Green Bay Packers: Way Too Early 53 Man Roster Prediction
Image from Packers.com
Srikar Kalapala
Last month, the NFL Draft came and went as the Green Bay Packers added an influx of talent on both sides of the football. The 2022-23 season is approaching us sooner than we think, as the new season activities have already begun. Therefore, here are some really early roster predictions. Let’s get into it.
Quarterbacks (2)
Aaron Rodgers, Jordan Love
Surprise! The Packers decided not to draft a quarterback in this draft, and the Packers probably won’t trade Love away for the foreseeable future. They will keep two QB’s and Kurt Benkert will be the 3rd QB, just on the practice squad instead of the roster.
Running Backs (3)
Aaron Jones, AJ Dillon, Patrick Taylor
PUP: Kylin Hill
Hopefully no surprises for the first 2 spots, as the Jones-Dillon combo has the potential to surpass Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt as the best running back tandem in the league this year. The third spot was tricky though. Kylin Hill figures to be on the PUP list to start the year, so there will be competition between Taylor and UDFA Tyler Goodson. Taylor will get the nod, especially since he seems to fit LaFleur’s system. They could retain Goodson on the practice squad though.
Wide Receivers (7)
Christian Watson, Allen Lazard, Sammy Watkins, Randall Cobb, Amari Rodgers, Romeo Doubs, Samori Toure
Believe it or not, there is actually a lot of competition in this WR room, although it seems there is no true WR1. The Packers traded up to get Watson, but expectations for him should be cooled a little bit, especially since AR12 likes to develop trust with his receivers. For the last spot it was hard putting Toure ahead of Malik Taylor and Juwann Winfree, but Toure appears to offer a lot more value as a special teamer than either of those two, and in what hopes to be a revamped special teams, that is what makes the difference.
Tight Ends (4)
Marcedes Lewis, Josiah Degaura, Dominique Dafney, Tyler Davis
PUP: Robert Tonyan
Big Bob might still be injured by the time the season kicks off, so none of the other 4 tight ends that the Packers like will be cut for the initial roster. After Gutey’s praise of Davis, it will be really interesting to see how he performs in the preseason. Deguara and Lewis are virtually locks at this point, so Dafney might be the odd one out after Tonyan returns.
Offensive Line (9)
David Bakhtiari, Jon Runyan, Josh Myers, Sean Rhyan,Yosh Nijman, Zach Tom, Royce Newman, Rasheed Walker, Cole Van Lanen
PUP: Elgton Jenkins
This is probably the deepest and most competitive position on the team right now. The spots for right guard and tackle are wide open, with incumbent Royce Newman trying to fight off the newcomers. Jenkins will probably take over the right tackle spot once he comes back from his injury, unless whomever is manning the guard spot is underperforming severely. Gutekunst has done brilliantly with this room, especially his new additions. Rhyan and Tom are both very versatile, and Tom hopes to be a Jenkins 2.0 in terms of playing all five spots. Walker was also a steal in the seventh.
Defensive Line (5)
Kenny Clark, Devonte Wyatt, Jarran Reed, Dean Lowry, TJ Slaton
Kenny Clark finally has his help. In what has been years and years of teams running the football down the Packers’ throat, and Clark getting doubled teamed on a lot of plays, the Packers now boast one of the deepest d-lines in the Aaron Rodgers era. Unfortunately, for draftee Jonathan Ford, the only way he makes this roster is if he proves himself as a special teamer. Or, the Packers might cut Dean Lowry to save cap space, leaving a spot for Ford.
Edge Rushers (5)
Rashan Gary, Preston Smith, Kingsley Enagbare, Randy Ramsey, Jonathan Garvin
Rashan Gary enjoyed himself a career year last year, and Preston Smith enjoyed a bounce back year. These two will provide havoc, but questions lie behind them. Enagbare seems to fill up the third rusher role, and Ramsey and Garvin’s upside is very intriguing. There should be no surprise if veteran additions are made to this room though, similar to the Whitney Mercilus signing last year.
Inside Linebackers (5)
De’Vondre Campbell, Quay Walker, Krys Barnes, Isaiah McDuffie, Tariq Carpenter
Just like the d-line, what used to be a major weakness for the Packers looks to be heavily upgraded for this season. First round pick Quay Walker looks like a Campbell clone. The top three might have the potential to be one of the best linebacker trios in the league, and McDuffie and Carpenter seem to be core special teamers. A note about Carpenter is that he could also be listed as the teams third safety, but at his size and speed, he can play anywhere.
Cornerbacks (6)
Jaire Alexander, Eric Stokes, Rasul Douglas, Shemar Jean-Charles, Keisean Nixon, Kabion Ento
The top three the Packers boast are the best trio in all of football, but the depth behind them is questionable at best. Nixon was brought in to be a core special teamer for Bisaccia, so the Packers might have to make a veteran addition to the room. Hopefully, Jean-Charles can make the jump to being a serviceable backup. This will finally be the year Ento will make the roster, as his upside and his special teams abilities will be enough.
Safeties (4)
Adrian Amos, Darnell Savage, Vernon Scott, Innis Gaines
Amos and Savage are a solid duo at the safety spot, but the third safety spot will have fierce competition since Henry Black was not kept.The Packers might lean into the experience of Scott and Gaines, especially since they impressed last preseason. One name to watch for a potential fifth spot is Sean Davis, but with the additions at ILB, five safeties might be unlikely.
Specialists (3)
Mason Crosby, Pat O’Donnell, Steven Wirtel
For everyone wanting Crosby to get cut, remember his bounce back after his career worst year in 2012. Crosby will be the kicker this year, and his roommate Pat will be the starting punter. The spot most worrying is long snapper, as Wirtel just did not get the job done last year. The spot might be the biggest weakness on the team unless Wirtel improves drastically this year.
