Two games down, two games to go. The NFL’s preseason schedule is almost done which makes cut down day right around the corner. Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst and his scouting staff will have some tough decisions to make in regards to the roster. With cut day right around the corner, we thought it would be a good time to give our thoughts on the final roster.
Projecting the Season-Opening Green Bay Packers 53-Man Roster
We are going to break down every position for the Packers 53-man roster. Some players were obvious, while other players and their roster status might surprise our readers. Here is who we think will break camp with the Packers.
Quarterback: Aaron Rodgers, Brett Hundley, and DeShone Kizer
We feel that head coach Mike McCarthy will carry three quarterbacks at the start of the season. Although we aren’t sure who will be the number two and who will be the number three quarterback. Hundley wasn’t good last season when Rodgers went down with a broken collarbone. But so far in preseason action, Hundley looks like he has improved this off-season.
Kizer, who came over via a trade with the Cleveland Browns, has also shown some glimpses in training camp. But for us, it isn’t enough to make Kizer the outright number two quarterback. But if Gutekunst feels that Kizer has done enough this preseason to be named the number two, Hundley might be trade bait. But it is highly doubtful he would get much in a trade with how poorly Hundley performed last season. Expect undrafted rookie Tim Boyle to be carried on the practice squad.
Running back: Jamaal Williams, Aaron Jones, Joel Bouagnon, Ty Montgomery, Aaron Ripkowski
Jones will be suspended for the first two games this season and won’t count towards the Packers 53-man roster until he returns. This is a position that Gutekunst might look to add somebody from another team when the NFL has its final cut downs.
Williams will start off the season as the starter with Montgomery as his backup. Williams did suffer an ankle injury against the Pittsburgh Steelers in their preseason matchup. That injury will need to be watched. If Williams’ injury is more severe than thought, there is a chance that Devante Mayes also might be carried going into the opener.
We are projecting Bouagnon over Mayes for the opening Packers 53-man roster. While Mayes has been out with an injury so far in preseason action Bouagnon has flashed some potential. If this is what happens, Bouagnon might be a candidate to be cut when Jones comes off suspension.
Ripkowski looks to be the only fullback that they carry this off-season. Joe Kerridge has been on the Packers roster before, but carrying two fullbacks this season would be more of a luxury.
Wide receiver: Davante Adams, Randall Cobb, Geronimo Allison, J’Mon Moore, Equanimeous St. Brown, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Jake Kumerow
Adams, Cobb, and Allison are the obvious receivers to make the Packers 53-man roster. All three have the most experience and all three are favorites of Aaron Rodgers.
The three drafted rookies, Moore, St. Brown, and Valdes-Scantling have too much potential to give up on so soon. Valdes-Scantling has been the most impressive out of the three. He had over 100 yards receiving in the Packers preseason opener against the Tennessee Titans. He has also seen time as the Packers kickoff returner as well.
Kumerow has played himself onto the Packers 53 man roster. Not only has he caught the eye of Rodgers during practice, he has also performed well in preseason action. So far, he leads the Packers in receiving yards during preseason action.
Missing from this group is former fifth-round pick Trevor Davis. Many will argue that he has done enough as the kickoff and punt returner in seasons past to make the Packers 53-man roster. But he has yet to prove he is capable of playing wide receiver at the NFL level. We think that somebody else can step in as a returner, which would make Davis expendable.
Tight end: Jimmy Graham, Marcedes Lewis, Lance Kendricks
The three veteran tight ends should be pretty obvious to make the Packers 53-man roster. Graham is the best receiver of the three, Lewis is the best blocker, and Kendricks is the most interchangeable. We feel that there is a strong possibility that the Packers carry two tight ends on their practice squad. Those two being Robert Tonyan and Emanuel Byrd.
Offensive Line: David Bakhtiari, Bryan Bulaga, Jason Spriggs, Kyle Murphy, Lane Taylor, Justin McCray, Byron Bell, Adam Pankey, Dillon Day
Carrying nine offensive linemen on the Packers 53-man roster might seem like a lot. But last season proved that injuries occur and they can’t be caught with their pants down. Bulaga should be ready for the season opener, but having Spriggs, Murphy, and Bell as insurance seems like the proper call.
