Up for Grabs

Top NFL Position Battles

By Jordan Raanan
Xfinity Sports

It's not training camp or preseason games, but Organized Team Practices (OTAs) mean something when it comes to earning a starting role in the NFL.

Think about it for a second: Who wouldn't want to make a good impression on their bosses before leaving for a two-month vacation? In the NFL, every snap means something. Even in May and June.

OTAs offer a glimpse of what's to come this summer. Here's what we can expect in regards to the top position battles. (AP Photo/Matt York)

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.

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Up for Grabs By Jordan Raanan
Xfinity Sports

It's not training camp or preseason games, but Organized Team Practices (OTAs) mean something when it comes to earning a starting role in the NFL.

Think about it for a second: Who wouldn't want to make a good impression on their bosses before leaving for a two-month vacation? In the NFL, every snap means something. Even in May and June.

OTAs offer a glimpse of what's to come this summer. Here's what we can expect in regards to the top position battles. (AP Photo/Matt York)

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
49ers: Randy Mos... The veteran wide receivers vie for the 49ers' No. 2 wide receiver spot opposite Michael Crabtree, who Jim Harbaugh wants us to believe is the next Jerry Rice. If this was Randy Moss five or seven years ago, it wouldn't be a competition. But this is Randy Moss at 36 and a season removed from his last NFL snap. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
Cowboys: Dan Con... It's a fight for the inside linebacker spot next to Sean Lee. Dallas signed Connor this offseason. The fifth-year pro started 19 games the past two seasons. Carter is a 2011 second-round pick whose rookie season was hampered by a knee injury from his final year at North Carolina. With Connor coming off shoulder surgery this offseason, Carter took the first-team snaps at OTAs. That could help his cause. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
Packers: Charlie... You can throw second-year undrafted free agent M.D. Jennings into Green Bay's strong safety mix as well. Peprah was far from impressive last season as the starter and had offseason knee surgery. The door is wide open for McMillian, a fourth-round pick out of Maine. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
Cardinals: Kevin... Kolb got the big deal after Arizona traded for him prior to last season. But his first year with the Cardinals didn't go well. Injuries and ineffectiveness plagued his 2011 campaign. Skelton led the Cards to a 5-2 record in his absence. The two quarterbacks are splitting snaps at OTAs. It's a wide open race at quarterback in Arizona. (AP Photo/Matt York)

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
Browns: Brandon ... The Browns want Weeden to be their starter at quarterback come Week 1. They wouldn't have drafted the 28-year-old QB if they really believed in McCoy. It's Weeden's job to lose. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan)

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
Dolphins: Ryan T... It's the first-round pick vs. last year's team MVP. David Garrard is on the Dolphins roster too but would need a minor miracle to win the starting job after a year out of the league. Tannehill is more familiar with the system of offensive coordinator Mike Sherman but Moore is more familiar with NFL defenses. It's only a matter of time before Tannehill (the eighth overall pick in the draft) takes over behind center for the Dolphins. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Ravens: Paul Kru... With Terrell Suggs likely out for the season, somebody has to fill the pass-rushing void. Kruger is the most likely option as rookie Courtney Upshaw is expected to start at the other outside linebacker spot. Second-year end/linebacker Pernell McPhie and 2010 second-round pick Sergio Kindle will provide Kruger some competition. Baltimore will start whoever gets to the quarterback most consistently. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
Bills: Cordy Gle... Glenn, the Bills' first-round pick, spent most of his college career at guard. Starting as a rookie at left tackle could be too much to ask. Hairston, a fourth-round pick last year, is the incumbent. He'll have his chance to outplay the rookie and earn the starting nod to protect quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick's blindside. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
Bucs: LeGarrette... As Blount explained so brilliantly, he's Tampa Bay's starting running back "until they take it away." They being the coaches. Martin, the first-round pick, will have to win the job from Blount. All it may take is showing an ability to stay on the field for passing downs during practices. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.