7 NFL Players with the Most at Stake in the 2025 Preseason

As the first full week of the 2025 NFL preseason kicks off on Thursday, some players will feel the pressure of competition in battles for starting jobs and roster spots.

Players can't rely on their draft status, they must earn their roles. Several early-round picks from recent years are entering a crucial stretch in their careers.

Some of these players must impress a new coaching staff, while others find themselves in competitive battles for notable playing time.

We highlighted seven players who could be cut, traded or buried on their team's depth chart if they don't shine in the preseason.

Deonte Banks, CB, New York Giants

AP Photo/David Richard

Giants WR Deonte Bank

The New York Giants could shake up their secondary on the boundary in the upcoming season. According to The Athletic's Dan Duggan, Deonte Banks has split first-team reps with Cor'Dale Flott.

Banks has started in 29 games with mixed results. In 2023, he tied former Giants safety Xavier McKinney in pass breakups with 11, while allowing a 79.6 passer rating in coverage.

Last year, Banks led the club in pass breakups with 12, but he struggled with down-to-down consistency, giving up six touchdowns and allowing a 124.2 passer rating in coverage.

This offseason, Banks acknowledged that he must break out of a funk.

"I just feel like it's kind of like a sophomore slump, but I feel good," Banks said to reporters.

The Giants have sent a clear message to Banks by opening up a competition for the starting spot opposite Paulson Adebo. If he loses to Flott in the battle for the No. 2 cornerback position, Big Blue could place him on the trade block before it finalizes its initial 53-man roster.

Mekhi Blackmon, CB, Minnesota Vikings

AP Photo/David Becker, File

Vikings CB Mekhi Blackmon

The Minnesota Vikings have shuffled the deck at cornerback. They allowed Shaquill Griffin to sign elsewhere in free agency and haven't re-signed Stephon Gilmore. The club added veterans Isaiah Rodgers and Jeff Okudah to patch up the position.

Meanwhile, Mekhi Blackmon is working his way back from a torn ACL. In his 2023 rookie term, he showed flashes of potential, logging eight pass breakups and an interception, allowing just two touchdowns and an 81.8 passer rating in coverage.

If not for a knee injury, Blackmon would be in a prime position to start after a promising first year in Minnesota, but his 2025 outlook seems cloudy with Rodgers and Okudah in the fold.

According to The Athletic's Alec Lewis, Rodgers and Okudah have taken on prominent roles alongside Byron Murphy Jr. at practices.

"General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, O'Connell and Flores said they believed Rodgers could play an every-down role, and that they had a vision for Okudah. It's no surprise, then, that those two have played alongside Byron Murphy Jr. with the first-team defense."

In the preseason, Blackmon has to knock off some rust while in a competitive battle for one of the Vikings' top cornerback spots.

Malachi Corley, WR, New York Jets

AP Photo/Seth Wenig

Jets WR Malachi Corley

The New York Jets have an underwhelming supporting cast of wide receivers behind Garrett Wilson. According to Zack Rosenblatt, Josh Reynolds "feels pretty locked in" as the No. 2 receiver.

In Reynolds' best season, the 2020 term, he caught 52 passes for 618 yards and two touchdowns with the Los Angeles Rams. He's an eighth-year veteran who's on his sixth team in the pros. The Jets need a high-upside player to emerge within their receiver unit.

As a third-round pick from the 2024 draft, Malachi Corley should fit the description, but he needs to stay on the field and produce in the preseason.

In his rookie campaign, Corley only caught three passes for 16 yards, and his most notable play resulted in a fumble out of the end zone because he let the ball go before crossing the goal line.

Head coach Aaron Glenn sees the potential in Corley, but he also noted the wideout's spotty availability this offseason.

"Here's what I remember from Corley, his ability to get the ball in his hands and make something happen. And when you have a player like that, the first thing you think about is screens, you think about punt return, kick return, you think about things like that. Now, we have a ways to go to really try to figure out exactly where we're going to place him, because he's been in-and-out, that's just what it is."

If Corley flashes in the coming weeks, he can carve out a decent role as a complementary receiver in a new offense led by quarterback Justin Fields.

Ja'Lynn Polk, WR, New England Patriots

AP Photo/Charles Krupa

Patriots WR Ja'Lynn Polk

Last spring, Ja'Lynn Polk generated some buzz, but he made minimal contributions during the regular season, hauling in just 12 out of 33 targets for 87 yards and two touchdowns in 15 outings.

As a second-round pick from last year's draft, Polk should be in the mix for a sizeable role. Yet, he may be on the roster bubble.

