The new value of some Fantasy veterans

Which veterans were hurt by what their front offices did on NFL Draft weekend? Whose value has actually improved by what did or did not transpire? Our Dave Richard takes a closer look.

Fans might consider the annual NFL Draft to be like Christmas, but NFL veterans likely look at it as the exact opposite. Their teams might not be giving them anything -- except possibly a pink slip.

For nearly every rookie drafted, a veteran will be cut. Notable names like Chris Perry, Larry Foote and Edgerrin James have already been cast into the free-agent player pool following the 2009 draft, and more are sure to follow between now and August.

It's not all bad for NFL veterans, though. The ones with job security, especially after the draft, actually benefit from having talent added to their side of the football. A new receiver or tight end is like a new toy for a quarterback. An infusion of offensive linemen is good for running backs and quarterbacks alike. There's always cause for optimism when a team adds some good talent.

Here are some veterans who gained or lost value following the 2009 draft:

Five who could shine

Shaun Hill, QB, San Francisco
Comment: Hill might be in for a battle for the starting job with Alex Smith, but we think the job is his so long as he doesn't fall on his face. That's great news for him since the 49ers not only added Michael Crabtree in the 2009 draft but are also rethinking their offensive strategy for the upcoming season. It was initially believed that the Niners would be a power running team with a limited pass attack, but the addition of Crabtree has changed that philosophy. Hill was impressive in the club's minicamp following the draft and should be even more appealing as a sleeper in drafts over the next few months.

Maurice Jones-Drew, RB, Jacksonville
Comment: We'll admit this now: Even though we ranked Jones-Drew third overall among running backs before the draft, we were nervous about how his offensive line would shape up. Following the drafting of two quality linemen along with the signing of a veteran, we're no longer as concerned. Even though Jacksonville had other needs, improving the O-line with old workhorse Tra Thomas and rookies Eugene Monroe and Eben Britton speaks volumes to the committment they're going to make to Jones-Drew this season. He's a rock solid Top 3 pick now.

Eli Manning, QB, N.Y. Giants
Comment: Replacing Plaxico Burress will be a tall order for the Giants, but they stook a nice step forward in selecting both Hakeem Nicks and Ramses Barden. Nicks might be more of a short-to-intermediary option with plenty of muscle while Barden is a Marques Colston clone in that he's lean, tall, from a small school and understated. Neither will replace Burress' awesome yardage and touchdown totals, but their combined efforts along with that of the other Giants receivers should do the trick, giving Manning a nice stat line by the end of the year. The additions of raw offensive tackle William Beatty and speed rusher Andre Brown also provides depth around Manning.

Donovan McNabb, QB, Philadelphia
Comment: The Eagles knew they had to bowl over McNabb with offensive upgrades this offseason, but they truly out-did themselves. Not only did they draft receiver Jeremy Maclin to give the passing game an instant boost, and not only did they secure long-term prospects in LeSean McCoy and Cornelius Ingram, but they greatly improved their offensive line by dropping the second of their first-round picks in a package for mammoth left tackle Jason Peters. McNabb is truly surrounded with excellent talent and should have a shot to top his excellent 2008 totals so long as he can stay healthy for 16 games.

Pierre Thomas, RB, New Orleans
Comment: The Saints were rumored to be enamored with Chris Wells, but couldn't pick him at No. 14 and didn't have enough ammo to get back into Round 1 to get him. That news is golden for Thomas, who should fulfill our expectations as the "pure" running back in the explosive Saints offense. Now if the Saints add a running back, it won't be someone they'll have a major financial commitment to or someone who could legitimately take a lot of touches away from Thomas. We still feel like he's a steal going in Round 3 or later in drafts.

Five who could disappoint

Joseph Addai, RB, Indianapolis
Comment: The drafting of Connecticut rusher Donald Brown in Round 1 will either ignite Addai into being a game dominator or push him out of the picture. The point we'd like to emphasize here is that Colts GM Bill Polian has always been a shrewd drafter and likely sees Brown as a complementary piece to start the season but eventually become the main back in the Indy offense. That's the precise plan Polian had for Addai when he became a Colt in 2006. Expect Addai's production to be somewhat limited with Brown in his shadow this season.

All non-rookie Denver RBs
Comment: The addition of Knowshon Moreno in Denver isn't just bad for him, but bad for all the other backs that Denver added this offseason. Correll Buckhalter is now a reserve behind Moreno, LaMont Jordan might be relegated to goal-line work, J.J. Arrington's status as a third-down back is now in jeopardy, Peyton Hillis is moving back to fullback and Ryan Torain is riding the bench while rehabbing his torn ACL. Taking a shot on any of these guys is a mistake, yet they'll still total enough touches to impact the potential of Moreno. Hard to believe, but the Broncos' running back situation is more muddled now than it ever was with Mike Shanahan running the show.

