Now that the first preseason game has been played, I finally feel ready to make a still-too-early prediction on the 53-man roster. Plenty can and probably will change in the two weeks before final cuts are announced, but here’s where I think things stand as of today:
QUARTERBACK (2)
Aaron Rodgers
Jordan Love
The top two were obvious the minute Rodgers ended his boycott and walked into camp. I thought Kurt Benkert had an outside chance of sticking as the No. 3, but Saturday night reminded me of why he went undrafted. The pick late in the game was simply inexcusable for a player in his fourth year. He’ll likely begin the regular season on the practice squad – a very familiar place. That’s where the former Virginia star spent all of 2018 and most of 2020.
RUNNING BACK (3)
Aaron Jones
A.J. Dillon
Kylin Hill
Dexter Williams finally got into the game in the fourth quarter, and he showed the burst that’ll give him a chance to succeed in the NFL. It just won’t be with the Packers. It’s obvious the general manager likes the former Notre Dame star a lot more than the coach does. It’ll come down to Hill and Patrick Taylor, and Hill is the more skilled player.
WIDE RECEIVER (6)
Davante Adams
Marquez Valdes-Scantling
Allen Lazard
Randall Cobb
Amari Rodgers
Juwann Winfree
Devin Funchess, who starred against the Texans, is clearly one of the top-6 wide receivers, but I just don’t see him being around for week 1. While Winfree may never be Funchess’ equal as a receiver, he’s younger, cheaper, and much more valuable on special teams. He needs to get healthy soon or steady Malik Taylor could steal his spot. After three seasons, I think the Packers have reached the point of diminishing returns with Equanimeous St. Brown.
TIGHT END (4)
Robert Tonyan
Marcedes Lewis
Josiah Deguara
Dominique Dafney
Jace Sternberger’s two-game suspension and Isaac Nauta’s season-ending injury simplified things at this position. The top 3 are set, and Dafney should stick as long as he’s healthy. The only real question is whether Sternberger finds his way back to the 53-man roster, and that will likely be determined by how well he performs the rest of camp.
OFFENSIVE LINE (9)
Elgton Jenkins (G/T)
Billy Turner (T/G)
Josh Myers (C)
Lucas Patrick (G)
Dennis Kelly (T)
Jon Runyan (G/C)
Ben Braden (G/T)
Royce Newman (G)
Cole Van Lanen (T)
This is assuming David Bakhtiari begins the season on the physically unable to perform list. If the perennial All-Pro is activated for week 1, Gutekunst could keep a 10th O-lineman, or he could move on from one of the veteran guards (Patrick, Runyan, or Braden). Van Lanen will need two more impressive outings to secure a spot. I don’t see all four sticking, but for now, I’ll keep them around and send Yosh Nijman and Jake Hanson back to the practice squad.
DEFENSIVE LINE (6)
Kenny Clark
Dean Lowry
Kingsley Keke
Tyler Lancaster
T.J. Slaton
Willington Previlon
Previlon played pretty well against the Texans and bears watching the next few weeks. There’s a chance the former Rutgers star could steal a spot on the 53. Undrafted rookie Jack Heflin is a tough SOB from the Big 10 who gives 100% on every play but offers little as a pass rusher; the defensive line already has one of those in Lancaster.
LINEBACKER (9)
Za’Darius Smith (OLB)
Rashan Gary (OLB)
Preston Smith (OLB)
De’Vondre Campbell (ILB)
Krys Barnes (ILB)
Ty Summers (ILB)
Oren Burks (ILB)
Kamal Martin (ILB)
Jonathan Garvin (OLB)
Burks played well against the Texans and probably earned himself a fourth year in Green Bay. Garvin and Martin spent their rookie seasons on the active roster, but their spots are far from secure. Draft pick Isaiah McDuffie and second-year pros Tipa Galeai, Ray Wilborn, Delontae Scott, and even Chauncey Rivers are all capable of knocking either or both off the 53. Keep an eye on Wilborn. The former Ball State star, who I profiled in May, had a strong debut.
DEFENSIVE BACK (11)
Jaire Alexander (CB)
Eric Stokes (CB)
Darnell Savage (S)
Adrian Amos (S)
Chandon Sullivan (CB)
Kevin King (CB)
Will Redmond (S)
Shemar Jean-Charles (CB)
Kabion Ento (CB)
Henry Black (S)
Vernon Scott (S)
Things get a bit dicey after the first six names. Gutekunst obviously sees something in Isaac Yiadom, but it’ll be tough keeping the ex-Giant over Jean-Charles or Ento, a couple of younger players with more upside. Redmond, Black, and Scott could wind up competing for two spots. Ka’dar Hollman’s work as a gunner on special teams gives him a chance, and it would be a mistake to count out intriguing undrafted rookies Innis Gaines and Christian Uphoff.
SPECIALISTS (3)
Mason Crosby (K)
JK Scott (P)
Hunter Bradley (LS)
Neither Scott nor Bradley was good enough a year ago, and yet neither faced a legitimate challenge during the summer. The Packers look to be going into another season as the only team in the league that drafted all three specialists.
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Amazing that Scott/Bradley faced no real competition. I get that kickers don’t like playing in GB but is there a team that spends less resources than GB on the kicking game?
The Packers have spent resources on the kicking game. Gutekunst picked a punter and a long snapper in the same draft. Who does that? The problem is that neither player has been good enough.
This is the deepest, most talented Packers team we’ve seen in at least a decade. Could we use a better punter? Sure. A stud DE? Of course. But this is a team that should go to the Super Bowl. For all of Gute’s mistakes, he’s put together – adding to TT’s successes – a great team.