Colts star with four other starters at risk of losing their jobs to a rookie

Several teams used the 2024 NFL Draft to fill deficiencies and gaps on their rosters, with several finding possible future starters in several rounds.

With the draft over, here are five players who could lose their starting spots to rookies this season.

Rasheed Walker, OT, Green Bay Packers

The rookie: Jordan Morgan

Last season, Walker played 966 snaps at left tackle, giving six sacks while allowing 36 pressures and 24 hurries, according to Pro Football Focus. He yielded the most sacks, as well as the second most pressures and hurries among Packers offensive guards.

Morgan, who stands 6-foot-6 and weighs 320 pounds, played roughly 2,500 snaps at left tackle for Arizona, allowing only 10 sacks in five seasons and more than 20 pressures just once. Morgan might compete for Green Bay’s starting left tackle position if he has a strong camp and preseason.

C.J. Gardner-Johnson, S, Philadelphia Eagles

The rookie: Cooper DeJean

Gardner-Johnson was limited to just three games in 2023 due to a torn pectoral muscle. Gardner-Johnson was one of the best safeties in the NFL in 2022 prior to his injury, and he excelled at getting under the skin of opposition receivers due to his tendency to talk smack.

However, he is coming off a significant injury, and he will have to fight off a hungry rookie who is likely feeling slighted after dropping to Round 2 after starting last season as a projected top-20 pick.

DeJean is an explosive athlete who excels at ball tracking and zone coverage. He’s mentioned that he’s open to transitioning from cornerback to safety, a position he’s played before, and with third-year safety Reed Blankenship securing Philly’s other spot, Gardner-Johnson may miss out on the new guard job.

David Onyemata, DT, Atlanta Falcons 

The rookies: Ruke Orhorhoro, Brandon Dorlus

The Falcons have struggled to get to the quarterback in recent years, which is why they spent three of their first four picks on front-seven players. Calais Campbell, Atlanta’s top defensive tackle last year, has left, leaving Onyemata as the team’s senior defensive tackle.

However, he might not want to become too comfortable considering Orhorhoro and Dorlus were both highly regarded prospects who could have easily been late first-round picks. Dorlus led Oregon in pressures (46), hurries (35) and sacks (five), while Orhorhoro also had five sacks and contributed significantly to Clemson’s run defense.

Josh Downs, WR, Indianapolis Colts 

The rookie: Adonai Mitchell

Downs quickly surpassed Alec Pierce as the Colts’ number two receiver on the depth chart. He had a solid rookie season, amassing 68 receptions on 98 targets for 771 yards and two touchdowns, but with Anthony Richardson completely healthy, Mitchell is likely to do to Downs what he did to Pierce last season.

Mitchell, who stands 6-foot-4 and weighs 198 pounds, is a strong, fast wide receiver who might be Indianapolis’ go-to deep threat. He’s speedier than Downs (4.34 40-yard dash vs. 4.48), has a large grab radius, and excels at bringing in catches near the boundary.

If head coach Shane Steichen opens up the playbook for Richardson, watch for Mitchell to start making big catch after big catch and separate himself near the top of the depth chart.

James Conner, RB, Arizona Cardinals 

The rookie: Trey Benson

Yes, Conner rushed for more than 1,000 yards last season, but it was the first time he has done so in his seven-year career, and at 28, he is likely nearing the end.

Benson was the second running back off the board, and with good reason. He carried over 900 yards in consecutive seasons at Florida State and scored 23 touchdowns during the last two years.

After transferring from Oregon in 2022, Benson averaged 6.1 yards per rush and had 37 runs of 15 or more yards, including 54 of 10 yards or more. Benson is a major play in the making, and if Conner struggles early on, don’t be surprised if Benson’s workload and red-zone touches increase.