Packers 53-man roster predictions ahead of training camp 2021
By Dillon Graff
Wide receivers (6)
Davante Adams, Allen Lazard, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Amari Rodgers, Devin Funchess, Equanimeous St. Brown
Adams is arguably the best wideout in the game and enters a contract year. The production warrants the volume. Top two and he’s not two. Lazard is a steady receiving option and a real asset in the run game.
MVS led the NFL in YPC last season. Drops are still an issue but he appears to be rounding into form and is a real threat in this offense.
Brian Gutekunst moved up to draft Rodgers. He offers a completely different skill-set than any other wideout on the team. He should get snaps as a gadget player, return specialist, and true slot option right away. YAC is something he’ll bring to the table in this offense.
Funchess is a big-bodied receiver with experience. He should make the team due to being an above-average depth option on a cheap deal. Don’t see him making a significant impact.
It’s the last chance for the St. Brown. He is squarely on the roster bubble and will need to take a noticeable step to remain on this roster beyond this year.
Tight ends (4*)
Robert Tonyan, Marcedes Lewis, Josiah Deguara, Jace Sternberger, Dominique Dafney*
Tonyan, the sure-handed tight end, enjoyed a nice breakout season in 2020. Coach has made it clear he intends to get him more involved on offense, so we should see whether or not he is someone the team will commit to long-term or if he’s a product of the system.
Big Dog is back and should assume his role as the blocking tight end in this offense. His presence is one that’s clearly valued in the locker room. It’s likely this will be his final year, but right now that role is his.
Deguara was hand-picked by the Coach and GM for this scheme. He was set to play a large role in this offense presumably as an H-back/tight end hybrid before suffering an ACL injury.
The Packers invested high draft capital to get Sternberger and he is still an intriguing prospect despite the injury history and lack of production. The off-field issues are a concern but I think it’s a little too early to give up on the former third-rounder. *Does have a two-game suspension he must serve*
This last one is cheating a little bit. Due to Sternberger’s suspension to start the year, he won’t count as one of the initial 53 players named. So, the pick of Dafney is strictly as a temporary placeholder.
He’s a hybrid tight end/H-back that was added to the team late in the season and was able to make an impact. I think he makes the initial 53 with the caveat that he will return to the practice squad when Sternberger is eligible to return from suspension. Dafney is a nice player and has a chance to make this roster outright.