Packers: Three fringe players to watch vs. Raiders in preseason

A few Green Bay Packers players that need to make their mark now.

As the Packers head to Canada for their first game since 1998 to be held outside the United States, there are a few names that have been drawing closer to being considered a lock to make the final 53.

Names like Curtis Bolton, Darrius Shepherd, and Allen Lazard have been quick to roll off the tongue as this roster narrows further and further down to the opening day’s lineup.

The three aforementioned players have built a strong case to make the roster with the opportunities they were given, and a lot of attention has been drawn to them over the past few weeks. However, there are others that still have a shot to make this team – and have a role in the regular season.

Randy Ramsey

Ramsey is an undrafted free agent out of Arkansas, and is already looking like he has the potential to be a great player someday. His speed, pass rush moves, and aggression has been impressive through two weeks of preseason action.

However, his ability to carry himself as a contributor throughout a game has left a lot to be desired, as he has been shown to be an all-or-nothing type of player so far this preseason. The big-play ability is a great thing to have in a pass rusher, especially as a rookie, but consistency on every play is what earns players a second contract in the NFL.

Across two preseason games, Ramsey sits at three tackles, one of them a sack. Big plays aren’t everything in football though, so he needs to find his ability to be consistent while still keeping his play intense.

Ramsey’s strengths are in his effort, strength and speed, but he needs to learn to control it better and use his pass rush moves more effectively instead of relying on a pure bull rush technique against NFL talent. If he wants to create a pass-rushing career in Green Bay alongside the Smiths and first-round pick Rashan Gary, Ramsey will need to start being in on more piles this Thursday.

Chandon Sullivan

A former Philadelphia Eagle, Chandon Sullivan has started and performed in regular-season NFL action already, and looks the part as well. His nose for the ball served him well in the Week 1 preseason game versus the Texans, coming up with an interception and five tackles.

While the good plays stick out, the bad ones can stick out just as much. Sullivan had a good game overall against Houston, but a missed tackle on what looked like a sure sack of quarterback Joe Webb put a black mark on his report card for the day.

Sullivan has a great combination of agility and intelligence, making his appearance in this next preseason game an important one. Sullivan has some stiff competition to be a reserve at cornerback, but nobody with the same amount of game experience.

If Sullivan can maintain the sharp ball skills and secure more tackles, he may yet see his role in Green Bay solidified.

Will Redmond

That’s not to say everybody that Sullivan is competing against has no in-game experience. A former third-round pick out of Mississippi State, Will Redmond was drafted by the 49ers and was released after being injured often. Following a stint with the Chiefs, Redmond was on the Packers.

Going into his fourth year in the league, Redmond has made little impact on any of the squads he’s been on. He has worked on some of the facets of his game that made him a hard sell, such as his tackling ability, but there’s still some flash that’s to be desired from a former third-round pick.

Redmond has shown a lot of promise, but hasn’t been able to deliver in all facets just yet. At this point, Redmond will need to focus on staying healthy and performing consistently before the Packers should make room for Redmond beyond August.

When GM Brian Gutekunst added CBs Jaire Alexander and Josh Jackson in the 2018 NFL Draft, the hint was dropped. Now that sixth-round 2019 NFL Draft pick Ka’Dar Hollman has come out strong in the preseason, the writing is on the wall for Redmond.

This could be Redmond’s last chance to prove he belongs in the NFL.

Preseason is a time for constant evaluation, and it’s sometimes difficult to guess who will be in the starting lineup, or even make the roster before September hits. While everybody on the roster will be evaluated with much scrutiny, these three players could see their roles in the organization change positively with a strong outing this Thursday.