4 key position battles to watch in training camp

Matt Williamson is a former scout for the Cleveland Browns, and spent the last 10 years at ESPN as a scout and co-host of "The Football Today Podcast."

Every year as training camps open, there are position battles. It happens on nearly every NFL team in some form or another.

Depending on the position, sometimes the winner of the battle is really only the starter in name and both combatants get about equal playing time when it's all said and done. Obviously, this isn’t the case at some positions like quarterback or on the offensive line.

Here are four of the more interesting battles to take note of once training camps open.

Ravens: Running Back

The Ravens have a lot of running backs. Teams around the league that are short at this position would be smart to pay close attention to who doesn’t make Baltimore’s final roster.

Justin Forsett is clearly the favorite to act as the starting back, but his hold on the position might be extremely tenuous. In fact, of the pile of players fighting for carries and receptions out of the backfield, it's Kenneth Dixon who very well could assume the lead role before long. He is exactly what Marc Trestman wants at the position and is already quite good in pass protection.

Buck Allen showed good things late last year as well while the offense was depleted (and Forsett was lost with a broken arm) and also does good things in the passing game for a back his size. Forsett might be on his last legs.

We also can’t forget Lorenzo Taliaferro, Terrence West, and, of course, Trent Richardson. Not only does Baltimore need to sort out its running back depth chart, but the same might be said of its personnel at wide receiver, tight end, and left guard, where John Urschel should claim the job.

Panthers: Right Tackle

The Panthers' offense was exceptional last year, built around Cam Newton’s unique skill set and featuring the most diverse running game in all of football. But we saw in the Super Bowl, albeit against elite edge pass-rushers, that Carolina was getting by all season with just very average players at both offensive tackle positions.

While it looks as though Michael Oher’s job is safe for now on the left side, Mike Remmers could be in for a battle from Daryl Williams for the right tackle job. It's unlikely that Williams, in his second NFL season, flat out wins the job, but he's probably the more talented player and has a mauling power skill set that fits in well with what the Panthers want to do.

At a minimum, maybe we see more six offensive line sets in 2016 if Williams has a strong camp and preseason.

Chiefs: Wide Receiver

Jeremy Maclin has been an excellent addition to the Chiefs since coming over from Philadelphia, but the other starting spot is currently up for grabs. Unlike some teams that play a ton of three-wide packages, the Chiefs use a slow-paced offense that's often in base personnel.

Rookie Demarcus Robinson fell in the draft because of off-field concerns, but his talent is not a question. Still, it would be an upset if he was to win this job in his first NFL season.

Rod Streater is also in the mix, but offers very little upside for the position. This is probably a two-horse race between Albert Wilson and Chris Conley, two talented players in their own right, but with differing skill sets. Wilson is smaller, shiftier, and a better route runner, while Conley is a size/speed guy with terrific Combine measurables. But he also has less experience.

With Alex Smith at quarterback, look for Wilson to hold onto this job, although Kansas City would be wise to take more deep shots with Conley, despite Smith’s passing limitations.

Vikings: Nickel Cornerback

The Vikings' defense is loaded with talent, much of it very young. Mike Zimmer must be super excited with the job Minnesota’s front office has done in giving the defensive-minded head coach so much to work with. And these players fit exactly what Zimmer wants. Don’t be surprised if this is one of the best defenses in football next year.

While most teams are short on cornerbacks, Zimmer’s Vikings are not. After using a 2013 first-round pick on Xavier Rhodes and a 2015 first on Trae Waynes, the Vikings thought Mackensie Alexander was just too good to pass up in the latest draft in Round 2.

Terrence Newman should start opposite Rhodes, with Waynes, Alexander, and Captain Munnerlyn, an excellent slot corner, all battling to get on the field in 2016. Having too many corners is a tremendous problem to have, but expect Munnerlyn to keep the job, at least for now, as he's in the final year of his contract. The future and present are very bright here.