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As NFL teams begin to wind down, or wind up, their various spring workouts, it's time to take an insider's look at the Battles to Watch that might be so obvious. The Sports Xchange reporters covering each team submitted a key Battle to Watch as most teams are in their final week of OTAs (Organized Team Activities) and six began Mandatory Minicamps
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For example, it is not necessary to be at Santa Clara's minicamp this week to know that Colin Kaepernick and Blain Gabbert are the focus of attention at quarterback.
So TSX insider Dave Del Grande offers a glimpse at the competition at right tackle, where Erik Pears and Trent Brown are leading candidates for a starting job.
Here is a peek at interesting battles on every NFL team (List is alphabetical by division covering both conferences):
NFC EAST
DALLAS COWBOYS
Battle to Watch
--Fourth wide receiver: Brice Butler vs. Devin Street.
Street is mainly a special teams option and has limited impact in the regular offense. The Cowboys see big-play ability in Butler, who has been running with the top three receivers behind Terrance Williams and Cole Beasley the first two weeks of OTAs with Dez Bryant out with injury. The Cowboys need to decide if they value Street on special teams more than Butler as a deep threat.
NEW YORK GIANTS
Battle to Watch
--Free Safety: Nat Berhe vs. Darian Thompson.
The Giants are determined to roll with the youth movement at safety. They seem to indicate a preference for either Berhe, the third-year veteran who is coming back from a season-ending blot clot in his calf last year, or rookie Darian Thompson, drafted in the third round this year.
Berhe and Thompson appear to be sharing first-team reps, with Thompson getting the lion's share during recent OTAs. Thompson made the most of his reps last week, alertly pouncing on a loose ball that was stripped from tight end Matt LaCosse by linebacker Jonathan Casillas. The rookie out of Boise State was then off to the races as his coaches and teammates cheered him on for his alert play.
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
Battle to Watch
--Kicker: Cody Parkey vs. Caleb Sturgis.
Parkey made 32-of-36 field-goal attempts two years ago, but spent most of last season on injured reserve because of a hamstring injury. Sturgis replaced him. After a rocky start, he kicked well, converting 18-of-22 field-goal attempts.
WASHINGTON REDSKINS
Battle to Watch (just not this week)
--Left guard: Spencer Long vs. Shawn Lauvao.
This isn't a fair fight yet. Lauvao is still recovering from offseason surgeries to repair torn left ankle ligaments and lingering right foot pain. As late as January, he was still getting around on a scooter. But Lauvao, the veteran at age 28, will be back for training camp even as he skips OTAs and minicamp.
Long took over at left guard when Lauvao went down in Week 3 last season. He struggled at times. It was also his first extensive playing time as an NFL player. Long, 25, enters his third season. Redskins coach Jay Gruden refuses to "pencil in" either player as a starter. This will be a legitimate camp competition. Long is also taking repetitions with the second teamers at center to give the Redskins another option behind Kory Lichtensteiger.
NFC NORTH
CHICAGO BEARS
Battle to Watch
--Left guard: Ted Larsen vs. Cody Whitehair.
When the Bears drafted Whitehair in the second round this year, it led to assumptions he would replace Matt Slauson after the team cut their veteran line leader. However, Larsen is practicing in OTAs as the starter at left guard instead of Whitehair. Larsen, a seven-year veteran, started for the Cardinals and Bucs. He and Whitehair are similar in size. Both are mobile and strong, although neither can count their size as a big asset. The Bears use a lot of pulling plays, particularly wide receiver screens, and the winner of this battle likely will be the one who can show an ability to arrive quickly and be physical in the open field.
DETROIT LIONS
Battle to Watch
--Strong side linebacker: Kyle Van Noy vs. Josh Bynes and Antwione Williams.
Van Noy was supposed to be the Day-One starting strong-side linebacker when he arrived in Detroit as a second-round pick in 2014. Now, after two disappointing seasons in which he rarely played, the only thing in Van Noy's way is himself. Josh Bynes has experience, and rookie Antwione Williams played SAM at times in college. However, with Tahir Whitehead permanently in the middle, nobody has a better skill set for strong-side duties than Van Noy, so he has to finally prove himself.
GREEN BAY PACKERS
Battle to Watch
--Tight end: Richard Rodgers vs. Jared Cook.
