Packers: 3 Brian Gutekunst draft picks in danger of being cut in 2021

Oren Burks

Similarly, there is a lot of competition at inside linebacker.

Early indications from training camp suggest that it will be free-agent addition De’Vondre Campbell and second-year Krys Barnes as the two starters in the middle of Joe Barry’s defense. Then there is 2020 draft pick Kamal Martin, Ty Summers, and rookie Isaiah McDuffie all competing for a spot on the Packers’ 53-man roster.

Campbell and Barnes are roster locks and will be the likely starters at the position this season. It’s also hard to see the Packers moving on from Summers as he plays a lot of special teams and was called on as a backup on defense last season.

That potentially only leaves one spot remaining, although there’s a chance the Packers could keep five inside linebackers.

Burks still has a chance to make the roster. According to Pete Dougherty of PackersNews.com, Martin has been struggling at camp and has been getting snaps at outside linebacker. But it’s still hard to believe the Packers won’t keep Martin on the roster given how impressive he looked last summer before getting hurt.

McDuffie was a draft pick this year but has been injured. If he’s back for preseason, he’ll be a player to watch.

Burks can still make the Packers’ 53-man roster as a backup on defense and important special teams player, but he’ll need to play well in the preseason.