With the Green Bay Packers heading into the regular season in a matter of weeks now, here's what I believe the 53-man roster could look like.
Green Bay Packers Offense
This offense is very young, but while young, this team is loaded with potential. With an average age of 25.2, the Packers are once again the NFL's youngest roster this year. Here are my projected twenty-three players to be on the fifty-three-man roster.
Quarterbacks (2)
Jordan Love
Jordan Love now finds himself as the highest-paid player in NFL history as of right now. Not much more explanation is needed here, as the Packers have their leader.
Michael Pratt
Pratt, a rookie out of Tulane, has shown promise early on in this first part of training camp. His vision and ability to make the right reads have stood out thus far, and he finds himself competing for the Quarterback two job here. With the Packers releasing Jacob Eason and Sean Clifford's struggles, I see Pratt winning the quarterback two job.
Running Backs (3)
Josh Jacobs
Jacobs is self-explanatory: he is the lead back in arguably the best running back room in the league. He’s locked in.
MarShawn Lloyd
Once cleared to participate in camp, Lloyd has been showcasing why the Packers took him. With a rare combination of size, burst and speed, Lloyd could very well take over the Running Back two spot from AJ Dillon, and that's not a shot at Dillon, more so just how good Lloyd looks.
Emanuel Wilson
When you look back at the film, Wilson is a player who, every time he touches the ball, you consistently see positive yardage.
AJ Dillon (IR, doesn't count toward initial 53)
Another good name in this room is AJ Dillon. He is in the best shape of his life right now, so I don't see how they don't keep AJ on the roster, but he will start on IR after having a stinger.
Wide Receiver (7)
This room might be the most solidified besides the Quarterback room coming into these preseason games, at least at the top. The top six seem interchangeable, and I would consider locks to make the roster.
Christian Watson
Watson has finally figured out his hamstring issues and is ready to have a full season again. When healthy, he has shown the capability to be the Wide Receiver this room doesn't necessarily need but would only benefit from. Thus far through camp, it seems Watson and Love are averaging at least one BIG play a day, which proves to be promising for this offense.
Romeo Doubs
Just like Watson, Doubs is a lock. Not much explanation is needed for these two, as they’ll look to continue to be great for the Packers this year going into year three for each of them.
Jayden Reed
The second-year wide receiver out of Michigan State had quite the rookie campaign last season. While tallying ten touchdowns, Reed is now another leader in this young offense and will look to continue that strong play in his second season. He is a lock.
Dontayvion Wicks
With this room, here is another lock. Wicks, who had an excellent rookie season alongside Reed, is another weapon in the expansive receiver room for Jordan Love. No matter what group of receivers steps out there, someone is stepping up, and with a year of experience and an offseason full of work, Wicks is primed for a breakout year in year two.
Bo Melton
Melton, who finally got a shot at a true sample size of playing time last season, showed why he should be a roster lock. His most notable game in Minnesota against the Vikings had him over one hundred yards, and he has only built positive days since then. I would consider Melton a lock.
Malik Heath
If you want to talk about someone who did nothing but keep his head down and play himself into a roster spot last season, look no further than Heath. While he showed out in camp last season and made his way onto the roster, he returns this year, finding himself as a lock to make the roster for a second straight year.
Grant DuBose
Here is where the roster shape gets interesting. The amount of potential and big plays in the wide receiver room will still leave the Packers releasing some players who have potential. While I see DuBose making it, as he has had a much stronger camp this year, Samori Toure will be fighting for this seventh spot, as well as Jalen Wayne, Dimitri Stanley and Julian Hicks. This will be a nice battle to watch for in the preseason.
Tight End (3)
Luke Musgrave
Here, we start with your starting tight end. While he was injured during the season for a window last year, once back, he showed he is capable of being a true receiving threat. Musgrave and company will add to an already high-powered offense, and your starting tight end is obviously a lock.
Tucker Kraft
Here is the other half of the tight-end duo with a breakout player from last year, Tucker Kraft. Again, this tight end room will have these two for a while, and they will give Love more effective targets to throw to. Kraft is a lock.
Ben Sims
Sims has shown that he can be a valuable option for this team in the pass game and the run game, as his blocking is solid as well.
Offensive Line (8)
Elgton Jenkins
Jenkins is the veteran leader on this offensive line. He is a lock.
Josh Myers
While he has had trouble snapping the ball, and others have rotated in at center throughout camp, I believe you can still consider him a lock.
Zach Tom
Zach Tom has been quite the player for Brian Gutekunst and company. He is also a lock, not only because he starts at right tackle but also because he can be plugged into any spot on the line and succeed.
