Who Will Win NFL's Best Rookie Position Battles?
Most NFL teams got their first looks at their 2015 draft picks during recent rookie camps, but the real battles will begin over the summer when these rookies try to take starting jobs from the incumbent veterans.
A handful of rookies, mostly first-rounders, will be handed starting positions. Most, however, will have to battle it out in competitions that could linger into the first few weeks of the regular season.
The following slideshow highlights seven intriguing battles featuring rookies who could push the veterans ahead of them on the depth chart.
Most coaches haven't given a clear indication of each rookie's odds of winning a job—or even which position he'll be competing for, in some cases—but the most realistic scenarios, and projected winners, have been highlighted.
Ameer Abdullah vs. Joique Bell, Theo Riddick
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The Detroit Lions parted ways with Reggie Bush this offseason, but second-round pick Ameer Abdullah gives them another full stable of running backs entering the 2015 season.
Joique Bell will enter camp as the clear-cut favorite to maintain control of the job, but Abdullah should be given every opportunity to steal his spot.
While the 5'11", 220-pound Bell is more of a downhill runner, Abdullah is more elusive and likely more of a home-run threat in the Lions backfield.
Given GM Martin Mayhew's past interest in players such as Bush and Jahvid Best, he is likely hoping Abdullah adds a new dimension to the Lions offense.
It's also worth mentioning Theo Riddick's role in this battle, as he was expected to take over as Bell's backup prior to the addition of Abdullah.
Riddick became a weapon in the passing game last season, emerging as the Lions' primary third-down back while Bush was injured. According to Pro Football Focus, Riddick led all Lions running backs with 41 targets in Weeks 8 through 17.
If Abdullah doesn't win the battle over Bell, he'll be a candidate to steal some opportunities from Riddick.
Projected winner: Bell, with Abdullah as his primary backup
Cameron Erving vs. John Greco, Mitchell Schwartz
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The title of this battle could probably read: Cameron Erving versus the entire Cleveland Browns offensive line.
Erving started his Browns career off at right tackle on the first day of rookie camp, but head coach Mike Pettine told the Cleveland Plain Dealer he will see plenty of action elsewhere:
"He's going to play some on the left side... I'm not sure of Moe's (offensive line coach Andy Moeller) plans—but we'll probably work him some at center, as well.
"
The Browns have left tackle (Joe Thomas) and center (Alex Mack) manned by two Pro Bowlers, and left guard Joel Bitonio is coming off a phenomenal rookie year. So Erving's chance for a starting spot likely comes down to right guard and right tackle.
John Greco moved into the right guard spot late in the 2013 season and has posted a Pro Football Focus grade of 17.3 in 16 games at the position. Based on his performance it would certainly seem as though Greco is a safe bet to remain there, but there's always pressure on a team—especially one with limited hopes of competing—to find playing time for their first-round selections.
Erving's best shot at starting may be to overtake Mitchell Schwartz at right tackle.
Schwartz has essentially been a league-average lineman for the Browns since earning the starting job three years ago. However, his weakness has been in the run game—which will likely be the focal point of the Browns offense in 2015.
Speaking at the NFL Combine, Pettine didn't exactly go out of his way to praise Schwartz's performance from a season ago:
"I thought Mitchell had a good year for us. Had some plays he’d want to take back, but we feel good about where our offensive line is.
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While no coach would throw a starter under the bus without having a replacement ready to go, that's about as wishy-washy a statement as could be made.
It's safe to assume Pettine wouldn't mind seeing Erving step up and claim that job as his own.
Projected winner: Erving at right tackle
Jalen Collins vs. Robert Alford
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Due to offseason foot surgery Jalen Collins didn't get to make a first impression at the Atlanta Falcons rookie camp, but the talented second-round pick will be in competition for a starting cornerback job in August.
Returning starter Robert Alford is also rehabbing this offseason, from season-ending wrist surgery, and is coming off a disappointing season.
In 10 starts a season ago, Alford notched a -6.5 coverage grade from Pro Football Focus.
The Falcons likely drafted Collins for his length (6'1", 32" arms), which somewhat compares to Richard Sherman, whom Dan Quinn coached in Seattle.
While Collins is raw in his technique, he is coming off a stellar year at LSU where he excelled in man coverage.
"#Falcons Jalen Collins had 1 pick, 4 pass break ups & allowed a miserly 10% completion rate on deep vertical routes in 2014 season
— Pro Football Focus (@PFF) May 4, 2015"
If the Falcons view Collins as the type of athlete who can be left on an island, it's only a matter of time before he takes Alford's job.
Projected winner: Alford in Week 1, but Collins takes over by mid-October
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Tyler Kroft vs. Tyler Eifert
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The Cincinnati Bengals tight end battle is interesting because the departure of Jermaine Gresham was supposed to usher in the Tyler Eifert era.
Instead, the Bengals immediately brought in competition in the form of third-round selection Tyler Kroft.
