff encounter with the Indianapolis Colts.

As we know, the Bengals used their first two picks in this year's draft on tackles Cedric Ogbuehi and Jake Fisher, respectively. That's also due to the fact that veteran left tackle Andrew Whitworth enters his 10th year in the league. Now, we may soon find out if Smith's seventh season in the NFL will be in Cincinnati.

CB Morris Claiborne, Dallas Cowboys

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When you take a look at Pro Football Focus' 2014 cornerback rankings, you'll see that neither veteran Brandon Carr nor three-year pro Morris Claiborne did much to distinguish themselves for the Dallas Cowboys.

While Carr started 16 games, we only saw Claiborne for four contests. He missed the remainder of this past season with a torn patellar tendon, and his prognosis for 2015 is iffy. Via David Helman of DallasCowboys.com, the Cowboys opted not to pick up the fifth-year option in 2016 for Claiborne, who has missed a combined 18 games the past two years.

Add in the fact that Dallas used last month's first-round pick on cornerback Byron Jones, and don't be surprised if there is an injury settlement in the future for Claiborne, the sixth overall pick in the 2012 draft.

TE Brandon Pettigrew, Detroit Lions

Duane Burleson/Associated Press

Keeping tight ends on the field in 2014 was a major problem for the Detroit Lions.

Former first-round pick Brandon Pettigrew totaled 14 games, made nine starts, amassed a mere 10 receptions and scored zero touchdowns this past season.

Don't get us wrong. Joseph Fauria and 2014 first-round pick Eric Ebron had their own issues staying healthy this past season. But Pettigrew, once a 16-game starter in back-to-back seasons in 2010-11, has not exactly been the beat-all answer at the position. While he's totaled a respectable 294 receptions, they have added up to only 16 touchdowns.

Hence it would not be a shock to see Pettigrew elsewhere in 2015.

TE Marcedes Lewis, Jacksonville Jaguars

Rick Osentoski/Associated Press

This appears to be a no-brainer in some regards, especially after the Jacksonville Jaguars gave big bucks to two-time Pro Bowl tight end Julius Thomas, formerly of the Denver Broncos, this offseason.

However, that's also due to the fact that ever since his Pro Bowl year in 2010, you just haven't seen the same numbers from tight end Marcedes Lewis.

In 2014, the 2006 first-round pick missed eight games and caught only 18 passes for 206 yards and two scores. He's played in just 19 contests the past two seasons combined and, since 2011, has totaled just 10 touchdown receptions—equaling the number from his standout year in 2010.

With Thomas, Clay Harbor and 2015 seventh-round pick Ben Koyack in the mix, the writing figures to eventually be on the wall.

T Will Beatty, New York Giants

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Will Beatty has started each game for the New York Giants at left tackle the past two seasons, but the 2009 second-round pick from the University of Connecticut has been less than overwhelming in his play. That's why the franchise used this year's ninth overall pick on Ereck Flowers, a tackle from the University of Miami.

The offensive line play for Tom Coughlin's team in recent seasons has been an issue, hence why the team has used a number of high picks over the last few years to remedy the situation. Beatty's performance has been erratic at best for any numbers of reasons, and perhaps he can start anew with another organization should the Giants indeed to part ways with the six-year pro.

According to Pro Football Focus, Beatty rebounded very well this past year after a disappointing season in 2013, and letting him go would probably be somewhat of a surprise. But the signs seem to indicate, be it the draft or free agency (Marshall Newhouse), that Coughlin and general manager Jerry Reese may be ready to go in a different direction.

WR Riley Cooper, Philadelphia Eagles

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Over the past two offseasons, the Philadelphia Eagles have traded, cut or not re-signed skill position standouts such as quarterback Nick Foles, running backs LeSean McCoy and Bryce Brown and wide receivers DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin.

This year, Chip Kelly signed free-agent wide receivers Miles Austin and Seyi Ajirotutu (the latter more for special teams), drafted wideout Nelson Agholor in the first round and have up-and-coming Jordan Matthews on the roster.

We feel the makeover will continue with the release of wide receiver Riley Cooper, who comes off a year in which he caught a career-high 55 passes. However, one year after averaging 17.8 yards per reception on 47 grabs and eight touchdowns, Cooper scored just three times (twice in a Week 16 loss to the Washington Redskins) and averaged only 10.5 yards per catch.

In 2013, the former fifth-round pick was one of Foles' go-to guys. Perhaps that may eventually be the case once again.

TE Vernon Davis, San Francisco 49ers

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As he prepares for his 10th NFL season, two-time Pro Bowl tight end Vernon Davis will be seeing his share of different faces on the San Francisco 49ers.

But what does the immediate future hold for the usually productive performer who, this past season, snared a pair of touchdowns passes in a Week 1 win at Dallas and never saw the end zone again?

In nine NFL seasons, Davis has totaled 423 receptions for 5,446 yards and 55 touchdowns. But he comes off a year in which he just wasn't himself physically, totaling 26 catches for 245 yards and two scores in 14 contests.

Was Davis' down year a result of injuries and the struggles of quarterback Colin Kaepernick as well as the offensive line, or is the former standout on the downside of his career. In 2013, Davis did catch 52 passes, 13 for scores. But the Niners drafted a pair of tight end this year, and two-year pro Vance McDonald is on the roster.

Stay tuned.

OLB/DE Bruce Irvin, Seattle Seahawks

Matt Rourke/Associated Press

Back in 2012, the Seattle Seahawks took a raw pass-rusher named Bruce Irvin with the 15th overall pick in the draft and stunned many.

The team looked somewhat genius-like when the former West Virginia University product totaled eight sacks in a situational role as a rookie.

But Irvin has totaled a combined 8.5 sacks the past two seasons combined, and while he was very solid against the run this past season (via Pro Football Focus), he remains more of a situational performer than a full-time solution.

Would the Seahawks really part ways with Irvin after only three seasons? Never say never with a franchise that is always pushing the envelope when it comes to player transactions. While releasing Irvin outright may be somewhat of a reach, this is an organization (thanks to general manager John Schneider and head coach Pete Carroll) more than capable of justifying any move.

All free-agent information and player signings/transactions are courtesy of Spotrac. Depth chart information comes via Ourlads. Unless otherwise noted, all player and team statistics come from Pro Football Reference and ESPN.com.