Rasheed Walker
Walker improved big time this offseason once again. After coming onto the radar last offseason, Walker can be considered a lock and a starter.
Jordan Morgan
While the rookie first-round pick was recently injured, it was minor, and he has been very solid since the pads came on. That, along with the value spent on him in the first round, makes him a lock as the Packers figure out whether he will best fit at guard or tackle.
Jacob Monk
Another rookie, Jacob Monk, is looking to make the roster. With his ability to play both center and guard, the Packers look for something unique. I would consider Monk, a very likely player to make this roster.
Kadeem Telfort
Telfort has consistently stayed around Green Bay, whether on the roster or the practice squad. I believe he can make his way into this lineman room with a strong preseason.
Sean Rhyan
Rhyan, who finally seemed to figure it out last year, is coming back looking to build on his positive plays this season, and I see him making the roster as a lock.
Green Bay Packers Defense
I have the Packers keeping more on defense than offense due to a lot of depth and special teams guys. Let’s flip to the other side of the ball with this part of the roster that has been super strong under Hafley through camp.
Defensive Line (10)
Kenny Clark
Kenny Clark, the defensive line room leader and one of the many standout players on this defense, has looked unstoppable coming through the middle so far through camp. Clark is a lock.
Devonte Wyatt
Wyatt has been solid thus far and wants to break out in year three. While this defensive line room is loaded, that is never bad. Expect Wyatt to see an increase in snaps in this 4-3 defense as well. He is a lock.
T.J. Slaton
Slaton, who has been receiving a lot of reps from the first team alongside Kenny Clark throughout camp, is considered a lock.
Karl Brooks
Brooks has been nothing short of impressive, whether in camp or a game. Breaking out last year, it looks that Gute and company had another steal of a pick in last year's draft. Brooks is a lock.
Colby Wooden
Wooden, a fourth-round pick out of Auburn a year ago, is the last defensive lineman on this list. Wooden has been just as impressive, creating pressure in both practice and games; this room is just loaded with talent. Wooden will make this roster, and the Packers will have quite the room again, with Jeff Hafley looking to be aggressive on defense.
Rashan Gary
Gary, who is coming off a strong season and an NFL Top 100 list appearance at number 50, looks to lead this room with Kenny Clark and Preston Smith. With his first reps on the team, Gary has had a sack at least once a day, and there have been multiple days where he has had two or more. He is a lock.
Preston Smith
The other side of the defensive line has been and will be Preston Smith. Smith, an effective edge for Green Bay, is a lock on this extremely depth-filled defense.
Lukas Van Ness
Van Ness, who is entering year two for the Packers, has been making more positive plays recently. He is an athletic freak who will look to polish off those moves in a hopeful breakout year this year. He is a lock.
Kingsley Enagbare
Another lock is Enagbare. The Packers have seen Enagbare slowly shift back into his usual self after what many thought to be an awful injury. In the new 4-3 defense, the outside backers are all listed under the defensive line. This room is stacked.
Brenton Cox Jr.
Along with Heath, here is the other UDFA who played himself on to this team last offseason. While deep in the edge rusher room, Cox Jr. has made it hard for the Packers to cut him. In year two, I feel more comfortable that the Packers keep Cox Jr around.
Linebackers (5)
Quay Walker
Here is the man in the linebacker room this year, and the other first-round pick out of Georgia coming back for year three, Quay Walker. He is a lock to make the roster.
Edgerrin Cooper
Edgerrin Cooper is one of the two rookie linebacker picks this year out of Texas A&M. Many people believe he will start as one of the three linebackers in this 4-3, and now he looks to ensure that in this preseason. Either way, he is a lock.
Ty'Ron Hopper
Hopper has been having a very solid camp thus far, and he will look to contribute to this 4-3 defense as well. Hopper is a lock.
Isaiah McDuffie
McDuffie has started alongside Walker for many games with Campbell out last year, and he has proven why he will be on this roster once again. I fully expect him on the roster.
Eric Wilson
Wilson, the special teams ace who leads with his hustle, is back for another season, and I see no way that he won't be on the roster when cuts start to happen.
Cornerback (6)
Jaire Alexander
The Cornerback, arguably the best in the league, is clearly a lock; no further explanation is needed!
Carrington Valentine
Valentine, the seventh-round rookie out of Kentucky from last season, has shown his true playmaking skills throughout the whole last season. He will be in the rotation, if not starting this year again. Valentine is a lock.
Keisean Nixon
Not only has Nixon been starting in the slot again this offseason, but he is also coming off first-team all-pro honors as a kick returner for the second straight year. He is a roster lock and will look to continue changing games through his kick return ability.