Taylor and McCray should be the starting guards when the season starts. Pankey and Bell could back both of them. We went with Day over Lucas Patrick just because Day can also play center as well as guard. During preseason games, Day has played some guard and has done a solid job.
Defensive line: Muhammad Wilkerson, Mike Daniels, Kenny Clark, Dean Lowry, Montravius Adams
Wilkerson, Daniels, and Clark are the projected starters on the defensive line. Lowry was a key contributor last season and should be the top backup to Wilkerson and Daniels. Wilkerson can be used as a nose tackle in a pinch if Clark goes down with an injury. Adams didn’t play much in his rookie season because of an injury. He will need to play to his potential to see playing time this season.
Inside linebackers: Blake Martinez, Oren Burks, Ahmad Thomas
Martinez tied for the most tackles in the NFL last season and will be the leader of this group. With Jake Ryan out for the season with a knee injury, Burks will start next to Martinez. Burks has flown around the field this preseason and appears to be the most athletic inside linebacker the Packers have.
Thomas is a former college safety, like Burks, and has a lot of athletic ability. Because of his traits, he will be a key part of the Packers special teams.
Some might think carrying three inside linebackers on the Packers 53-man roster is risky. But the Packers could play Clay Matthews inside if necessary. He has done it in the past and has performed well.
Outside linebackers: Clay Matthews, Nick Perry, Reggie Gilbert, Vince Biegel, Kyler Fackrell
Matthews and Perry will be the starters. Although starters, both have dealt with injuries the past couple of seasons. In fact, Perry has yet to play this preseason after recovering from off-season surgery.
Gilbert has had a great training camp. He has built off his strong finish from last season. He looks to be in great shape and has been getting after the quarterback this preseason. In fact, he looks to be the top backup behind Matthews and Perry.
Biegel hasn’t flashed much this preseason. But still, he is capable of playing outside as well as inside. He also should be a key contributor on special teams.
Fackrell is hanging on by a thread to his spot on the Packers 53-man roster. He has been overtaken by Gilbert as the first outside linebacker off the bench. It wouldn’t be shocking if the Packers cut him if another outside linebacker they have an eye on gets cut from another team in the final cuts.
Cornerback: Tramon Williams, Davon House, Kevin King, Jaire Alexander, Josh Jackson, Lenzy Pipkins, Quinten Rollins
Williams and House are the top veteran cornerbacks for the Packers. Williams should be a starter, with House being a top backup on the boundary. King, the Packers top draft choice from 2017 should be the starter opposite of Williams, if healthy.
Alexander and Jackson, this year’s Packers top picks, should see a lot of time for the Packers this season, especially in nickel and dime coverages. Alexander has battled a hamstring injury this preseason and has been limited. Jackson has taken advantage of that and has seen time on the boundary and the slot. With projecting Davis to be cut, we feel that Alexander might have a chance to be the Packers punt returner this off-season.
Pipkins is feisty and doesn’t back down from opposing receivers. Defensive coordinator Mike Pettine likes to play press coverage and Pipkins seems adept at doing just that.
Many will argue that Rollins shouldn’t make the Packers 53-man roster. But he is showing a lot of value by playing different positions this preseason. He has lined up as the nickel linebacker, as a safety, a cornerback, and as a punt returner. With playing so many positions, he is proving some value.
Safety: Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, Josh Jones, Kentrell Brice, Jermaine Whitehead
Clinton-Dix and Jones will start out as the starting safeties. But expect a lot of Brice, especially if Jones struggles to make tackles like he did last off-season. Clinton Dix is also coming off a down season and will need to perform well to earn another contract from the Packers.
We went with Whitehead over Marwin Evans for the last safety spot. While Evans has been a stand out on special teams, Whitehead can play more positions as well as play on special teams. Rollins could also play some safety this season as well.
Specialists: JK Scott, Mason Crosby, Hunter Bradley
Scott has garnered a lot of talk this training camp with his big leg. He will have a lot of pressure going into this season. Gutekunst spent a fifth-round pick on the punter and he didn’t face any competition during training camp.
Crosby is the seasoned veteran out of this group. He is one of the best kickers in the NFL and has shown that the weather in Green Bay doesn’t bother him.
Bradley was drafted in the seventh round, a rarity since he is a long snapper. He is competing for the job, but since he is a draft choice, he at the very least will begin as the starter this season. If he faltesr, Brett Goode is just a call away.
