7 veterans whose jobs could be taken by young up-and-comers

Football is a young man's game.

Never is that more apparent than during the NFL offseason, when established veteran starters suddenly begin feeling talented first- and second-year players nipping at their heels.

Here are seven such vets who should be looking over their shoulders come training camp in July.

DeSean Jackson ⬇️ - Chris Godwin ⬆️

DeSean Jackson was supposed to put the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' offense over the top after arriving as a much-hyped free agent in 2017. In reality, the Bucs scored over one point per game fewer than in 2016, though injuries to Jameis Winston were partly responsible for the regression.

Jackson ended the year with a career-worst 13.4 yards-per-catch average, a year after tying for the league lead in that category among wideouts. The speedy receiver will play a substantial role for Tampa Bay, but the Bucs' offensive coordinator has already said Chris Godwin has earned the right to start (likely from the slot, alongside Jackson and Mike Evans).

The physicality of Godwin, a second-year pro, and his talent for winning 50-50 situations mean he's arguably a better fit for the inaccurate Winston, and it might not be too long before he's the quarterback's main target when Evans struggles.

Sam Bradford ⬇️ - Josh Rosen ⬆️

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Any of the first four quarterbacks off the board in this year's draft could arguably earn this spot, but Arizona Cardinals signal-caller Josh Rosen appears best-situated to claim a starting job.

Sam Bradford is certainly being paid like a starter ($20 million in 2017), but the Cardinals aren't financially tethered to him long term, and a close battle in camp will likely result in Arizona opting for the rookie as it looks to get the post-Bruce Arians/Carson Palmer era underway.

The Cardinals might have some concern about putting their first-round pick behind their porous offensive line, especially with his injury history, but Bradford, famously, is an even bigger fitness risk. Arizona could elect to throw Rosen into the fire from Day 1, knowing he has Larry Fitzgerald and David Johnson to rely on.

Vontaze Burfict ⬇️ - Malik Jefferson ⬆️

Vontaze Burfict has been the heart and soul of the Bengals defense for the past six seasons, but for the third straight year, Cincinnati will start its campaign without the linebacker because of his poor decision-making.

Burfict will miss the first four games for violating the league's policy on performance-enhancing substances, which should force the Bengals to start third-round rookie Malik Jefferson. The veteran is certain to return to the lineup once eligible, but it could be the beginning of the end for him in Cincinnati if Jefferson looks capable of holding down the middle of the defense.

Jefferson's blend of speed and athleticism is perfect for a middle linebacker in today's NFL, and with Burfict's contract and character issues beginning to outweigh his production, the Bengals may start phasing him out in preparation for 2019.

Jay Ajayi ⬇️ - Corey Clement ⬆️

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The Philadelphia Eagles rode their multi-headed rushing attack of Jay Ajayi, LeGarrette Blount, and Corey Clement to Super Bowl glory last season. Ajayi sits atop the depth entering the 2018 campaign, while Clement and Darren Sproles, who's returning from a broken arm and a torn ACL, round out the backfield.

The Eagles will continue to take advantage of their outstanding depth in their ground game. Veterans Ajayi or Sproles will likely be the "starter," but Clement showed what a dynamic weapon he is during a 100-yard receiving performance in Super Bowl LII.

Ajayi should lead the team in carries, but his worrisome knee issues, weak receiving skills, and lack of top-tier speed mean Clement could lead the backfield in overall touches. The Eagles will also likely try to keep the 34-year-old Sproles fresh by limiting his work, at least early in the year.

Donald Penn ⬇️ - Kolton Miller ⬆️

The Oakland Raiders' selection of offensive tackle Kolton Miller at No. 15 overall was arguably the most criticized pick of the draft's opening round. The raw Miller was considered a substantial reach at that stage, and while Oakland's offensive line did regress in 2017, the team has other needs to fill and boasts the reliable Donald Penn at left tackle.

But the Raiders raised some eyebrows during rookie minicamp by playing Miller at left tackle and third-round pick Brandon Parker at right tackle. It may be a result of the limited options during these workouts, but wouldn't it make more sense for Miller to get work at right tackle if that's where he'll play in 2018?

While the Raiders are likely just exploring their options, it could mean Penn's spot isn't safe. The veteran is 35 years old and rehabbing from a serious foot injury that will likely sideline him for a significant portion of offseason workouts. If Miller looks a stud at left tackle, Oakland may be tempted to cut Penn and save over $5 million in cap space.

Robert Quinn ⬇️ - Charles Harris ⬆️

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Charles Harris had an inconspicuous rookie season - two sacks and 19 total tackles in 16 appearances - and looked unprepared for the speed of the professional level, but the Miami Dolphins should be buoyed by the flashes of quarterback disruptions (pressures and hurries) he produced.

Standing in Harris' way are Cameron Wake and Robert Quinn, for whom the Dolphins traded this offseason. Wake may be 36, but he's shown little sign of decline in recent seasons and his job is likely safe. Quinn, on the other hand, is far from the player he once was. The former Los Angeles Rams defensive end did bounce back with a solid 2017 after struggling with injuries which seemingly robbed him of the physicality that helped him record 19 sacks in 2013.

Miami needs to get Harris in the starting lineup sooner rather than later to avoid the dreaded "bust" label, and Quinn will likely pay the price.

Tramon Williams ⬇️ - Josh Jackson ⬆️

The Green Bay Packers have started a youth movement with their much-maligned secondary, adding first-rounder Jaire Alexander to a unit already boasting 25-year-old safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix and 23-year-old corner Kevin King.

To offset the element of inexperience, the Packers re-signed veteran Tramon Williams after a bounce-back year with the Cardinals. Williams is currently set to start alongside King, while Alexander launches his career from the slot. But Alexander's fellow young corner Josh Jackson, taken in the second round, has the talent to force his way onto the field.

However, Jackson had just 14 career starts in college, and it shows. He needs to develop his patience and route recognition, but those weaknesses could be balanced by top-tier playmaking ability. Once he gets up to speed, Jackson could either take Williams' outside starting job or push the veteran to the No. 4 role, with Alexander moving to the perimeter and Jackson manning the slot.