The Player on Each NFL Team That Must Be Replaced Before Next Season Begins
In the National Football League, there is almost nothing worse than a poor starter who drags the rest of the team down.
It could be the starting offensive lineman who allows the opposing team's defensive end to pound the quarterback into the turf all day. Or it could be the cornerback who allows the opposing wide receiver to catch 10 passes for 150 yards and two touchdowns.
The next 32 slides will highlight the one player on each team who needs to be replaced before next season.
Arizona Cardinals, Quarterback, Derek Anderson
1 of 32
Derek Anderson started nine games for the Cardinals last season, throwing seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions. This marked the third straight season that he played poorly, proving that his 2007 season with the Cleveland Browns was a fluke.
When the Cardinals didn't draft a quarterback this year, they all but guaranteed that he won't remain the starter next season.
Atlanta Falcons, Defensive End, Jamaal Anderson
2 of 32
Anderson was drafted eighth overall in the 2007 draft but has failed to produce in his four years.
This was his first season as a backup, and he has just 4.5 sacks in four seasons. It's time for the Falcons to part ways with their former first-round pick.
Baltimore Ravens, Offensive Tackle, Jered Gaither
3 of 32
Gaither missed the entire 2010 season with a serious knee injury. He also missed five games in 2009 with injuries.
When the Ravens drafted tackle Jah Reid in the third round, they likely signaled that Gaither will not return in 2011.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
Buffalo Bills, Linebacker, Aaron Maybin
4 of 32
Maybin might be one of the worst first-round draft picks in NFL history, especially considering how high he was drafted (11th overall).
In two seasons, he has started one game and collected 14 tackles. By comparison, Ray Lewis gets 14 tackles in a good game.
Carolina Panthers, Quarterback, Matt Moore
5 of 32
The Matt Moore experiment needs to end in Carolina. It looked like a smart move in 2009, when he threw eight touchdowns and two interceptions.
But he lost four of five starts and posted a 55.6 passer rating last season. The Panthers are keeping Jimmy Clausen, and they just drafted Cam Newton with the first overall pick.
It wouldn't make sense for Moore to stay with the team. The Panthers need to focus on the future and Moore is not their future.
Chicago Bears, Quarterback, Todd Collins
6 of 32
You need to be able to trust your backup quarterback to at least keep your team in a game if the starter can't play. Todd Collins does exactly the opposite.
He completed 15 of his 27 passes last season—10 to the Bears and five to the other team. That's not exactly effective.
Cincinnati Bengals, Wide Receiver, Terrell Owens
7 of 32
Owens actually had a pretty productive season last year, catching 72 passes for 983 yards and nine touchdowns.
But there's no point in keeping a high-profile, high-risk, attitude-prone, aging receiver on a non-contender.
Cleveland Browns, Running Back, Mike Bell
8 of 32
The Eagles traded Mike Bell for Jerome Harrison in the middle of last season. Good move by the Eagles.
Bell rushed for 71 yards on 31 carries last season. Your backup running back should have several hundred rushing yards. Not 71.
Bell is 28 and should not be on the team next season.
Dallas Cowboys, Kicker, David Buehler
9 of 32
Buehler made just 24 of 32 field goals last season, including only four of seven in the 30-yard range.
There have been reports that the Cowboys are going to pursue kicker David Akers when free agency begins. That makes sense since Buehler has a strong leg for kickoffs, but he can't kick field goals.
Denver Broncos, Running Back, Correll Buckhalter
10 of 32
No team should have a 32-year-old running back as their backup, especially a guy who averages 2.5 yards per carry.
Knowshon Moreno didn't have a good year, possibly because they had no backup running back. It would also help Tim Tebow develop to have two trusted running backs.
Detroit Lions, Cornerback, Chris Houston
11 of 32
The Lions had a weak pass defense last year and cornerback Chris Houston wasn't a big help.
He is a solid backup, but the Lions could use a player like Nnamdi Asomugha, who, by the way, they have been rumored to be interested in.
Green Bay Packers, Offensive Tackle, Mark Tauscher
12 of 32
Tauscher made a solid career out of a player drafted late in the seventh round.
He was a key starter for the Packers for the last decade, but he played in just eight games in 2009 and four in 2010.
When the Packers drafted offensive tackles Bryan Bulaga with their first-round pick in 2010 and Derek Sherrod with their first-round pick in 2011, they announced the end of Tauscher's career as a starter.
Houston Texans, Running Back, Steve Slaton
13 of 32
Slaton was a third-round pick in 2008 and rushed for 1282 yards as a rookie.
But injuries and a lack of productivity, have derailed his career. He rushed just 19 times last season. With the emergence of Arian Foster, there's no room for Slaton on the team.
Indianapolis Colts, Wide Receiver, Anthony Gonzalez
14 of 32
Gonzalez has had season-ending injuries for each of the past two seasons, as in, he has caught five passes in the past two seasons.
The Colts can plug in anybody at wide receiver and make him look good. They don't need to wait around for a player who can't stay healthy.
Jacksonville Jaguars, Quarterback, Todd Bouman
15 of 32
Bouman was 29 before he even took an NFL snap. He's thrown just 264 career passes and 13 touchdowns.
He's played in 44 games but has made just seven career starts, winning one of them.
