Packers Mid-Camp 53-Man Roster Prediction
53-MAN ROSTER
QB (3): Aaron Rodgers, Brett Hundley, and DeShone Kizer
Missed the cut: Tim Boyle
Here's Why: Aaron Rodgers will be a Packer for life, plain and simple. In their August 21st press interviews, both Mike McCarthy and Brian Gutekunst repeatedly implied they're keeping both Brett Hundley and DeShone Kizer on the active roster. Under the Ted Thompson era, it was rare to see three QB's on the active roster, but Joe Callahan played the role of third fiddle on the active roster recently. Coming into camp, I wanted nothing more than to see Brett Hundley get the axe, but I'll admit, he's looked a lot smarter this year. If I'm making a true depth chart, Hundley is the QB2 over DeShone Kizer just because he's been learning in McCarthy's offense longer. Tim Boyle looks promising enough in preseason to warrant a practice squad nod.
RB (4): Jamaal Williams, Ty Montgomery, Joel Bouagnon, and Aaron Ripkowski
Reserve/Suspended List: Aaron Jones (2-game suspension)
Missed the cut: Devante Mays, Joe Kerridge, LeShun Daniels, Bronson Hill
Here's Why: Before training camp even began, I predicted Jamaal Williams would be the primary back to begin the regular season. So far, training camp is only reaffirming this prediction. Aaron Jones would normally be the RB2, but he'll miss the first two games of the year due to a marijuana suspension. This bumps Ty Montgomery up to RB2, and leaves a two-week hole at RB3. Just on prestige alone, the job is Devante Mays' to lose, but his fumbling problem is still a nightmare in the heads of coaches and his new hamstring injury isn't helping his case. Joel Bouagnon looked consistently good in the first two preseason games. Unless Mays shows us something new, Boagnon will shockingly make the active roster. Most teams don't keep Fullbacks on the roster anymore, but Aaron Ripkowski is a good enough special teams player to warrant his roster spot. Joe Kerridge has no place on the roster, and he's unlikely to re-join the practice squad again. LeShun Daniels has spent time on three different team's practice squads, and barring a miracle, he'll hope to play better than Bronson Hill and the recently-retired Akeem Judd to make it onto his fourth.
WR (7): Davante Adams, Randall Cobb, Geronimo Allison, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Jake Kumerow, Equanimeous St. Brown, and J'Mon Moore
Missed the cut: Trevor Davis, DeAngelo Yancey, Adonis Jennings, Kyle Lewis
Here's Why: Davante Adams is one of the Top 10 receivers in the league, and his Pro Bowl nod encapsulates his talent. Randall Cobb is more of a slot-specialist WR3, but talent-wise, he's miles ahead of anyone else behind him. Geronimo Allison will be the WR3 to start the year, finally getting a full-time chance, but the rising rookie bunch of Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Equanimeous St. Brown and J'Mon Moore all have the potential to take a good portion of his targets. MVS's size/speed combo was no secret when Green Bay picked him, but he's also been a standout red zone talent this preseason, which currently gives him the edge over his other drafted peers. EQ has looked good, and his impeccable size and ability to distance from corners warrants a roster spot. Moore was drafted first of the three and expected to be the WR4, but he's made two big drops and simply hasn't looked as good as MVS and EQ in practice. Jake Kumerow looks like Jordy Nelson 2.0, and no, not just because he's white. He's simply played better than Trevor Davis and DeAngelo Yancey, thus taking the 7th and last roster spot at wide receiver. Before looking at what other people predicted, I thought I was making a bold choice by cutting Davis, but it looks like no one else is expecting him to make the active roster either. Yancey's had a pretty good camp, he's just facing the most competition of his life this training camp. As far as Adonis Jennings and Kyle Lewis, I haven't heard a single tidbit about their camp form, showing they're probably not even going to make the practice squad.
TE (3): Jimmy Graham, Marcedes Lewis, and Lance Kendricks
Missed the cut: Robert Tonyan, Emmanuel Byrd, Kevin Rader, Ryan Smith
Here's Why: Jimmy Graham's immediate connection with Aaron Rodgers was on full display on the opening drive against the Steelers. That's a dangerous pairing right there. Marcedes Lewis was a decade-long starter in Jacksonville, and the 34-year-old hasn't lost a step catching passes or blocking this preseason. Lance Kendricks is the third-most talented Tight End behind Graham and Lewis, but he'll have to start playing like it if he wants to keep his job over the rising fourth option Robert Tonyan. Tonyan's impressed both in practice and in preseason games. If the Packers choose Kendricks over Tonyan, they better try to keep him on the practice squad. Emmanuel Byrd was an exciting prospect coming into camp, but has only underwhelmed in both preseason games. Kevin Rader and Ryan Smith are, to put it simply, irrelevant to the future of the Packers.
