As training camps get going around the NFL, there are some players who may be edged out by their competition if they don’t step up to the plate and perform.
Others could simply be released due to age or massive depth at their current position. Here is a look at five guys who could get the proverbial ax sometime during training camp and the preseason.
Matt Cassel, quarterback, Buffalo Bills
Cassel failed to impress during the Bills’ offseason OTAs and minicamp. Where EJ Manuel and Tyrod Taylor did not do much to turn heads, Cassel was reportedly the most inept of the three.
The Bills could save $4.2 million if they cut Cassel prior to the start of the regular season. That’s a stronger possibility than most think, especially considering head coach Rex Ryan seems to have a thing for Taylor.
If Cassel were to get cut, he may not remain unemployed for long. Should New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady be forced to serve his four-game suspension, rumor has it the Patriots could look into acquiring Cassel. The veteran spent four seasons with the Patriots, a span that included him performing at an adequate level for an injured Brady back in 2008.
Fred Jackson, running back, Buffalo Bills
Courtesy of USA Today Sports: Jackson’s tenure in Buffalo may be coming to an end.
Sticking with the Bills theme, this 34-year-old franchise staple could find himself out of work before the regular season starts. The sad fact being that Jackson’s younger competition in running back LeSean McCoy will take over most of the duties Jackson has enjoyed during his tenure in Western New York.
After the Bills traded for McCoy, Jackson went on record indicating that he doesn’t plan on making it easy for Shady to steal his job. Jackson also reported that the Bills intend to give McCoy at least 300 carries this season.
With younger and more flexible running backs on the roster, Jackson doesn’t offer a ton of upside from a special teams standpoint. That’s where the likes of Anthony Dixon, Bryce Brown and Karlos Williams might give him a run for his money.
Jackson himself recognizes that he will have to play his heart out to fight for his spot on the final 53-man roster:
“We’ll see what happens with me getting cut or not,” he said. “I’ll go out and do whatever I can to make sure that doesn’t happen. We’ve got to compete every year. This year is no different than any other year. I’ve got to go out and compete for my job.”
Trent Richardson, running back Oakland Raiders
Richardson is becoming that bad penny that keeps turning up everywhere you go. After a star rookie season with the Cleveland Browns in 2012, Richardson has done absolutely nothing to warrant a job in the NFL.
In his two years with the Indianapolis Colts, Richardson produced a paltry combined 1,471 total yards. Struggling with weight issues as well, Richardson’s time with the Colts came to a close.
Surprisingly, the Raiders signed Richardson in 2015, giving him $600,000 in guaranteed cash. Say what? According to a report from the San Francisco Chronicle, it appears Richardson’s future with the team already looks shaky:
“Latavius Murray will get every chance to be the lead running back as whispers are that the Trent Richardson reclamation project is not going so well.”
The Raiders, who seem to already have a case of buyer’s remorse, could indeed cut Richardson once Murray and Roy Helu outperform him in training camp. The $600,000 in guaranteed money would serve as an expensive lesson to be learned.
Riley Cooper, wide receiver, Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles are currently loaded at the wide receiver position, meaning that Cooper might find himself competing to keep his job over training camp. The team has second-year receivers Jordan Matthews and Josh Huff as well as rookie Nelson Agholor on the roster. All provide more upside than Cooper.
During the course of Cooper’s five-year career, he has put up somewhat respectable numbers just one time. That came back in 2013 when he tallied 47 receptions for 835 yards and eight touchdowns. Excluding 2013, Cooper has accumulated only eight scores in his other four seasons.
Vernon Davis, tight end, San Francisco 49ers
Courtesy of USA Today Sports: Davis needs to up his game big time.
The 31-year-old tight end is coming off of a disastrous season that saw him dump his all-time career lows in every receiving category. Davis was only able to manage 26 receptions for 245 yards and two touchdowns last year. Sadly, the two scores came in Week 1. After that, the injury-riddled tight end was barely noticeable in the team’s offense.
The 49ers reportedly had an interest in new Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Julius Thomas over the spring (h/t ninersnation.com). Had a deal been struck, Davis would surely have gotten the boot.
Whether the 49ers will keep him around to play out the last year of his contract will be something to keep an eye on.
In addition to adding two tight ends in the draft, former second-round pick Vance McDonald sits behind Davis on the depth chart. There is talent here, it just remains to be seen whether Davis can return to pre-2014 form.
Photo: USA Today Sports