Antonio Bryant, WR, Tampa Bay
Comment: Bryant did a nice job last year proving that he could still be a force in the NFL, and he did it with Jeff Garcia as his quarterback in an offense that really relied on him as a downfield threat. Since then, the Bucs' offense has changed, their quarterbacks have changed and Bryant has been franchised and turned down for a long-term deal. Furthermore, Bryant has never been a consistent receiver in the league, and with the Bucs changing so much of their offense this offseason, including three quarterbacks vying for the starting job, it's no promise that Bryant will continue his resurgence. The drafting of Josh Freeman only makes things messier for the Bryant.

Braylon Edwards, WR, Cleveland
Comment: In 2007, Edwards had his best campaign when the Browns offense had multiple threats and an upstart quarterback as part of an aggressive offense. In 2009, Edwards is pretty much the only threat the offense has, and that's the case even after Cleveland drafted Brian Robiskie and Mohamed Massaquoi. When defenses face the Browns, they'll know to roll coverage to Edwards and take their chances with the rookie receivers, not to mention the faulty run game the Browns currently have going for them. With Edwards seemingly stuck in Cleveland and not on the way to a new team, he's a player to avoid in Fantasy drafts.

Thomas Jones, RB, N.Y. Jets
Comment: The addition of rookie Shonn Greene foreshadows where the Jets are going with the running back position. Jones will reportedly count for $7 million against the Jets' salary cap in 2010, making him an unlikely candidate to stay with the team after this season. He knows it, and he has asked for a new contract, which the Jets have balked at. Jones has already boycotted the club's first set of voluntary workouts, and his name has been showing up in rumor mills. The more time Jones misses, the more work Greene gets, and Greene is a humble, tough runner who could easily replace Jones in a tandem with Leon Washington if the Jets decided to make a change. Jones, meanwhile, shouldn't be expected to carry a full workload for the Jets if he sticks with them, which is too bad because he would otherwise be building on a strong 2008 season.

Five who could surprise

Marc Bulger, QB, St. Louis
Comment: Bulger won't be mistaken for a No. 1 Fantasy quarterback in drafts, but he could be a gem off the waiver wire during the season. The Rams have done a nice job upgrading the offense's biggest weakness from 2008: the offensive line. No. 2 overall pick Jason Smith should eventually work as the left tackle and free-agent acquisition Jason Brown should be a staple at center. And the Rams' decision not to draft a quarterback, or sign someone better than Kyle Boller, speaks to the comfort level the Rams' coaches have with Bulger. If the Rams find a way to add a receiver or two, he could be a huge sleeper.

Kerry Collins, QB, Tennessee
Comment: New Titans rookie receiver Kenny Britt might not be a Fantasy stud from Day 1, but he gives Collins a new, big target to gun for. And Britt's not the only one -- the Titans also picked up South Carolina's Jared Cook in the draft, improving their tight end corps. The two rooks should work in tune with veterans Justin Gage, Nate Washington and Bo Scaife to give Collins a vast array of quality talent to connect with. Many people believe the Titans are going to remain a running team in 2009, but we can't help but figure that they're going to want to throw more with these offseason improvements. That will only perk up Collins' stat line.

Julius Jones, RB, Seattle
Comment: Here's some news you can use: The Seahawks have done nothing to improve their rushing corps this offseason. They didn't add anyone via free agency, and they didn't draft anyone. Jones remains their likely starter for the upcoming season, and that's enough to make him a noteworthy Fantasy option as a No. 3 back simply because he'll see a lot of work in the Seattle offense. It also helps that the 'Hawks fortified their O-line with Max Unger, who they drafted in Round 2.

Packers DST
Comment: The Packers got lucky with DT B.J. Raji falling to them at ninth overall, then they ponied up most of their valuable 2009 picks to get Clay Matthews late in Round 1. Both moves should put the finishing touches on their transition to a 3-4 defense. Raji should eat up space up front as the nose tackle while Matthews attacks the edges. They also got great value in 3-4 DE Jarius Wynn, giving them a little more depth up front. Usually it takes a team two or three years to fully convert from one defense to another. The Packers might do it in less than six months.

Sage Rosenfels, QB, Minnesota
Comment: We've never thought of Rosenfels as a Fantasy superstar, but when he's been pressed into action he hasn't done poorly. But the additions of wide receiver Percy Harvin and offensive tackle Phil Loadholt should help Rosenfels, assuming he does beat Tarvaris Jackson for the starting job with the Vikings. Harvin will be a friend to any quarterback thanks to his catch-and-run ability, and Loadholt has a chance to begin the season as a starter and aid an already-strong offensive line.

Do you agree with Dave? What veterans would you target or steer clear of following the 2009 draft? Send your thoughts to DMFantasyFootball@cbs.com and we'll post the best responses. Be sure to put Attn: 2009 Draft in the subject field. Include your full name, hometown and state.