OL (9): David Bakhtiari, Lane Taylor, Corey Linsley, Justin McCray, Bryan Bulaga, Jason Spriggs, Kyle Murphy, Lucas Patrick, and Dillon Day
Reserve/Did Not Report List: Cole Madison
Missed the cut: Byron Bell, Adam Pankey, Dillon Day, Kofi Amichia, Austin Davis, Alex Light
Here's Why: To be honest, I only think the first eight players are deserving of roster spots, but I'm not comfortable putting out an active roster with only one O-Lineman who's taken a snap at Center. David Bakhtiari (LT), Lane Taylor (LG), and Corey Linsley (C) all had their starter jobs guaranteed coming into camp. Bryan Bulaga made a faster-than-expected recovery from a torn ACL and, even though injured, looked to be the undisputed winner of the Right Tackle starting spot. Justin McCray made appearances all across the O-Line last year due to injuries, and no one's given him a battle for the starting Right Guard spot. Barring injury, that's the starting five. Jason Spriggs and Kyle Murphy have had ups and downs at both Tackle spots, but they both played better (and are cheaper) than veteran Byron Bell, who doesn't even look fit enough to line up at Tackle anymore. Lucas Patrick is the third-best Guard in camp, so he'll make the active roster again. Dillon Day a step down talent-wise compared to the first eight players, but he's spent three years on practice squads as a Center. Kofi Amichia may have similar overall talent, but he was a collegiate Tackle who converted to Guard in the NFL and is now trying to learn Center. A second year on the practice squad is best for Amichia. Adam Pankey can play Guard and Right Tackle, but he's just not as talented as Murphy, Spriggs, or Patrick. Austin Davis and Alex Light are two undrafted free agents who are still a long way away from contributing at a professional level.
DL (5): Mike Daniels, Muhammad Wilkerson, Kenny Clark, Dean Lowry, and Montravius Adams
Missed the cut: Joey Mbu, James Looney, Tyler Lancaster, Conor Sheehy
Here's Why: Out of the nine D-Linemen in camp, five are roster-worthy and four aren't, plain and simple. Mike Daniels is a Pro Bowl talent, Kenny Clark made a huge step up in his sophomore campaign last year as a full-time starter, and Mo Wilkerson is a newly-added terror on the line. Dead Lowry is a hard-working playmaker at the traditional down Defensive End position. Montravius Adams improved his rushing technique immensely after an injury-riddle rookie campaign, and he could be primed for a a sophomore step-up like Clark last year. Joey Mbu was claimed off waivers as a fringe roster/practice squad player, and he hasn't done anything in camp to prove worthy of a roster spot. James Looney was taken in the 7th round as a project lineman, and he'll need a year on a practice squad before earning a spot on any 53-man roster. Tyler Lancaster and Conor Sheehy have both flashed potential as undrafted rookies, but are both still far away from being ready for an active roster.
OLB (5): Nick Perry, Clay Matthews, Reggie Gilbert, Vince Biegel, and Kyler Fackrell
Missed the cut: Chris Odom, Kendall Donnerson, James Hearns
Here's Why: When healthy, Nick Perry is a double-digit sacker off the edge. Clay Matthews is aging, but he's in his contract year playing for an extension, so he's not going anywhere this year. Reggie Gilbert is set to succeed Matthews out on the edge, and if he can carry his preseason form into the regular season, Gilbert will start sooner than later. Vince Biegel hasn't exceeded expectations after an injury-filled rookie campaign, but he's played well enough in camp to deserve a roster spot. Kyler Fackrell's mediocre camp could have him packing his bags, but he was one of the biggest special teams contributor last season. That's probably enough for him to sneak in as the fifth of five outside linebackers. Chris Odom is a practice squad-level talent who can step up as depth if injuries rise, but like other fringe roster players in camp this year, he hasn't done anything to show he deserves a 53-Man spot. A 7th-rounder this past spring, Kendall Donnerson's size and speed can impact special teams right away, but his defensive form is probably underdeveloped enough to make a year on the practice squad mandatory. James Hearns is even more underdeveloped, and it may be a long time before he's deserving of a spot on anyone's active roster.
