Packers: Predicting 53-man roster after final preseason game

Predicting the Green Bay Packers’ final 53-man roster.

After four preseason games, the Green Bay Packers have themselves a pretty good idea of who they want to retain or let go before Saturday’s deadline.

Here is a final prediction:

QB: Aaron Rodgers, DeShone Kizer, Tim Boyle

Analysis: The Packers traded Brett Hundley after they squinted enough and imagined that Kizer was a quality NFL backup. Third stringer Boyle showed flashes during the preseason, and the Packers understand that he would likely get scooped up by another team if he were to be cut. In addition, sources tell Lombardi Ave that Aaron Rodgers is good at flinging the pigskin.

RB: Jamaal Williams, Ty Montgomery, Devante Mays

Analysis: The Packers are still somehow looking for balance on offense, and maybe, just maybe this is the year they find it. Williams is a quality pass protector and bulkier runner who could be useful in short yardage situations.

Aaron Jones (suspended for the first two games) appears to be the most talented of the unit, while the veteran Montgomery seems a bit lost in Joe Philbin’s new offense. Joel Bouagnon and Akeem Judd don’t pass the final cut.

FB: Aaron Ripkowski

Analysis: There is no reason for the Packers to keep Joe Kerridge, their second fullback, on the final roster. After using up an extra roster spot on Boyle, the Packers, who traditionally have liked to keep multiple fullbacks on the team, can’t afford to keep Kerridge around this time.

WR: Davante Adams, Randall Cobb, Geronimo Allison, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Jake Kumerow, Trevor Davis, Equanimeous St. Brown

Analysis: The Packers will have a tough time cutting any of their young wide receivers after drafting three of them. But rookie J’Mon Moore had himself an awful preseason. Drops, missed assignments, and a general sense of timidness essentially makes him worthless to the receiving corps at the moment.

St. Brown, while a tough guard at 6-foot-5, also struggled to create separation against second and third string corners. Kumerow, who exploded onto the scene in the first two preseason games, absolutely deserves a shot on the final team. Lastly, Davis, while useless as a receiver, has steadily improved as a kick returner, and another team would be quick to scoop him up.

TE: Jimmy Graham, Marcedes Lewis, Lance Kendricks

Analysis: While Robert Tonyan and Emanuel Byrd looked solid through four preseason games, there simply aren’t enough roster spots to go around for the Packers. Three tight ends is enough in this NFL, and with stud Graham being backed up by two other polished veterans, the Packers are in fine shape at the position.

OL: David Bakhtiari, Lane Taylor, Corey Linsley, Justin McCray, Bryan Bulaga, Byron Bell, Lucas Patrick, Jason Spriggs

Analysis: Watching this preseason made one thing perfectly clear for the Packers: Their offensive linemen better stay healthy. Veteran Bell finally gives them a competent backup tackle behind two injury-prone starters, and who knows when rookie Cole Madison will finally report to the team after being drafted in the fifth round.

DL: Mike Daniels, Kenny Clark, Muhammad Wilkerson, Dean Lowry, Montravius Adams, Kendall Donnerson

Analysis: The starting unit for the defensive line should be solid. Clark, Wilkerson and Daniels should be among the league’s more talented defensive lines. But the second unit looks troubling. Lowry has failed to build off of a promising rookie season, and Adams and Donnerson are as unproven in the game of football as it gets.

LB: Clay Matthews, Blake Martinez, Oren Burks, Nick Perry, Kyler Fackrell, Antonio Morrison, Greer Martini, Reggie Gilbert

Analysis: The depth behind the starters at outside linebacker is non-existent. It is a crime that Fackrell is essentially the team’s primary backup to two injury-prone starters in Matthews and Perry. The Packers may need to scour the market for a late pickup after final roster cuts as they are paper-thin at outside linebacker.

CB: Tramon Williams, Kevin King, Jaire Alexander, Josh Jackson, Davon House, Quinten Rollins, Demetri Goodson

Analysis: The first five are pretty much a given, but Rollins squeaks into the final tally by the thinnest of margins. A second round pick by Ted Thompson, Rollins has regressed each year he’s been in the NFL and would be lucky to find another team interested in giving him a second chance. Donatello Brown, Josh Hawkins and Herb Waters simply aren’t skilled enough to use a roster spot on.

S: Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, Josh Jones, Kentrell Brice, Marwin Evans

Analysis: The Packers should use the same group of safeties as last year without Morgan Burnett. The group that they currently have in the building will suffice for the time being. Of course, the Packers along with 31 other cowardly teams could go scoop up the immensely talented Eric Reid for chump change, but these four make the final cut.

K: Mason Crosby

Analysis: Crosby is entering year 13 with the Packers. There is no competition for him and the Packers should keep him around until he hangs it up.

P: JK Scott

LS: Zach Triner

Analysis: The Packers had their share of options at punter. Fan favorite Marquette King was released by the Raiders and signed as a free agent by the Broncos.

Stars Scott and Michael Dickson of Texas were the two hottest commodities at the position on draft night, and ultimately the Packers grabbed Scott out of Alabama. The Packers will have rookie punters for back to back years after having Justin Vogel last year out of Miami.