Veteran IDPs Who Could Be Replaced: AFC Edition
With the first week of free agency in the books and the NFL Draft looming, which veteran IDPs are at risk of being replaced?
NFL free agency has a funny way of accelerating the clock. A big signing here, a rookie contract extension there, and suddenly a player who was your LB1 last season is staring down a depth chart that didn’t exist six months ago. Free agency creates as many roster holes as it fills, and the veterans who land on the wrong side of that equation often don’t see it coming until it’s too late.
That’s what this article is about: veterans at risk of being replaced. This week, we’re looking at the AFC. The draft is about six weeks away, and with it comes another wave of young, fast, cheap talent ready to push for jobs. Some of the names below are aging gracefully but running out of runway. Others are already showing signs of decline. A few are simply stuck behind a new arrival that the front office values more than them. In dynasty, the window to sell high on a veteran is almost always before the draft, not after. Here are the AFC IDPs you might want to move.
Drue Tranquill, LB, Kansas City Chiefs
Drue Tranquill just restructured his contract to avoid the chopping block and free up some salary cap space, but I still think he’s in danger of falling victim to a younger LB.
Tranquill is entering his age-31 season, which is the age NFL teams treat their players like Woody from Toy Story: drop them in the trash. Is it fair? No, but that’s the reality of the league.
Now, Tranquill has been durable, playing in at least 16 games over the last four years, resulting in over 3,200 snaps, with an average of 105 tackles, 3.4 sacks, and 7.8 TFLs. That’s solid production, all while earning a 76.2 PFF defense grade with run defense and tackling grades in the high 80s. But it’s fair to ask: when will the miles catch up?
He already has Jeffrey Bassa (5th round 2025 pick) in-house for competition, and there’s the possibility the Chiefs may want to get younger and faster in the draft.
Alex Singleton, LB, Denver Broncos
Alex Singleton just signed a two-year deal to stay in Denver, but he’ll be hitting 33 by the time the season ends.
Singleton’s 2024 season ended early with a torn ACL, and in 2025, he ended up playing in 16 games, recording 135 tackles and 4 defended passes. Singleton missed a game due to a cancer diagnosis, which is a long-term concern, but thankfully, he’s been given a clear bill of health and only missed one game after his surgery.
He was still a dependable run stopper and tackler last season, with just a 7.5% missed tackle rate. Coverage is still a weakness, though.
While the phase-out won’t happen this year, it could start next year. I have seen mocks with Denver taking CJ Allen with their 1st-round pick. The writing seems to be on the wall, which means it might be time to sell Singleton.
Jacob Martin, EDGE, Tennessee Titans
How can someone who just signed with a team be replaced? Well, because Jacob Martin was signed merely as a depth piece and not a focal point of the defense.
Martin produced a career-high in pressures (45) and sacks (5.5) in 2025. He generated an 11% pressure rate and 16.1% win rate. He ended up tying with Bobby Wagner for the most quick pressures (10) in Washington. Martin is also in his age-30 season and will be 31 by the end of the year. It’s usually eye-opening when defenders have career years at the end of their careers, but this spike was purely volume-based for Martin. He appeared in 700 snaps, his highest since 2021.
It’s possible he doesn’t see that kind of volume in Tennessee. The Titans added Jermaine Johnson and John Franklin-Myers, and I suppose he may play more of a SAM role, but the Titans might live in nickel. A lot of mock drafts have Tennessee addressing EDGE with guys like Rueben Bain or David Bailey.
Cameron Goode, EDGE, Miami Dolphins
I know what you’re thinking: ummm… who? But after the Dolphins released Bradley Chubb, Cameron Goode becomes a potential bookend to Chop Robinson.
Miami has added Josh Uche and David Ojabo, but they appear to be playing the SAM/LOLB role with Robinson/Goode as the DEs. I wouldn’t get excited about the Miami edge rushers outside of Robinson, as Goode doesn’t appear long for a significant role. Goode has 7 career QB pressures over 101 pass rush snaps.
The Dolphins are switching from Weaver’s base 34 to a 43 under Jeff Hafley; however, Hafley has stressed multiple fronts and is living in nickel. It’s possible Ojabo and Uche also see snaps on the edge.
Of course, Miami could also address EDGE in the draft. Guys like Gabe Jacas, Malachi Lawrence, and R Mason Thomas are in play as Day 2 or Day 3 picks. If you’re combing the depth charts, mining for diamonds, I think you’ll find nothing but coal here.