ILB (3): Blake Martinez, Oren Burks, and Ahmad Thomas
Injured Reserve: Jake Ryan
Missed the cut: Greer Martini, James Crawford, Naashon Hughes, Marcus Porter
Here's Why: Blake Martinez is an All-Pro talent who could easily rack up near 200 Tackles this season. Jake Ryan's blown ACL sucks for him, given it's his last year under contract, and sucks for Green Bay because they were already lacking Inside Linebacker depth. Ahmad Thomas was a solid in-the-box Strong Safety at Oklahoma, and after switching to playing as a hybrid Linebacker on the practice squad last year, he stands as the third-best option in camp. Greer Martini would be the fourth 'backer if Green Bay kept four, but that scenario seems unlikely. He's an excellent practice squad candidate, though. James Crawford, Naashon Hughes and Marcus Porter are all just bodies in camp at this point, with none of them bearing decent odds at even making the practice squad.
CB (7): Tramon Williams, Kevin King, Jaire Alexander, Josh Jackson, Davon House, Quinten Rollins, and Lenzy Pipkins
Missed the cut: Demetri Goodson, Josh Hawkins, Donatello Brown, and Herb Waters
Here's Why: Even though there's still two weeks left of camp, the cluttered Cornerback depth chart is already starting to take a realistic shape. Tramon Williams is the CB1, and he reinforced why with a beautiful pick-6 against Pittsburgh. If healthy, Kevin King is the CB2, and likely the guy to take on bigger targets like Julio Jones, Stefon Diggs and Larry Fitzgerald. Jaire Alexander and Josh Jackson will split the CB3 reps, with Alexander covering in the slot and Jackson specializing in zone coverage and dime packages. Davon House has the starting experience and general coverage and tackling ability to be a quality CB5, a year after underwhelming as a starter. Coming into camp, I was expecting to cut Quinten Rollins on every mock roster I made. He hasn't played well, but he's shown he can play Safety now as well, and that versatility plus his special teams experience may be enough to save his job. The seventh and last corner spot will go to Lenzy Pipkins, Demetri Goodson or Josh Hawkins, and Pipkins was the most promising of the three in the first half of camp. Hawkins should be retained on the practice squad if he misses the cut, but the injury-prone Goodson is free to leave. Speaking of the practice squad, Herb Waters is a year away from being a roster-worthy cornerback, and defensive backs coach Joe Whitt loves the guy. Donatello Brown is a decent prospect, but has no place in Green Bay with a whopping TEN other corners with some chance at making the 53-man come September.
S (4): Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, Kentrell Brice, Josh Jones, and Marwin Evans
Missed the cut: Jermaine Whitehead, Raven Greene
Here's Why: Normally I'd prefer five safeties, but Quinten Rollins can serve as the fifth (yay for versatility). Ha Ha Clinton-Dix is a Pro Bowler with three straight seasons of starting all 16 games, so no questions at Free Safety. Kentrell Brice and Josh Jones both struggled in the first two preseason games, and unless Green Bay grows a pair and signs another Safety, they'll be splitting the starting reps come September. The last roster spot is a toss-up between Marwin Evans and Jermaine Whitehead, and Evans is much better on special teams, so I'll give him the nod. Raven Greene is far from ready to contribute on an active roster, and he'll likely end up on someone's practice squad.
ST (3): Mason Crosby (K), JK Scott (P), and Zach Triner (LS)
Missed the cut: Hunter Bradley (LS)
Here's Why: Veteran Mason Crosby and rookie JK Scott have no competition at Kicker and Punter, respectively. The Long Snapper job is a toss-up between Zach Triner and Hunter Bradley, and as of halfway through camp, Triner is the better option.
POTENTIAL PRACTICE SQUAD:
Tim Boyle, QB
DeAngelo Yancey, WR
Robert Tonyan, TE
Adam Pankey, T
Kofi Amichia, G
James Looney, DL
Kendall Donnerson, OLB
Greer Martini, ILB
Josh Hawkins, CB
Herb Waters, CB
