Packers: Pre-camp 53-man roster predictions for 2021

Edge rushers (4)

Za’Darius Smith, Preston Smith, Rashan Gary, Jonathan Garvin

The Packers bring back their big three at the edge position this season. With the contracts and cap space playing out the way it is, this is likely the last year with Preston Smith. There are also rumblings about Za’Darius Smith being unhappy with the Packers after they didn’t commit to him by extending his contract this offseason either. Instead, they pushed his money to next year, making it more likely he will be cut or traded in 2022, rather than return to Green Bay.

So that leaves the Packers with Gary, who is more than likely the future at the position for the Packers. I would fully expect him to get more snaps than Preston Smith this season.

After Gary, I think it’s a two-man battle for the fourth spot at the position. Jonathan Garvin and Tipa Galeai will have a chance to show what they can do in the preseason. I think there is room for one more edge player, and the other will be destined for the practice squad unless they catch on with another team.

Practice squad candidates: Tipa Galeai, Carlo Kemp

Inside linebackers (5)

Krys Barnes, Kamal Martin, De’Vondre Campbell, Ty Summers, Randy Ramsey

The inside linebacker position is probably one of the bigger question marks on the roster. Barnes and Martin are locks to make the team this season. Barnes started 10 games for the Packers as an undrafted rookie last year.

The Packers went out and signed veteran linebacker De’Vondre Campbell. He played for Arizona last year and the Atlanta Falcons before that. In 2019, he led the Falcons in tackles with 129 stops. He started every game for the Cardinals last year, recording 99 tackles and showed his coverage skills with seven pass breakups. Assuming he stays healthy, Campbell could be a huge addition to this Green Bay defense.

Ty Summers was thought to be more of a special teams guy, but he was running with the ones during minicamp. Granted, that may not mean he’s going to be with the ones once the season starts, but it shows that he’s in the mix. I think Summers has a very good shot to make the team.

After Summers is where things get murky. You’d assume Isaiah McDuffie, the Packers’ sixth-round draft pick this year, would also make the team. McDuffie, however, has landed on the NFI list, meaning he sustained an injury away from football.

For now, I have Randy Ramsey making the roster because we don’t know how long McDuffie will be out. If he comes back sooner rather than later, he could beat out Ramsey for that final spot and provide depth and some snaps on special teams.

Practice squad candidates: Isaiah McDuffie