According to ESPN's Mike Reiss, the New England Patriots' wide receiver depth chart has three solidified spots, which leaves Polk in a battle to make the initial 53-man roster.

"Veterans Stefon Diggs and Mack Hollins, third-year slot DeMario Douglas and 2025 third-round pick Kyle Williams are viewed as safe. So that leaves a projected two spots for the remaining group that includes nine-year veteran Kendrick Bourne, third-year pro Boutte, 2024 draft picks Ja'Lynn Polk (second round) and Javon Baker (fourth round), and undrafted free agent Efton Chism III, among others."

Last year, the Patriots signed Bourne to a three-year extension. During the 2024 season, Boutte built a connection with quarterback Drake Maye, catching 43 passes for 589 yards and three touchdowns. Chism had an impressive showing during the spring.

The Patriots have a new coaching staff, which wipes the slate clean for roster holdovers from the previous regime. Polk must impress head coach Mike Vrabel and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels to crack the receiver rotation and stay on the radar in New England.

Spencer Rattler, QB, New Orleans Saints

AP Photo/Matthew Hinton

Saints QB Spencer Rattler

Spencer Rattler has an advantage in playing experience over rookie second-rounder Tyler Shough and Jake Haener. Last season, he served as the primary backup and filled in for Derek Carr for seven outings (six starts), throwing for 1,317 yards, four touchdowns and five interceptions. Now that Carr has retired, Rattler can take over the full-time role.

Rattler has more at stake in the preseason than Shough, who likely has a future with the team as an early-round pick. Whether the rookie wins the battle or not, he may eventually have another chance to win the job because of his draft pedigree.

Rattler, who was a fifth-round pick last year, must make the most of his opportunity, or else, he could fall to the bottom of the depth chart within the next year.

Remember, the Saints have a new coaching staff that didn't draft Rattler, and he's competing against Shough, who has more perceived upside because of his draft status.

Last year, Rattler had a solid showing in the preseason. He'll need another strong performance in the summer games to earn the lead position and showcase himself as a starter for a future in New Orleans or potentially elsewhere.

Anthony Richardson Sr., QB, Indianapolis Colts

AP Photo/Michael Conroy

Colts QB Anthony Richardson Sr

The Colts signed Daniel Jones to compete with Anthony Richardson Sr., who has struggled to stay healthy and with his accuracy in two seasons. He's missed 19 games because of injuries and a benching, completing just 50.6 percent of his passes.

According to The Athletic's James Boyd, Jones took a "significant lead" in the quarterback battle as Richardson nursed a shoulder injury that sidelined him during the spring.

However, Richardson has bounced back at training camp. Head coach Shane Steichen told reporters that he's "playing at a high level."

The Athletic's Zak Keefer believes that Richardson outperformed Jones in the first two padded practices while showing improvement with his accuracy.

"Richardson was temporarily shut down from throwing in late May after aggravating his shoulder — it appears to have faded a week into training camp. After sloppy starts from both, Richardson was sharper during the team's first two padded practices, showing off some improved accuracy on the very throws that he's struggled with throughout his first two NFL seasons."

Richardson and Jones will likely battle through the preseason for the starting job. Jones, a first-rounder from the 2019 draft, is on his third club in the last 10 months. Richardson must prove that he's a starting-caliber quarterback to the team that selected him with the fourth pick in the 2023 draft.

Tyree Wilson, DL, Las Vegas Raiders

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Raiders DL Tyree Wilson

As one of our bold training camp predictions, Wilson earned a mention as a player who could switch positions because of the uncertainty around Christian Wilkins' foot injury.

In July, the Raiders released Wilkins, which created a void in the middle of their defensive line. Even before the club released the 29-year-old defensive tackle, Wilson took notable reps on the interior.

According to Las Vegas Review-Journal's Adam Hill, Wilson could see an increased number of snaps on the inside, especially on obvious passing downs.

"Wilson, who was drafted as an edge defender, has been spending a great deal of time lining up inside during camp. That has especially been the case in obvious passing situations, which enables the defense to give a pretty unique look to opposing offenses. It's a role Wilson has been used in at times as a pro, but it could be a more regular occurrence this season."

After two lackluster seasons primarily on the edge, Wilson could provide a spark through his versatility. He's the third edge-rusher behind Maxx Crosby and Malcolm Koonce, but the 2023 first-rounder could also become a disruptive defensive tackle who generates pressure up the middle.

The Raiders can try to unlock Wilson's upside by employing him in different spots. That said, wherever he lines up, the third-year pro must show why a previous regime selected him with the seventh overall pick. Wilson needs to put his true potential on full display with more opportunities on the interior.

Maurice Moton covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @MoeMoton.