The 2022 NFL Draft is over and everywhere rookie dynasty drafts are beginning and fans are dreaming of their teams’ prospects come September. It was a strange draft to me where some teams actually made the right moves and others left me scratching my head (I’m looking at you, Belichick). Let’s dive into a few veterans whose capital just decreased with the addition of rookies added to their squad.
First and foremost, let’s talk about the immediate one that comes to mind…Jets RB, Michael Carter. Now, he isn’t a veteran, heck last year he was a rookie himself, but I myself saw so much potential in him. Drafted out of North Carolina, he played in 14 games gaining 639 rushing yards, 325 receiving yards, and four touchdowns. Now, that isn’t mind-blowing by any means, but it was something to look forward to next season with hope and excitement.
I loved watching Carter in college as the 1-2 punch with Javonte Williams as they racked up 2,385 rushing yards in 2020. The NFL looked bright for both young men, and then the 2022 draft rolls around, and the Jets draft star, top-RB Breece Hall. The second his name was called, my heart sank. I know I was not the only one hoping for a second year of a healthier Carter to dominate. Hall is no backseat RB, he will command the lead in training camp and at the start of the season.
They may still use Carter in some receiving plays, but Hall is great in that area too. Hall is a workhorse that didn’t need a compliment in college as Carter had. Do I think Carter will still be rotated in, yes but merely for Hall to catch his breath. There is a chance that after next year, they trade Carter to an RB needy time, but only time will tell.
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I did not expect the Titans to draft a QB to compete with Tannehill at this point, but Malik Willis fell to them in the 3rd round. The Titans drafted Willis 86th overall, and though he is not NFL ready this year, he is primed to be a huge asset for the team for years to come. Willis out of Liberty threw for 2,857 yards and 27 touchdowns his junior year before declaring for the draft.
Tannehill finished last season as fantasy QB 12 throwing for 3,734 yards. Tannehill was quoted a few days ago stating, “I don’t think it’s my job to mentor him.” He also lost AJ Brown. I could see Tannehill entering training camps with a huge chip on his shoulder ready to prove the naysayers wrong. Though he is 33, he still has gas in the tank. With a healthy Henry and newcomers Woods and Burks, he can shine again.
He will be the starter in Week One, that I am sure of, but if he is not in sync with the rookie WR, he might just let his job slip to Willis. I am confident that Willis will show out in camps and start a buzz that maybe he should start, and he has a promising future in Tennessee, but Tannehill stands in his way…for now.
Though Mitchell Trubisky hasn’t started since 2020 with Chicago, he is expected to start in Pittsburg now that Roethlisberger has retired. He agreed to a two-year deal after being Allen’s backup in Buffalo last season. The problem is that the Steelers drafted rookie Kenny Pickett in the first round. Ouch! Though it was not Pickett who was predicted to go to them, Trubisky now has to prove he is the worthy starter come September and not the rookie.
Pickett had a career record of 12,303 passing yards breaking Pitts previous number and breaking Dan Marino’s touchdown record to cap it off. He is a very mobile, accurate quarterback. It will be quite interesting to see how camps play out. I truly feel that Trubisky is ready to prove himself again, especially given new, young weapons and HC Tomlin to direct and mold him. He was able to watch and learn behind Allen last season, so he might even have some tricks up his sleeve. As for Pickett, he could start this season, his abilities would allow him to do so.
With Trubisky’s rocky past, if he begins to lose games and not remain steady, he will be benched for the rookie. My prediction is if Trubisky makes it all season, he will not be the starter come 2023, and there is a 75% chance he does not make it till Thanksgiving as the starter.
Chris Carson missed multiple games last season in Seattle due to a neck injury, and there have been doubts on whether he would be ready for this season or retire. Well, he hasn’t retired and entering the last year of his contract looked to start at RB again…that is until Seattle drafted Kenneth Walker in the second round.
Rashaad Penny was re-signed as well, but Walker has the goods. Out of Michigan State, he had 1,636 yards and 18 touchdowns. He is powerful, agile, and has incredible ball protection and control. He only had one fumble last season. Since it looks to be Lock under center, Seattle needs a fluid and consistent running game, and Walker can deliver that. With the 1-2 punch of him and Penny, Seattle might be tough to stop on the ground. I’d love to see a comeback story for Carson, but sadly, I think he is out the door soon in Seattle.
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Last but certainly not all of the veterans affected is Panthers QB Sam Darnold. Those who follow me know how high I have been on rookie Matt Corral. In my opinion, he was the most NFL-ready QB in the draft. His leadership, accuracy, deep ball, and mobility make him highly desirable. Darnold finished last season with 2,527 yards and 13 interceptions.
He was injured in Week Nine and was out six weeks to a shoulder injury. Prior to his injury, he was slipping drastically throwing interceptions and losing games. Corral should shine in training camps, making it harder and harder to start Darnold week in and week out. Darnold got off to a hot start last season, so we might see the same as he knows he must prove himself in the pocket to stay on top. At Ole Miss last season, Corral worked hard to reduce his interceptions and increase his ball protection and he succeeded in reducing from 2020’s fourteen interceptions to 2021’s five.
Corral is known for his locker room presence and team comradery. If he manages to win over the Panthers both offensively and defensively, he can and will steal that starting job. I do not see Darnold being the starter the entire season and might not make it out of the month of October.
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