The only notable acquisition for the Packers this offseason came when general manager Ted Thompson made a belated entry into free agency and signed Cook near the end of March. Cook's one-year, $3.6 million deal as he heads into his eighth NFL season could prove to be a steal for Green Bay, which might have the athletic tight end it has sorely missed the last 2 1/2 seasons after Jermichael Finley sustained a career-ending neck injury.
Veteran receiver Randall Cobb said the 6-foot-5, 254-pound Cook, who was cut by the Los Angeles Rams in February, gives the Packers' pass-first offense another target. "He's a big, physical guy. He's cut from a different cloth with his build and his speed," Cobb touted Thursday. "He was a lot bigger than what I first imagined when I first met him. He's definitely going to be another threat for us and another guy that teams are going to have to think about."
Just the same, Rodgers will have plenty to think about as he tries to fend off Cook for the lead role in what's shaping up to be a compelling battle in training camp this summer. Rodgers can't stretch the field like Cook can, but the third-year pro had a breakout season in 2015 with 58 receptions for 510 yards and a team-high-tying eight touchdowns, highlighted by his game-winning grab of Aaron Rodgers' 61-yard Hail Mary heave to end a late-season game at the Detroit Lions.
MINNESOTA VIKINGS
Battle to Watch
--Nickel cornerback: Captain Munnerlyn vs. Mackensie Alexander.
Munnerlyn wasn't happy when the Vikings drafted Alexander in the second round and essentially tabbed him as their nickel cornerback of the future and, who knows, possibly the present as well. Munnerlyn was inconsistent as a starter in his first year with the Vikings in 2014, but he bounced back with a standout season as the team's nickel slot corner in 2015. But that didn't stop the team from jumping at the chance to select Alexander, a first-round caliber player who had fallen into the second round.
Munnerlyn is 28, entering his eighth season and is in the final year of his contract. The move also seems to have energized Munnerlyn, who is practicing with a sense of urgency during OTAs. He looked good Wednesday while Alexander stood on the sideline unable to participate because of what appears to be a minor injury.
NFC SOUTH
ATLANTA FALCONS
Battle to Watch
--Linebacker: De'Vondre Campbell vs. Sean Weatherspoon.
Campbell played both inside and outside linebacker at Minnesota in college. The Falcons had Campbell working with the first-team defense during the second week of OTAs. Then Weatherspoon worked with the first team. The Falcons are experimenting at several positions on defense and want to find out if Campbell can follow the calls, make some reads and end up in the right position to make plays.
CAROLINA PANTHERS
Battle to Watch
--Right tackle: Mike Remmers vs. Daryl Williams.
Remmers still has a firm hold on the starting job, but the Panthers continue giving Williams a handful of snaps with the ones. Barring injury, Remmers should keep his role through training camp, but a slow start could cause a change.
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
Battle to Watch
--Defensive tackle: Sheldon Rankins vs. Nick Fairley.
Rankins is out to make a strong first impression as the 12th player chosen in the draft this spring, while Fairley, a former first-round pick of the Detroit Lions, is trying to make the rookie wait his turn. Both players would have recorded sacks coming up the middle during last week's Thursday OTA session.
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
Battle to Watch
--Punter: Bryan Anger vs. Jacob Schum.
Anger, a former third-round pick by the Jacksonville Jaguars, would seem to have the advantage after signing a one-year, $1.75 million contract as a free agent. He has a 46.8-yard career average. Schum was 32nd in the NFL last season with a 41.9-yard average.
NFC WEST
ARIZONA CARDINALS
Battle to Watch
--Long Snapper: Daniel Dillon vs. Kareron Canaday.
It might be a battle that never gets to training camp, but for now undrafted free-agent rookies Dillon and Canaday snapping it out for a job. The Cardinals need a permanent long snapper after the retirement this offseason of Mike Leach. If Arizona isn't overwhelmed with either Dillon or Canaday, the job might fall to a veteran free agent who has long-snapped before. Defensive lineman Josh Mauro has done some long snapping for the team in practice and training camp last year.
LOS ANGELES RAMS
Battle to Watch
--Free Safety: Cody Davis vs. Maurice Alexander.
With starting strong safety T.J. McDonald excused from OTAs to deal with legal issues, the Rams played mix and match in their revamped defensive backfield this spring.