Eric Stokes
With Stokes back healthy this year, he has had a terrific camp this offseason. He has been starting opposite Alexander a lot and is a roster lock as he looks to have a huge comeback season.
Corey Ballentine
I got this one wrong last year and won't for two years. Ballentine has shown exactly why he should be in this room and stepped up big-time for the Packers last season. I wouldn't consider him a lock, but I would say he is most likely on this team.
Kalen King
Yup, I am calling my shot with this one. Kalen King has been outstanding so far through the camp, including a pick-six of Jordan Love in only his second play with the first-team defense. The Packers got a steal with Carrington Valentine in the seventh round of the NFL Draft last year, and I believe that they did it again this year with King.
Safety (6)
Xavier McKinney
I am excited that I get to say this name associated with the Packers. Xavier McKinney was a HUGE addition to this roster and has already shown why he is a step up from many other safeties in this league. He pairs with Bullard perfectly, and having him with Jaire Alexander on one side is a horrifying sight for opposing offenses. McKinney is a lock.
Javon Bullard
Bullard, the rookie second-round pick out of Georgia, is someone that many expect to start alongside Star Safety Xavier McKinney. Bullard has been flying around and having a great camp thus far and is a lock to make this team.
Evan Williams
One of the best camps out of all the players thus far has been from the rookie safety out of Oregon, Evan Williams. With a handful of interceptions already, Williams will look to prove his play in the preseason, but either way, I view him not only as a lock but someone who should get some decent playing time this upcoming season for the Packers.
Kitan Oladapo
Another rookie safety, the third of this draft, and one who dyed his hair gold for the Packers, is very impressive thus far. While he started camp doing rehab, Oladapo will be on this roster.
Anthony Johnson Jr.
Johnson Jr. proved me right last year and was very solid for the Packers. Coming into his second year, he has been flying around at camp and looks great in Hafley's new scheme. Along with playing on special teams and the draft capital that was spent on him, I believe that Johnson will be on the roster and a lock.
Zayne Anderson
Anderson, a special teams ace for the Packers, will look to lead that room again with guys like Eric Wilson this upcoming season. I wouldn't consider him a lock, but more than likely.
Special Teams (3)
This phase is short and sweet, but still important team parts at every position here.
Kicker (1)
Anders Carlson
From what I have seen throughout camp, Carlson finally hit the big field goal from fifty-four yards out in the preseason finale. Carlson makes it hard to be confident after shanking a 32-yarder on his last kick of the preseason, but I feel that the Packers will go with the younger kicker and keep trying to develop him.
Punter (1)
Daniel Whelan
I expect Whelan to be the starter. There isn't anyone in the room who can compete with him. He is a lock.
Long Snapper (1)
Matt Orzech
I believe that Orzech will hold off Peter Bowden simply because when they needed to make space, they cut Bowden and then brought him back. That shows enough to me value-wise between the two to make that assumption.
(IR) - (Injured Reserve) (2, but doesn't count toward 53-man roster)
RB - AJ Dillon
TE - Tyler Davis
Green Bay Packers Practice Squad (16 Total Allowed)
While there most likely won’t be all guys from the original ninety-man roster, the Packers can have sixteen players on the practice squad. Assuming they clear waivers, here are eight names to watch for on the practice squad.
Cornerback, Robert Rochell
Rochell does everything right and plays a good role on special teams. In a loaded cornerback room, the numbers don't align, but I could see him back on this practice squad easily.
Quarterback, Sean Clifford
Sean Clifford would be someone I see the Packers bringing back, and he should make it through waivers.
Defensive Lineman, Keshawn Banks
Banks has done everything solid for the Packers, but in their most loaded room on the team, Banks could end up on the practice squad just like he did last year.
Defensive Lineman, Arron Mosby
I really enjoyed what I saw out of Mosby again this preseason. With quite a few tackles in the preseason and some huge plays, Mosby showed he can contribute in many ways, so I see him back if he clears waivers.
Fullback, Henry Pearson
Pearson made it through the whole season last year with this team, and his unique role is something I could see the Packers holding onto and calling up.
Donovan Jennings
I could see the Packers holding onto Jennings, just as they have done with Caleb Jones. The offensive line depth is always a key, so I could see Jennings and Jones back.
Safety, Benny Sapp III
Sapp has been a very good coverage safety, and I have been impressed with how he played with his opportunities this preseason. He makes my list of players to watch because of the defense he played and the special teams snaps he saw. His versatility will help him get picked back up.
Defensive Lineman, Jonathan Ford
Ford is someone I almost had on my roster. Should he clear waivers, we'll see him back in Green Bay. The only reason Ford wasn’t on my roster is the depth on defense.
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