When it came to setting the roster, Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst didn’t have too many difficult decisions to make. Sure, there was one or two. However, for the most part, the Packers roster was a pretty easy one to predict. It’s a roster littered with young, inexperienced players, but players with potential. Gutekunst and his staff might not say, it but the ages of their players say otherwise. The Green Bay Packers roster illustrates that they are in a rebuild.
A Look at the Very Youthful Green Bay Packers Roster
Now, before you Reddit trolls get your undies in a bunch, take a deep breath. Saying the Packers are in a rebuild isn’t a bad thing. When it became obvious that Aaron Rodgers was ready to move on, the time had come to reset the franchise. Rodgers carried this franchise on his back for many many years. But to expect him to do it well into his forties was just too much. The time had come to move on from him and start over.
The 2023 Green Bay Packers are loaded with potential but lacks the NFL experience you want out of a roster. Recently, Gutekunst stated that the priority was speed, not youth when it came to building the roster. True, Gutekunst and his staff always value speed. But their hand was forced when it came to building this year’s roster when it came to youth.
If all things had gone right, the core of the 2023 Green Bay Packers roster should be from the 2018 and 2019 NFL Drafts. Those happen to be the first two years of Gutekunst’s tenure as the Packers general manager. Unfortunately, for the Packers and Gutekunst, he drafted poorly in both draft classes. Out of the 19 players selected, by the Packers, only four of those players remain with the current Packers.
Jaire Alexander (2018), Rashan Gary (2019), and Elgton Jenkins (2019) are all standouts, which help Gutekunst save face. The other, Darnell Savage, is lucky to still have a job after being a disappointment. Because of those two drafts, the Packers are youthful. The rebuild has started and they are banking on their young players developing and leading this franchise.
Quarterbacks (2)
Jordan Love, Sean Clifford
The Green Bay Packers offense will go as far as their first-year starting quarterback can take them. The Jordan Love era has started and it’s now his offense.
Just was the case when Aaron Rodgers was the quarterback, if Love goes down, their season is over. Our opinion of Sean Clifford has not changed. We believe at best that he is a practice squad player in the NFL. If he is forced to come in for an injured Jordan Love, there is no chance he can lead the Packers to victory.
Running Backs (3)
Aaron Jones, AJ Dillon, Emmanuel Wilson
It was surprising that the Packers decided to carry three running backs on their active roster. But Emmanuel Wilson played himself onto the Green Bay Packers roster. He had an incredible preseason, which forced his way onto this roster. Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon will be the main ball carriers, but it wouldn’t be surprising to see Wilson get some action.
Tight Ends (4)
Josiah Deguara, Tucker Kraft, Luke Musgrave, and Ben Sims
It appears that Gutekunst and head coach Matt LaFleur found a gem in Luke Musgrave. The Packers have been in need of a tight end with speed, something Musgrave has. Expect him to be a big part of the Packers offense this season. Tucker Kraft, a fellow rookie, will be Musgrave’s backup. He has a lot of developing to do but looks like he could be a player.
Josiah Deguara, a former third-round pick of Gutekunst’s, needs to start to show something. This could be his last season as a Packer, which would mean another failed third-round pick by Gutekunst. Ben Sims was picked up off waivers from the Minnesota Vikings. He has the makeup to be a solid blocker in the NFL, something the Packers need at tight end.
Wide Receivers (6)
Romeo Doubs, Christian Watson, Jayden Reed, Samouri Toure, Dontayvion Wicks, and Malik Heath
The Packers starting three wide receivers are slated to be Romeo Doubs, Christian Watson, and Jayden Reed. Samouri Toure will also see a lot of action as the Green Bay Packers fourth wide receiver on the roster.
Malik Heath was a standout in OTAs and he continued to impress in training camp. Just like with Emmanuel Wilson, Heath played his way onto this roster. Wicks is another big-body receiver and he goes with the theme for this roster, young and has potential.