But there is an ongoing battle to replace the departed Rodney McLeod at free safety. The Rams say they will monitor the free-agent safety market, but for now Cody Davis and Maurice Alexander will get the first crack at replacing McLeod.
Alexander certainly looked the part over the first two days of practice that were open to the media, flashing quite a bit of his speed, athletic ability and awareness. Davis isn't quite as fluid and athletic as Alexander, but he is a dependable special teams player who believes with an opportunity he can develop into a dependable player on the back end of the defense.
It will be interesting to see how confident the Rams truly are at safety, especially with a veteran thumper like Donte Whitner still on the open market and expressing interest in playing for the Rams.
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
Battle to Watch
--Right tackle: Erik Pears vs. Trent Brown.
Pears bounced back and forth between guard and tackle last season, and the 49ers seemed to have some success with Pears (guard) and Brown (tackle) lined up side-by-side late in the season. But with first-round pick Josh Garnett having been added to the mix and Brandon Thomas getting a long look at guard while Garnett tends to his studies, it's looking more and more like Pears and Brown will be battling for one starting spot.
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
Battle to Watch
--Fullback: Brandon Cottom vs. Taniela Tupou vs. Tre Madden.
With Seattle electing not to re-sign Will Tukuafu or Derrick Coleman, the Seahawks are giving three undrafted players a shot at the fullback job. Tupou, a converted defensive tackle, and Madden, a former tailback, are rookies competing with Cottom, a second-year player that has seen time at tight end as well.
AFC EAST
BUFFALO BILLS
Battle to Watch
--Backup Safeties: Jonath Meeks, Duke Williams, Robert Blanton and Colt Anderson.
The Bills feel confident that Aaron Williams will be fine after he missed most of the 2015 season because to a serious neck injury that required surgery. He is at one safety spot, and Corey Graham is expected to man the other side.
But there is a real battle at the backup spots among holdovers Jonathan Meeks and Duke Williams and then free agent signees Robert Blanton and Colt Anderson.
Coach Rex Ryan remarked how Williams and Meeks were really putting in some extra time, probably because both know that with Blanton and Anderson in the fold, their spots on the roster are tenuous. Williams saw the most playing time for the Bills last year and he struggled a good chunk of the time. The Blanton signing in particular was a red flare going off for both Williams and Meeks that they will need a big training camp to stay on the team.
MIAMI DOLPHINS
Battle to Watch
--Nickel defensive back: Bobby McCain vs. Michael Thomas.
McCain, the second-year cornerback, is athletic and instinctive, but Thomas, a safety, is a veteran and much more reliable. Thomas eventually filled in as the starting free safety last season after Louis Delmas went down with a knee injury and has played nickel to some acclaim (his interception in the end zone in 2013 with seconds left preserved a victory over New England). McCain needs more polish, but the question is whether the Dolphins have time for him to learn on the job.
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
Battle to Watch
--Center: David Andrews vs. Bryan Stork.
Stork was seen as a solidifying force on the New England offense line as a fifth-round rookie late in the 2015 season on the way to a Super Bowl title. But last year it was the undrafted rookie Andrews who started 11 games at center. During first OTA session of the spring open to the media on May 26 it was Andrews taking the bulk of the first reps in drills in the middle of an offensive line that was admittedly without most returning starters for various reasons. Stork took rotational reps after Andrews and it appears the two young offensive linemen could be in the early stages of a summer battle for the starting center job.
NEW YORK JETS
Battle to Watch
--Tight end: Jace Amaro vs. Kellen Davis.
Not exactly the most scintillating battle of all-time, but the Jets will likely give 2014 second-rounder Amaro one more chance to prove he's not a bust and give offensive coordinator Chan Gailey a reason to utilize the tight end. Amaro is facing an uphill battle with the Todd Bowles/Mike Maccagnan regime, which didn't draft him and has yet to see him play in a regular-season game due to the shoulder injury he suffered last August. Amaro will have to clearly outperform Davis, a workmanlike talent who nonetheless offered reliability last season, in order to win the job.
BALTIMORE RAVENS
Battle to Watch
--Running back: Six backs vs. four spots.
--While the potential battle for starting left tackle between first-round pick Ronnie Stanley and Eugene Monroe will be intriguing, the Ravens will have an even more heated competition at running back.
