The 2024 NFL Draft is in the rearview mirror. Aside from the teams simply integrating young talent into their squad over the course of the three-day show, the project also creates interesting subplots that could play out over the summer months. Specifically, it’s fascinating to see which players teams select, then look at the current roster and see what that could mean for an array of veterans, who may have just been replaced. At the very least, the competition will heat up when these clubs come together again for training camp.
Below, we’ll highlight a handful of these situations and identify some veterans who could be logical candidates due to their teams’ actions in the NFL Draft.
The Carolina Panthers moved into the top half of the second round to select Texans running back Jonathon Brooks on Friday. Although Brooks suffered a torn ACL late in the 2023 season, evaluators say he should be good to go for the start of training camp. If he returns to relatively peak form, that could pose problems for Miles Sanders’ status.
Sanders signed a four-year, $25.4 million contract with the Panthers last offseason, but it was largely a disappointment and lost his starting job to Chuba Hubbard after just five games. Hubbard could now be considered Brooks’ replacement, making Sanders replaceable.
If he is released after June 1, Carolina would take on a dead cap charge of just under $7.5 million for the 2024 season and $2.95 million in 2025, which is acceptable.
Zappe was not in contention to start for the Patriots in 2024 with the arrival of Jacoby Brissett in free agency and the team needed to select a quarterback early in the draft, so the selection of Drake Maye was largely without consequence on its security on the list. . However, when New England decided to draft Joe Milton III from Tennessee on Day 3, it seemed to suggest that Zappe’s days in Foxborough are numbered since the team won’t have four quarterbacks on the roster.
Zappe has started eight games for the Patriots over the past two seasons and is 4-4 over that stretch. Moving away from him won’t be a financial hurdle, as the former fourth-round pick has a cap hit of less than $1 million and no dead cap attached to him.
The Bengals signed Brown to a one-year contract early in free agency, adding some depth along the offensive line, and were initially considered to start opposite Orlando Brown Jr. at right tackle. That is now in question after Cincinnati drafted Georgia tackle Amarius Mims with the No. 18 pick in the draft. The 6-foot-8, 340-pounder is inexperienced with just eight games played at right tackle, but if he proves he’s up to the challenge throughout training camp, it could cost Brown his tenured position. And if that’s the case, it would be curious to see if he sticks around as a backup tackle in Cincinnati. Considering Brown only signed a deal that carried a $1.5 million base salary, he’s also pretty replaceable.
James Bradberry struggled mightily in the Eagles secondary last season, falling short of his All-Pro campaign in 2022. In coverage, he gave up a 114.3 passer rating. This couldn’t continue in 2024 and Philadelphia spent its first two draft picks to fill the corner position with Quinyon Mitchell in the first round and Cooper DeJean in the second. Their arrival at least opens the door to the possibility that the Eagles release or trade Bradberry, who is entering his age-31 season.
He has a high dead cap hit of $15.1 for 2024. The Eagles could, in theory, release him after June 1 and bring that dead cap hit down to $4.3 million for 2024 and send $10.8 in money dead until 2025 if they wish. . If they were to trade him after June 1, it would create approximately $1.2 million in salary cap relief.
Toney has been largely disappointing with the Chiefs and Kansas City just traded up in the first round to bring in Texas receiver Xavier Worthy to deepen the unit. With Worthy and Marquis Brown added this offseason, it would appear that Toney could be completely ousted from his role and roster spot. He is entering the final year of his rookie contract and the Chiefs would only take on a $2.5 million dead cap charge by releasing him.