Offensive Line (10)
David Bakhtiari, Elgton Jenkins, Josh Myers, Jon Runyan, Zach Tom, Yosh Nijman, Caleb Jones, Sean Rhyan, Rasheed Walker, and Royce Newman
The Packers seem to have strong depth at tackle heading into this season. It appears Zach Tom will be the starting right tackle, which will allow Yosh Nijman to back up Tom and David Bakhtiari. It also looks like, after a strong training camp, Rasheed Walker could also step in if something were to happen to either starter.
Josh Myers looks to be the starting center once again. But he didn’t have a strong camp and appears to be the weak link of the starting offensive line. Depth at guard has to be a concern. Sean Rhyan and Royce Newman will be the top backups and neither looked good in camp. It would be wise for Gutekunst to keep his eye on the waiver wire, to see if he can bolster the depth at that position.
Defensive Line (5)
Karl Brooks, Kenny Clark, Colby Wooden, TJ Slaton, and Devonte Wyatt
If you are talking excitement about the youth movement on the Green Bay Packers roster, the defensive line is at the top of this list. Karl Brooks and Colby Wooden are two very intriguing prospects. Both have the ability as pass rushers and both can line up at multiple positions.
TJ Slaton looked good in camp, allowing Kenny Clark to line up at other positions, while he manned the middle of the defensive line. We still have questions about Devonte Wyatt. But if he falters, it opens a spot for either Brooks or Wooden.
Outside Linebacker (6)
Rashan Gary, Preston Smith, Lukas Van Ness, Kingsley Enagbare, Justin Hollins, and Brenton Cox Jr.
Many believed that there was no way for the Packers to carry six outside linebackers, just no way. Guess what? The Packers are carrying six outside linebackers. Brenton Cox Jr., a former five-star high school recruit who was kicked out of two colleges, displayed enough during training camp and preseason to be the sixth outside linebacker. How much he plays is yet to be determined, but the Packers liked him enough to bring him along for the ride.
Inside Linebacker (4)
Quay Walker, Devondre Campbell, Isaiah McDuffie, and Eric Wilson
Isaiah McDuffie looks to be the third inside linebacker on the depth chart. He might want to gear up for playing time because Devondre Campbell, who played poorly in 2022, is battling an ankle injury. McDuffie saw time in place of Campbell in 2022 when Campbell was out due to a knee injury.
Veteran Eric Wilson makes the roster over second-year and former seventh-round pick Tariq Carpenter. Wilson is a key piece to the Packers special teams and it appears they will lean on him heavily again in 2023. It was a curious decision to part ways with Carpenter. The Packers were high on Carpenter’s special teams ability, which is why they selected him in the seventh round in 2022 to begin with. He was converted to inside linebacker this off-season and it seems that he didn’t fully embrace it. Losing him does hurt the Packers special teams.
Cornerback (4)
Rasul Douglas, Jaire Alexander, Keisean Nixon, and Carrington Valentine
If you are wondering who the best player was in training camp for the Packers the answer is simple. That would be Carrington Valentine. The rookie seventh-round pick had an incredible camp and looks like he could have a bright future for the Packers.
Overall, the cornerback group looks very solid heading into the season. This is saying something since former first-round pick Eric Stokes is still recovering from a foot injury he suffered in 2022.
Safeties (6)
Anthony Johnson Jr., Rudy Ford, Darnell Savage, Jonathan Owens, Dallin Leavitt, and Zayne Anderson
The Packers will carry six safeties to open the season. It isn’t an overstatement to say that all six aren’t that good either. We will give a pass to Anthony Johnson Jr. since he is a rookie, but the other safeties don’t wow us by any means. This is easily the worst group of safeties on an NFL roster.
Long Snapper, Kicker, and Punter (3)
Matt Ozech, Anders Carlson, and Daniel Whelan
We applaud Brian Gutekunst for moving on from former punter Pat O’Donnell. When talking about O’Donnell, the first thing to be brought up was his holding, but not his punting. Holding is an important thing, but his first job was to punt the ball and it was something he didn’t do very well. Daniel Whelan has a big leg and it will be fun to watch him punt in Green Bay in December.
The Packers are all in on Anders Carlson. He displayed a very big leg but also displayed some inconsistencies. Rich Bisaacia and LaFleur are going to need to be patient with their rookie kicker.
Main Photo: Wm Glasheen – USA Today Sports