Foyesade Oluokun, LB, Jacksonville Jaguars
This one might be a hot take, but Foyesade Oluokun is going to be 31 by the time the year kicks off. I will say, Oluokun has proven to be durable, as he’s played in at least 15 games in seven of his eight seasons. He hasn’t had fewer than 108 tackles since 2019 when he was with Atlanta.
But the NFL is a fickle mistress and doesn’t care who you are. Any signs of decline or slowdown, and you’re being replaced by someone younger and faster. I think a prime example was Zaire Franklin. He was a team captain, productive, but as soon as he started showing his age, he was shipped off.
While I don’t see this in 2026, I do think the time is coming. They have Jack Kiser on the roster, who I think could be a green dot candidate. They could also address the LB, once again, in the draft. I’ve seen Deontae Lawson mocked here.
If I’m an Oluokun manager, I might be looking to sell, especially if I’m in a rebuild.
Cody Barton, LB, Tennessee Titans
Cody Barton has been living on a prayer over the last few seasons. He’s been signed into opportunistic landing spots where he’s earned the dot and three-down role. But Barton is now entering his age 30 season, and 2025 was the first time since 2021 that he failed to reach 100 tackles as a full-time player.
Not only did he not reach 100, but he didn’t even hit 90. Barton was the least efficient three-down LB, producing a 7.6% tackle rate over 1,061 snaps, resulting in just 81 tackles.
This can be attributed to Cedric Gray’s breakout season, as he dominated the tackle share, but Barton looked a step slow, late to plays, and blocked out of his run fits. His run defense suffered, as he had a 46 PFF grade.
This is an athletic LB class, so I can see Robert Saleh and Gus Bradley going younger in the draft.
DeShon Elliott, S, Pittsburgh Steelers
DeShon Elliott missed 12 games in 2025, and the phasing out could already be starting. Pittsburgh signed former Bears safety Jaquan Brisker to shore up the back end of their defense. Brisker is still young—just 27 by the time the season starts. He is a similar safety archetype to Elliott.
Brisker can play in the box, man the slot, and will provide help deep. Elliott could find himself playing more deep snaps, and there might be more three-safety sets with Darnell Savage.
Of course, there’s the draft, as the safety position is still a position of need, even with the addition of Brisker. The safety position is deep in 2026, and it’s a talented class. I’ve seen Zakee Wheatley mocked to Pittsburgh.
Elliott is probably someone I’m shopping in dynasty trades, and probably won’t be on my radar in 2026 redraft leagues.
Terrel Bernard, LB, Buffalo Bills
Terrel Bernard is entering his 5th season and is still just 26 years old, but is a grizzled vet at this point. Bernard has played in 2,479 defensive snaps; however, after playing in 999 snaps in 2023, he hasn’t eclipsed the 800-mark in consecutive seasons due to various injuries.
In the NFL, your key ability is availability. Bernard has missed at least 4 games in consecutive seasons, and his three-down role could be in jeopardy heading into 2026 (and beyond). His 2026 season will probably be a pivotal season for him, as he needs to prove he can stay on the field for a full 18-week season.
Bernard carries a $13.7 million dead cap hit, but if they do designate him a post-June 1, the Bills can save $4 million. I don’t see him being cut, but Buffalo addressed the WR position with the acquisition of DJ Moore, so Buffalo could go off-ball LB in the draft. In a recent ESPN mock, CJ Allen was mocked to Buffalo at 26. That would send a clear message to Bernard.
Jordan Battle, S, Cincinnati Bengals
Jordan Battle has had a rocky tenure with the Bengals, and while he had a decent season, he still battled (no pun intended) inconsistent play throughout the 2025 season.
Battle played 31% of his snaps in the box, recorded 125 tackles, and produced career-highs in INTs (4) and defended passes (6). Of his tackles, 64% came from deep, while the remainder were made near the line of scrimmage.
He missed on quite a few tackles (13.7% miss rate) and was well below average in coverage, earning a 54.5 PFF coverage grade in 2025.
Battle is still young, as he’ll be 26 when the season ends. However, the Bengals are drafting 9th and their pick could go in several ways. Caleb Downs has been a popular pick at their spot, and if that’s the case, I do believe Battle’s days are numbered. With the variance at the DB position, Battle is a sell-high candidate.
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