Green Bay Packers: Early 53-man roster predictions
Linebackers (8)
(31) Blake Martinez
(32) Clay Matthews
(33) Nick Perry
(34) Reggie Gilbert
(35) Oren Burks
(36) Jake Ryan
(37) Vince Biegel
(38) Kendall Donnerson
Blake Martinez took a huge step in his sophomore season in the league, leading the entire NFL in tackles with 144. While one inside linebacker position is now locked down, the Packers have been searching for another backer to complete the interior. Jake Ryan has shown to be a very good run stopper on the inside, but struggles big time in coverage. Oren Burks could be that man — the Packers traded up in the third round to grab Burks, a more athletic inside linebacker who should excel in coverage.
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Like Clay Matthews has surprisingly stated, the Packers do not have much quality depth at outside linebacker. Matthews stated what most of us are thinking. Behind Matthews and Perry, there is much uncertainty. The player with the most experience behind them, Kyler Fackrell, has looked to be a major bust and I don’t expect to see him on the 53-man roster.
When finally given an opportunity in the final two weeks of the 2017 season, Reggie Gilbert shined and left many fans wondering why it took so long for him to be given that chance. Gilbert is a player I expect to see involved much more this season, and rightfully so, as he looks like the best option behind Matthews and Perry.
Vince Biegel, a fourth-round selection in the 2017 draft, started off the season on the PUP list and was only available for nine games last season, with very little production. As long as he starts off the 2018 season avoiding the injury list, I would expect to see Biegel serve as a rotational edge rusher.
Kendall Donnerson was the only edge rusher taken by the Packers in the 2018 draft, and he wasn’t selected until late in the seventh round. I expect him to make the roster strictly due to his athleticism. He is a 6-foot-3, 249-pound outside linebacker who runs a 4.48 40 and has a 40-inch vertical jump. While coaches help mold his technique, he could be an all-star on special teams.