Fans might consider the annual NFL Draft to be like Christmas, but NFL veterans likely look at it as the exact opposite. Their teams might not be giving them anything -- except possibly a pink slip.
For nearly every rookie drafted, a veteran will be cut. Notable names like Chris Perry, Larry Foote and Edgerrin James have already been cast into the free-agent player pool following the 2009 draft, and more are sure to follow between now and August.
It's not all bad for NFL veterans, though. The ones with job security, especially after the draft, actually benefit from having talent added to their side of the football. A new receiver or tight end is like a new toy for a quarterback. An infusion of offensive linemen is good for running backs and quarterbacks alike. There's always cause for optimism when a team adds some good talent.
Here are some veterans who gained or lost value following the 2009 draft:
Five who could shine
Shaun Hill, QB, San Francisco
Comment: Hill might be in
for a battle for the starting job with Alex Smith,
but we think the job is his so long as he doesn't fall on his face.
That's great news for him since the 49ers not only added Michael Crabtree in the 2009 draft but are also rethinking their
offensive strategy for the upcoming season. It was initially believed
that the Niners would be a power running team with a limited pass
attack, but the addition of Crabtree has changed that philosophy. Hill
was impressive in the club's minicamp following the draft and should be
even more appealing as a sleeper in drafts over the next few months.
Maurice Jones-Drew, RB, Jacksonville
Comment: We'll
admit this now: Even though we ranked Jones-Drew third overall among
running backs before the draft, we were nervous about how his offensive
line would shape up. Following the drafting of two quality linemen along
with the signing of a veteran, we're no longer as concerned. Even though
Jacksonville had other needs, improving the O-line with old workhorse
Tra Thomas and rookies Eugene Monroe and Eben Britton speaks volumes to
the committment they're going to make to Jones-Drew this season. He's a
rock solid Top 3 pick now.
Eli Manning, QB, N.Y. Giants
Comment: Replacing Plaxico Burress will be a tall order for the Giants, but they stook a
nice step forward in selecting both Hakeem Nicks
and Ramses Barden. Nicks might be more
of a short-to-intermediary option with plenty of muscle while Barden is
a Marques Colston clone in that he's
lean, tall, from a small school and understated. Neither will replace
Burress' awesome yardage and touchdown totals, but their combined
efforts along with that of the other Giants receivers should do the
trick, giving Manning a nice stat line by the end of the year. The
additions of raw offensive tackle William Beatty and speed rusher Andre Brown also provides depth around Manning.
Donovan McNabb, QB, Philadelphia
Comment: The Eagles
knew they had to bowl over McNabb with offensive upgrades this
offseason, but they truly out-did themselves. Not only did they draft
receiver Jeremy Maclin to give the
passing game an instant boost, and not only did they secure long-term
prospects in LeSean McCoy and Cornelius Ingram, but they greatly improved their offensive line by
dropping the second of their first-round picks in a package for mammoth
left tackle Jason Peters. McNabb is truly surrounded with excellent
talent and should have a shot to top his excellent 2008 totals so long
as he can stay healthy for 16 games.
Pierre Thomas, RB, New Orleans
Comment: The Saints were
rumored to be enamored with Chris Wells,
but couldn't pick him at No. 14 and didn't have enough ammo to get back
into Round 1 to get him. That news is golden for Thomas, who should
fulfill our expectations as the "pure" running back in the explosive
Saints offense. Now if the Saints add a running back, it won't be
someone they'll have a major financial commitment to or someone who
could legitimately take a lot of touches away from Thomas. We still feel
like he's a steal going in Round 3 or later in drafts.
Five who could disappoint
Joseph Addai, RB, Indianapolis
Comment: The drafting of
Connecticut rusher Donald Brown in
Round 1 will either ignite Addai into being a game dominator or push him
out of the picture. The point we'd like to emphasize here is that Colts
GM Bill Polian has always been a shrewd drafter and likely sees Brown as
a complementary piece to start the season but eventually become the main
back in the Indy offense. That's the precise plan Polian had for Addai
when he became a Colt in 2006. Expect Addai's production to be somewhat
limited with Brown in his shadow this season.
All non-rookie Denver RBs
Comment: The addition of Knowshon Moreno in Denver isn't just bad for him, but bad for all the
other backs that Denver added this offseason. Correll Buckhalter is now a reserve behind Moreno, LaMont Jordan might be relegated to goal-line work, J.J. Arrington's status as a third-down back is now in jeopardy, Peyton Hillis is moving back to fullback and Ryan Torain is riding the bench while rehabbing his torn ACL. Taking
a shot on any of these guys is a mistake, yet they'll still total enough
touches to impact the potential of Moreno. Hard to believe, but the
Broncos' running back situation is more muddled now than it ever was
with Mike Shanahan running the show.