It's possible the Bengals have concerns about Eifert's health, since he is coming off shoulder surgery which wiped out almost his entire 2014 campaign. However, the Cincinnati Enquirer recently reported that Eifert expects to be ready for training camp.
Kroft and Eifert are remarkably similar players, both offering value for their blocking skills but providing the team with two strong weapons as possession receivers as well.
"Marvin Lewis on Tyler Kroft: "A good fit for what we were looking for in this draft – literally the best of the tight end prospects."
— Dan Hoard (@Dan_Hoard) May 2, 2015"
With Ralph Friedgen as his offensive coordinator at Rutgers in 2014, Kroft was primarily used as an in-line tight end, limiting his ability to show off his athleticism in the passing game. But in 2013, Kroft was frequently used in the slot and was emerging as one of the best pass-catching tight ends in the nation.
The selection of Kroft likely demonstrates the Bengals' interest in using two-tight end sets, more than anything.
During Eifert's rookie year, he and Gresham battled for targets with Gresham edging him out 63 to 56, according to Pro Football Focus. A similar split is possible for Kroft and Eifert this season.
Projected winner: Eifert as the starter, but plenty of targets for Kroft
Byron Jones vs. Brandon Carr
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Byron Jones versus Brandon Carr is the battle to watch in the Dallas Cowboys secondary, for now.
It's worth mentioning that Carr has been rumored as a potential cap casualty. According to ESPN's Todd Archer, the Cowboys could save a significant amount against the 2015 cap by cutting Carr:
"Carr is scheduled to count $12.717 million against the cap. If the Cowboys designate him a post-June 1 salary cap cut, then they would free up $8 million in cap space, but he would count $7.4 million against the 2016 cap.
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If Carr returns, either under his current contract or by restructuring his deal, he'll have to hold off Jones to keep his starting job.
Pro Football Focus gave Carr a -9.3 coverage grade a season ago. In his three-year Cowboys career, he has yet to earn a PFF coverage grade above zero.
Jones may be a work in progress for Cowboys defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli, but he has all the tools necessary to develop into an elite talent.
"Marinelli: Byron Jones has size, skill, athleticism to matchup w/ big NFL WRs. You can improve footwork, "but you can't make a 5-9 guy 6-3."
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) May 9, 2015"
Coming off a 12-win season the Cowboys are obviously in win-now mode, so the best player right now will earn the starting job. But even if that man isn't Jones in September, there's a good bet he will end up taking snaps away from Carr by season's end.
Projected winner: Jones
Jaelen Strong vs. Cecil Shorts
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The battle between Jaelen Strong and Cecil Shorts isn't necessarily an either-or discussion, as both should have significant roles in the Houston Texans' offensive game plan.
The competition really comes down to determining where head coach Bill O'Brien wants to line the receivers up in his offense. And since both are new to Houston, he'll likely tinker with a few variations in training camp.
Shorts was primarily used as an outside receiver in Jacksonville, but he did take a career-high 18.8 percent of his snaps from the slot in 2014, according to Pro Football Focus.
At Arizona State, Strong was also occasionally used in the slot, hauling in 24 of his 82 receptions from the slot position, per PFF.
What Strong also brings to the table, however, is the ability to win the battle for contested balls down the field, making him a viable candidate to start opposite DeAndre Hopkins on the outside.
"O'Brien says the Texans will leave Jaelen Strong on the outside at first. Let him learn that and get adjusted to the offense. #Texans
— Tania Ganguli (@taniaganguli) May 8, 2015"
Both receivers will undoubtedly take snaps from the slot and on the outside depending on the situation. However, O'Brien has traditionally liked to challenge down the field in his offense, which makes Strong appear to be the better fit on the outside if he can impress from that position in training camp.
Projected winner: Strong on outside, Shorts in slot
Ereck Flowers vs. Justin Pugh
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Ereck Flowers played left tackle at Miami, but he is a candidate to shift to the right side for the New York Giants.
2013 first-round selection Justin Pugh has been manning the right tackle position for the past two years with mixed results.
Giants offensive coordinator Bob McAdoo stated, via Big Blue View, that Pugh remains the starter "right now" but that the team will "play our best five and if [Flowers] is one of them, he will find a spot."
"Eli Manning on Ereck Flowers: "Any time you get a big 330-pound offensive lineman, a quarterback's usually pretty happy about that."
— Art Stapleton (@art_stapleton) May 11, 2015"
Realistically, both Flowers and Pugh should end up starting somewhere on the offensive line for the Giants.
In 2014, the Giants' starting guards struggled mightily. At left guard, Weston Richburg earned a -14.3 grade from Pro Football Focus, while right guard John Jerry was graded at -16.3.
As a result of the interior line struggles, the loser of this battle should be a safe bet to supplant either Richburg or Jerry on the inside.
Projected winner: Flowers
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