Baltimore has six talented players vying for four spots. Justin Forsett entered 2015 as the incumbent starter, but he suffered a broken arm Nov. 22 against the Rams that ended his season. Forsett still finished the season as the team's leading rusher with 641 yards on 151 carries. Javorius "Buck" Allen, a fourth -round pick in 2015, picked up the majority of carries and showed flashes in his six starts that he could take over as the primary back.
The Ravens drafted Kenneth Dixon this year in the fourth round from Louisiana Tech and expectations are high after he ran for 1,070 yards with 26 touchdowns last year. Dixon injured his hamstring during rookie minicamp and missed the OTAs.
When training camp rolls around in July, Terrance West, Lorenzo Taliaferro and Trent Richardson will compete for a final spot at running back.
West was effective with limited playing time after being cut by Titans. Richardson, a former first-round pick, is another reclamation project and he is trying to prove that he can still be an effective runner in the NFL. He missed last week's OTAs with a hamstring injury.
CINCINNATI BENGALS
Battle to Watch
--Wide receiver: Mario Alford vs. Jake Kumerow.
Offensive coordinator Ken Zampese is taking a good hard look at all his receivers, sans A.J. Green who might be the only guy with a spot assured at this point.
Alford and Kumerow, both seeking roster spots after spending much of last season on the practice squad, distinguished themselves during Tuesday's organized team activities, but in contrasting ways.
Alford had a few drops while Kumerow made a diving touchdown catch.
"Those guys have to show everybody they're worthy of being in there when they get the opportunity," Zampese said.
CLEVELAND BROWNS
Battle to Watch
--Wide receiver: Marlon Moore vs. Darius Jennings.
There isn't much room on the depth chart after the Browns took four wide receivers in the draft, but Jennings and Moore are making a push to claim one of those spots. It might come down to one making it and the other being released.
Both played with confidence and ran crisp routes during OTAs last. Jennings showed a burst on a sideline route to get away from the defender. Moore showed separation running two go routes.
Terrelle Pryor would likely be the fifth wide receiver if all four rookies stick, leaving Moore and Jennings to battle it out to be the sixth receiver.
PITTSBURGH STEELERS
Battle to Watch
--Backup quarterback: Landry Jones vs. Bruce Gradkowski.
It's not for a starting job, but the backup quarterback is an important role. The Steelers know this better than most teams after franchise quarterback Ben Roethlisberger missed four games last season and parts of four others because of a variety of injuries. Jones ascended to the backup role last season after Gradkowski (shoulder) went on injured reserve during the preseason.
But Gradkowski was re-signed to compete with Jones, who is entering the final year of his rookie contract, and could make a run at the job he held in 2013 and 2014. It's early, but Jones is getting the first chance to earn the job. He filled in as the No. 1 quarterback last week when Roethlisberger missed a practice for the birth of his third child.
AFC SOUTH
HOUSTON TEXANS
Battle to Watch
--Tight end: C.J. Fiedorowicz vs. Ryan Griffin.
Fiedorowicz is capitalizing on Griffin's absence due to an Achilles injury, dominating the snaps as the first-string tight end. Fiedorowicz is a strong blocker, but Griffin is the superior pass-catcher. Their battle will continue at training camp, but right now Fiedorowicz has the edge.
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
Battle to Watch
--Inside linebacker: Sio Moore vs. Nate Irving.
With the free-agency loss of four-year starter Jerrell Freeman to the Chicago Bears in free agency during the offseason, there is an opening for a starting inside linebacker spot next to presumed starter D'Qwell Jackson.
Former Oakland ILB Moore and ex-Denver ILB Irving are the top candidates to fill the role. Irving sustained a torn ACL in 2014 while still with the Broncos and saw limited work with Indianapolis last season. He has lost nearly 30 pounds since the end of last season. Moore, meanwhile, might have an early leg up in earning the starting job.
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
Battle to Watch
--Runningback: T.J. Yeldon vs. Chris Ivory.