Antonio Bryant, WR, Tampa Bay
Comment: Bryant did a nice
job last year proving that he could still be a force in the NFL, and he
did it with Jeff Garcia as his
quarterback in an offense that really relied on him as a downfield
threat. Since then, the Bucs' offense has changed, their quarterbacks
have changed and Bryant has been franchised and turned down for a
long-term deal. Furthermore, Bryant has never been a consistent receiver
in the league, and with the Bucs changing so much of their offense this
offseason, including three quarterbacks vying for the starting job, it's
no promise that Bryant will continue his resurgence. The drafting of Josh Freeman only makes things messier for the Bryant.
Braylon Edwards, WR, Cleveland
Comment: In 2007, Edwards
had his best campaign when the Browns offense had multiple threats and
an upstart quarterback as part of an aggressive offense. In 2009,
Edwards is pretty much the only threat the offense has, and that's the
case even after Cleveland drafted Brian Robiskie
and Mohamed Massaquoi. When defenses
face the Browns, they'll know to roll coverage to Edwards and take their
chances with the rookie receivers, not to mention the faulty run game
the Browns currently have going for them. With Edwards seemingly stuck
in Cleveland and not on the way to a new team, he's a player to avoid in
Fantasy drafts.
Thomas Jones, RB, N.Y. Jets
Comment: The addition of
rookie Shonn Greene foreshadows where
the Jets are going with the running back position. Jones will reportedly
count for $7 million against the Jets' salary cap in 2010, making him an
unlikely candidate to stay with the team after this season. He knows it,
and he has asked for a new contract, which the Jets have balked at.
Jones has already boycotted the club's first set of voluntary workouts,
and his name has been showing up in rumor mills. The more time Jones
misses, the more work Greene gets, and Greene is a humble, tough runner
who could easily replace Jones in a tandem with Leon Washington if the Jets decided to make a change. Jones,
meanwhile, shouldn't be expected to carry a full workload for the Jets
if he sticks with them, which is too bad because he would otherwise be
building on a strong 2008 season.
Five who could surprise
Marc Bulger, QB, St. Louis
Comment: Bulger won't be
mistaken for a No. 1 Fantasy quarterback in drafts, but he could be a
gem off the waiver wire during the season. The Rams have done a nice job
upgrading the offense's biggest weakness from 2008: the offensive line.
No. 2 overall pick Jason Smith should eventually work as the left tackle
and free-agent acquisition Jason Brown should be a staple at center. And
the Rams' decision not to draft a quarterback, or sign someone better
than Kyle Boller, speaks to the comfort
level the Rams' coaches have with Bulger. If the Rams find a way to add
a receiver or two, he could be a huge sleeper.
Kerry Collins, QB, Tennessee
Comment: New Titans rookie
receiver Kenny Britt might not be a
Fantasy stud from Day 1, but he gives Collins a new, big target to gun
for. And Britt's not the only one -- the Titans also picked up South
Carolina's Jared Cook in the draft,
improving their tight end corps. The two rooks should work in tune with
veterans Justin Gage, Nate Washington and Bo Scaife to
give Collins a vast array of quality talent to connect with. Many people
believe the Titans are going to remain a running team in 2009, but we
can't help but figure that they're going to want to throw more with
these offseason improvements. That will only perk up Collins' stat line.
Julius Jones, RB, Seattle
Comment: Here's some news you
can use: The Seahawks have done nothing to improve their rushing corps
this offseason. They didn't add anyone via free agency, and they didn't
draft anyone. Jones remains their likely starter for the upcoming
season, and that's enough to make him a noteworthy Fantasy option as a
No. 3 back simply because he'll see a lot of work in the Seattle
offense. It also helps that the 'Hawks fortified their O-line with Max
Unger, who they drafted in Round 2.
Packers DST
Comment: The Packers got lucky with DT B.J. Raji falling to them at ninth overall, then they ponied up most
of their valuable 2009 picks to get Clay Matthews
late in Round 1. Both moves should put the finishing touches on their
transition to a 3-4 defense. Raji should eat up space up front as the
nose tackle while Matthews attacks the edges. They also got great value
in 3-4 DE Jarius Wynn, giving them a
little more depth up front. Usually it takes a team two or three years
to fully convert from one defense to another. The Packers might do it in
less than six months.
Sage Rosenfels, QB, Minnesota
Comment: We've never
thought of Rosenfels as a Fantasy superstar, but when he's been pressed
into action he hasn't done poorly. But the additions of wide receiver Percy Harvin and offensive tackle Phil Loadholt should help
Rosenfels, assuming he does beat Tarvaris Jackson
for the starting job with the Vikings. Harvin will be a friend to any
quarterback thanks to his catch-and-run ability, and Loadholt has a
chance to begin the season as a starter and aid an already-strong
offensive line.
Do you agree with Dave? What veterans would you target or steer clear of following the 2009 draft? Send your thoughts to DMFantasyFootball@cbs.com and we'll post the best responses. Be sure to put Attn: 2009 Draft in the subject field. Include your full name, hometown and state.