Bouman will be 39 in a month. It's time for him to retire from the NFL.
Kansas City Chiefs, Wide Receiver, Chris Chambers
16 of 32
Chambers hasn't produced much with the Chiefs.
Last season, he caught just 22 passes for 213 yards and a touchdown. The Chiefs drafted a receiver in the first round a few weeks ago. Chambers' days with the Chiefs, and in the NFL, are numbered.
Miami Dolphins, Quarterback, Chad Pennington
17 of 32
Chad was the NFL Comeback Player of the Year in 2006 and 2008 and the league's all-time leader in completion percentage.
But he's injured every time he steps onto the field, like in 2010, when he suffered a season-ending shoulder injury on his first play after being named the team's starter over Chad Henne.
When he tore your ACL playing pickup basketball two months ago, he ended his career.
Minnesota Vikings, Wide Receiver, Bernard Berrian
18 of 32
With Percy Harvin and Sidney Rice on the roster, there is no room for Bernard Berrian, who had just 28 catches for 252 yards last season.
Seriously, how many wide receivers average fewer than 10 yards per catch?
New England Patriots, Running Back, Fred Taylor
19 of 32
Fred Taylor rushed for 1,000 yards in seven of his 11 seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
But he has played in just 13 total games during his two seasons with the Patriots. He's 34, and the Patriots have two great young running backs in BenJarvus Green-Ellis and Danny Woodhead.
New Orleans Saints, Running Back, Reggie Bush
20 of 32
There have been rumors of teams who are interested in Reggie Bush as a slot receiver.
He's not an effective running back and the Saints already have Chris Ivory, Pierre Thomas, Julius Jones and Ladell Betts.
New York Giants, Defensive End, Mathias Kiwanuka
21 of 32
Kiwanuka was a former first-round pick, but he hasn't started since 2008.
He played in just three games last year due to injuries and is no longer effective or reliable.
New York Jets, Kicker, Nick Folk
22 of 32
Folk connected on 30 of 39 field goals last season, which is about three fewer than you want from your kicker.
He did have a walk-off field goal in the postseason, but the Jets are a Super Bowl contender, and Super Bowl contenders need reliable kickers.
Oakland Raiders, Wide Receiver, Chaz Schilens
23 of 32
Schilens caught just five passes for 40 yards and a touchdown last season. He has only 49 catches for 631 yards and five touchdowns in his career.
The Raiders don't have great receivers, but they do have Louis Murphy, Darrius Heyward-Bey and Jacoby Ford. There's no need for Schilens.
Philadelphia Eagles, Offensive Guard, Max Jean-Gilles
24 of 32
Jean-Gilles was a disaster attempting to protect Michael Vick in the 2010 season. Vick is a lefty, so Jean-Gilles's performance was even worse because he protected Vick's blind side.
Jean-Gilles is a free agent, and the Eagles drafted Danny Watkins, assuring that Jean-Gilles won't be the starter in 2011.
Pittsburgh Steelers, Offensive Tackle, Flozell Adams
25 of 32
Flozell Adams is 35 years old, and the Steelers drafted offensive tackle Marcus Gilbert in the second round.
Adams had a nice career, but he will probably hand over the starting job to Gilbert.
San Diego Chargers, Wide Receiver, Craig Davis
26 of 32
Davis was drafted in the first round in 2007 and has caught just 51 passes for 558 yards and two touchdowns in four seasons.
He's played 26 games and started just two in four seasons.
San Francisco 49ers, Defensive End, Isaac Sopoaga
27 of 32
Sopoaga has started the last 48 games at defensive end and has collected 3.5 total sacks.
The 49ers drafted defensive end Aldon Smith with the seventh overall pick, meaning Sopoaga won't be starting next season.
Seattle Seahawks, Offensive Guard, Stacy Andrews
28 of 32
Andrews, 29, started 12 games last season but the Seahawks drafted offensive guard James Carpenter with their first-round pick, likely signaling the end of Andrews' tenure as starter.
St. Louis Rams, Defensive Tackle, Gary Gibson
29 of 32
Gibson started all 16 games for the Rams and collected 14 tackles and zero sacks.
He's probably one of the worst defensive starters in the league.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Running Back, Cadillac Williams
30 of 32
Williams, 28, averaged just 3.5 yards per carry last season.
With the emergence of LeGarrette Blount, Williams doesn't have much of a future with the team.
Tennessee Titans, Quarterback, Vince Young
31 of 32
Vince Young talked his way out of Tenneessee after last season. The Titans have Kerry Collins and Rusty Smith on the roster, and they just drafted Jake Locker in the first round.
Good-bye, Vince.
Washington Redskins, Defensive Tackle, Albert Haynesworth
32 of 32
Albert Haynesworth was a typical poor free-agent signing by owner Dan Snyder.
Haynesworth played lazy last season, and his most memorable moment was when he lay on the ground as Michael Vick raced around during Monday Night Football.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
.png?w=480)
.jpg?w=600 "Post-June 1 Trade Candidates ☎️")
.JPG?w=600 "TO Talks Cowboys Relationship")
.jpg?w=600 "Taylor Heinicke Retiring")
.jpg?w=600 "49ers OC Hypes Mike Evans 🤩")