There were some surprised looks when the Jaguars made a run at Ivory in free agency. Granted, he has turned into a very productive running back with more than 800 rushing yards in both 2013 and 2014 before becoming a 1,000-yard rusher a year ago for the New York Jets. But the Jaguars were most pleased with the effort turned in by Yeldon in his rookie season a year ago. He was headed for an 850-900-yard rushing effort before missing the final three games of the season because of an injury. Even so, he finished with 740 yards on the ground, the most by a Jaguars rookie in a season since Maurice Jones-Drew's 941 yards in his rookie season in 2006.
While most would expect Yeldon to retain his starting role, Ivory will make a strong push to replace him. Both will obviously play a lot and will give the Jaguars their best 1-2 combination since 2007 when Fred Taylor and Jones-Drew combined to rush for just under 2,000 yards. Ivory and Yeldon have had strong offseason workouts and have turned in some impressive runs in the first four OTA sessions. It's a battle for the starting role that could change frequently once the regular season gets under way.
TENNESSEE TITANS
Battle to Watch
--Wide receiver: Dorial Green-Beckham vs. Tajae Sharpe.
At this juncture only Rishard Matthews and Kendall Wright (as the slot) seem to be penciled in as starters.
Green-Beckham will be given every opportunity to claim the X receiver position because of his vast skill set. However, he will have to become a student of the game. Sharpe, a rookie, is nipping at his heels and already is getting first-team reps, while the Titans hope to squeeze more out of Justin Hunter and veteran Harry Douglas.
AFC WEST
DENVER BRONCOS
Battle to Watch
--Punter. Britton Colquitt vs. Riley Dixon.
Colquitt is the incumbent and had the best run of his career in the postseason, but has a $4 million cap charge and is in the final year of his contract. The Broncos invested a seventh-round pick in Dixon, and he had a perfectly-placed punt during Tuesday's practice that was downed at the 5-yard-line.
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
Battle to Watch
--Right cornerback. Phillip Gaines vs. KeiVarae Russell vs. Eric Murray vs. Steven Nelson vs. D.J. White.
The fight for the No. 1 chair on the right side of the Chiefs' secondary won't be completed until sometime late in August, after Andy Reid and his coaching staff have had a chance to watch their group of youngsters handle practices and especially games.
Gaines and the rookies have a tough task replacing departed starter Sean Smith, who turned in what may have been the best season of his career on a defense that ranked among the top 10 in the league last season.
A former third-round draft choice, Gaines holds the starting job as he comes off an ACL injury and surgery last September. To stay there, Gaines must play at a level he hasn't shown in previous opportunities since coming out of Rice in the 2014 draft.
Nelson was a third-round draft choice last season out of Oregon State, and he struggled in making the transition to the NFL. However, he has shown in the offseason program that he has an improved grasp of coordinator Bob Sutton's coverage schemes. He also is competing for the slot cornerback job in the nickel defense.
Physically, the three draft choices have the same physical dimensions (5-foot-11, 195 pounds) and they share the desire to mix it up physically, something the Chiefs found in last year's top choice, first-rounder Marcus Peters.
"We think they're good players," Reid said. "We have to see how they progress. That's one of the positions around the league, you'll see guys able to step in and play."
The winner of this contest, whether it is Gaines, Nelson or one of the rookies, will have to grow up very quickly, not only in handling the position physically, but especially in the mental side of things.
OAKLAND RAIDERS
Battle to Watch
--Right tackle: Menelik Watson vs. Austin Howard.
Howard played in 2014 at right guard under then-offensive line coach Tony Sparano and was moved back to tackle last year under Mike Tice. Although Watson won the job, Howard ended up starting because Watson had a torn Achilles and missed the season. Watson is rehabbing from a knee injury and attempting to make up ground as Watson works with the first team again.
SAN DIEGO CHARGERS
Battle to Watch
--Center: Matt Slauson vs. Trevor Robinson.
The Chargers' fingers are crossed they don't have a repeat of last year when they went through five starting centers. Robinson was the last one standing, but it's clear the Chargers felt a need for an upgrade. Not only did they pick up Slauson, a free agent from the Bears, but they drafted USC's Max Tuerk in the third round. There's also former starter Chris Watt still on the roster. But with Tuerk recovering from knee surgery, it appears this will be a spirited competition between Slauson and Robinson, with Slauson holding the early edge.
--Frank Cooney, founder and publisher of The Sports Xchange and NFLDraftScout.com, is in his sixth decade covering football and is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee.
