Final Packers 53-man roster predictions after preseason
Final Green Bay Packers 53-man roster predictions following the preseason.
Finally, the Packers‘ preseason is over and we can look ahead to meaningful football games.
In less than two weeks, the Packers take on the New Orleans Saints in their season opener.
Before then, the Packers must trim their roster down to 53 players. The deadline is Tuesday at 3 p.m. CT. It’s about time to make my final 53-man roster predictions. Here we go.
Quarterbacks (2): Aaron Rodgers, Jordan Love
Could the Packers keep three QBs? Possibly. Should we expect it? Probably not. Kurt Benkert has impressed over the summer but it doesn’t make too much sense to keep a third QB when it could hurt depth elsewhere.
A tough decision, but Green Bay may have to hope Benkert clears waivers and can return to the practice squad.
Running backs (3): Aaron Jones, AJ Dillon, Kylin Hill
The running back room picks itself. Jones and Dillon were always going to begin the season as the top two, while rookie Hill ensured there wasn’t much of a competition for the RB3 spot. He’s been outstanding all summer and should have a role to play on both offense and special teams this year.
Wide receivers (5): Davante Adams, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Randall Cobb, Allen Lazard, Amari Rodgers
All summer we’ve discussed the competition for the WR6 spot, but Lombardi Ave’s Daire Carragher made a great point in his article about potential cutdown-day surprises. Green Bay could actually decide to only keep five wide receivers. They have a well-rounded receiving corps as it is.
If they have the room, Malik Taylor seems to be the obvious choice. However, I’ve opted for extra depth at other positions.
Tight ends (4): Robert Tonyan, Marcedes Lewis, Josiah Deguara, Dominique Dafney
No surprises here. The top four at TE look set. Don’t be surprised if Dafney keeps the TE4 spot in Week 3 even once Jace Sternberger’s suspension comes to an end.
Offensive linemen (10): David Bakhtiari, Elgton Jenkins, Jon Runyan Jr., Josh Myers, Royce Newman, Billy Turner, Ben Braden, Yosh Nijman, Lucas Patrick, Dennis Kelly
If there’s any chance Bakhtiari will be back in the first six weeks of the season, he should be part of the 53. Newman has been one of the standouts of the summer and earned the Packers’ highest Pro Football Focus grade on offense in the preseason. Newman may have played his way into a starting job at right guard.
Nijman has been impressive at tackle and deserves a roster spot.
Defensive linemen (6): Kenny Clark, Kingsley Keke, Dean Lowry, Jack Heflin, TJ Slaton, Tyler Lancaster
Had I kept Malik Taylor on the roster, Lancaster may have been the player who misses out. Heflin has played well enough to earn a spot on the 53. But with Taylor not making the roster, I’ve kept six defensive linemen.
Inside linebackers (5): De’Vondre Campbell, Krys Barnes, Oren Burks, Ty Summers, Isaiah McDuffie
There was some doubt about whether McDuffie would make the 53-man roster earlier this summer, but he has surely secured his spot this month. According to Pro Football Focus, he was the Packers’ highest-graded defensive player in the preseason.
Outside linebackers (4): Za’Darius Smith, Rashan Gary, Preston Smith, Jonathan Garvin
This assumes Za’Darius Smith will be healthy for Week 1. If not, the Packers could keep a fifth edge rusher. Garvin makes the roster as the fourth OLB, but the Packers have a few options.
Cornerbacks (6): Jaire Alexander, Eric Stokes, Kevin King, Chandon Sullivan, Shemar Jean-Charles, Kabion Ento
Ento struggled in the preseason finale, but he’s had a good summer overall. He makes the 53 ahead of Isaac Yiadom.
Safeties (5): Adrian Amos, Darnell Savage, Vernon Scott, Henry Black, Innis Gaines
Black has impressed this summer and could be the number three safety on the depth chart. Gaines struggled in the final preseason game but has played well enough at camp to deserve the spot.
Specialists (3): Mason Crosby, JK Scott, Hunter Bradley
It would come as no surprise if the Packers made changes at both punter and long snapper before Week 1 but, as things stand, Scott and Bradley make the 53.