It's the most wonderful time of year. Nothing tells us it's football season more than the release of the Green Bay Packers' first unofficial depth chart.
Unofficial, as in, Matt LaFleur probably hasn't even seen it. Sarcasm aside, the first depth chart can provide some clues into the state of play two weeks into training camp and how the team feels about the positional battles.
It's important not to take an unofficial depth chart too seriously. It's written in pencil, not pen. Forget that. It's written with a whiteboard marker and subject to change repeatedly between now and Week 1.
What can we take away from the depth chart? Let's break it down position by position.
Breaking down the Green Bay Packers' first 'unofficial' training camp
Quarterback
First team
- Jordan Love
Second team
- Tyrod Taylor
Third team
- Kyle McCord
- Kyron Drones
No issues here. The Packers likely won't keep a third quarterback on the 53-man roster, which makes the battle between Kyle McCord and Kyron Drones for a practice squad spot.
That's a competition McCord appears to be winning comfortably, but both quarterbacks should see plenty of opportunities to prove themselves in the three preseason games.
Running back
First team
- Josh Jacobs
Second team
- Chris Brooks
Third team
- MarShawn Lloyd
- Pierre Strong Jr.
- Damien Martinez
- Jaden Nixon
Here's the first disagreement. The Packers have Chris Brooks listed as the RB2 ahead of MarShawn Lloyd, but that's likely not how it will play out. Lloyd is the perfect complement for Jacobs in the backfield. As long as he's healthy, which is the big question after missing all but one game in the past two seasons, Lloyd should play a significant role.
Wide receiver
First team
- Christian Watson
- Jayden Reed
- Matthew Golden
Second team
- Savion Williams
- Skyy Moore
- Bo Melton
Third team
- Isaiah Nayor
- Kaden Prather
- Will Sheppard
- Kisean Johnson
- J. Michael Sturdivant
- Chris Hilton Jr.
This is on the money. The Packers' spread-the-ball-around era is over, and there is a clear top three at wide receiver. It's also becoming clear who will make up the next three spots on the depth chart.
Savion Williams was a third-round pick a year ago and is beginning to show why, even after a slow start to training camp. Williams made a big play at Family Night and then stole the show during Sunday's practice. The Packers love Bo Melton, and he keeps making plays at practice. Skyy Moore adds value as a returner, but he could also see some snaps on offense.
Tight end
First team
- Tucker Kraft
Second team
- Luke Musgrave
Third team
- Josh Whyle
- Drake Dabney
- Messiah Swinson
- McCallan Castles
- Thomas Yassin
Expect changes here. The Packers' tight end room is in disarray. Tucker Kraft is working his way back to 100 percent and should be ready for Week 1, but that's just the beginning of the conversation.
Luke Musgrave is on the PUP list due to a neck injury. The Packers are taking a cautious approach, and there's a good chance he'll remain sidelined to begin the regular season. Josh Whyle has just returned from injury and will likely slide into the TE2 spot, leaving the rest of the tight ends to compete for the remaining spots.
The Packers waived/injured Luke Lachey and RJ Maryland last week. Lachey had looked on track to make the roster.
There's a lot to play for in the preseason.
Offensive line
First team
- LT: Jordan Morgan
- LG: Aaron Banks
- C: Sean Rhyan
- RG: Anthony Belton
- RT: Zach Bako-Bewele
Second team
- LT: John Williams
- LG: Jacob Monk
- C: Jager Burton
- RG: Donovan Jennings
- RT: Darian Kinnard
Third team
- LT: Dalton Cooper
- LG: Dillon Wade
- C: Dylan Barrett
- RG: Josh Gesky
- RT: Travis Glover/Brant Banks
Consider these players locks for the starting lineup in Week 1: Jordan Morgan, Aaron Banks, Sean Rhyan, and Zach Bako-Bewele.
Anthony Belton's starting job is far less certain. He has lost first-team reps to Jacob Monk, while rookie Jager Burton has also spent plenty of time with the ones during Banks' absence. It appears to be a three-way battle for the right guard job entering the preseason.
Darian Kinnard is a steady backup who can play both tackle spots. He will make the 53. Second-year John Williams has stood out throughout camp and has deservedly earned second-team status on the unofficial depth chart.
Defensive line
First team
- Devonte Wyatt
- Karl Brooks
Second team
- Javon Hargrave
- Warren Brinson
Third team
- Chris McClellan
- Nazir Stackhouse
- Jonathan Ford
- Jaden Crumedy
- Anthony Campbell
Don't expect to see Karl Brooks ahead of Javon Hargrave in the starting lineup for long. Hargrave is just returning from an injury that had him begin training camp on the PUP list. He will be a featured starter alongside Devonte Wyatt.
Chris McClellan in the third team? Take that with a pinch of salt too. McClellan played a bunch of first-team snaps while Wyatt and Hargrave were sidelined, and he has looked ready to start. McClellan could begin the season as the No. 3 interior lineman alongside the two veterans.
Edge-rusher
First team
- Lukas Van Ness
- Barryn Sorrell
Second team
- Brenton Cox Jr.
- Collin Oliver
Third team
- Dani Dennis-Sutton
- Nyjalik Kelly
- Arron Mosby
Don't be alarmed to see no Micah Parsons on the first depth chart. He is on the PUP list and will likely miss at least one month of the regular season.
In the meantime, Lukas Van Ness and Barryn Sorrell are the clear starters on the edge. Van Ness has put together a solid camp, although the Packers will hope to see him take another step. Sorrell has shown signs of a second-year jump. He has been particularly strong against the run.
Dani Dennis-Sutton being listed as a third-teamer is a surprise. It feels like another classic example of a rookie being shoved to the bottom of an "unofficial" depth chart during the summer, only to play a bunch of snaps when the real football begins. Dennis-Sutton has spent some time rushing from the inside, and he could even be next up in the edge rotation behind Van Ness and Sorrell.
Linebacker
First team
- Zaire Franklin
- Edgerrin Cooper
Second team
- Isaiah McDuffie
- Ty'Ron Hopper
Third team
- Nick Niemann
- TJ Quinn
- Kristian Welch
No surprises here. Veteran Zaire Franklin replaces Quay Walker as the starter next to Edgerrin Cooper. Isaiah McDuffie will join them when Jonathan Gannon puts three linebackers on the field.
Ty'Ron Hopper hasn't taken the step up in production the Packers would've hoped for, but he remains the LB4. Nick Niemann has a good shot at making the roster as a core special-teamer.
Cornerback
First team
- Keisean Nixon
- Carrington Valentine
- Javon Bullard (nickel)
Second team
- Benjamin St-Juste
- Brandon Cisse
- Kamal Hadden (nickel)
Third team
- Jaylin Simpson
- Shemar Bartholomew
- Domani Jackson
- MJ Devonshire Jr.
I can hear the collective sighs when reading the starters at cornerback. Don't look into this too much. The "unofficial" depth charts often stick with the status quo, but the snap counts at practice tell us a different story.
Keisean Nixon remains the favorite for the CB1 job, but perhaps not as strongly as a month ago. Nixon has spent some time with the backup defense this week, which potentially opens the door for Brandon Cisse and Benjamin St-Juste.
Carrington Valentine has returned from injury but may need a great preseason to retain a starting job. Cisse has been outstanding at training camp and looks ready to start in Week 1.
Safety
First team
- Xavier McKinney
- Evan Williams
Second team
- Kitan Oladapo
- Mark Perry
Third team
- Murvin Kenion III
The Packers have Javon Bullard listed as a nickel corner, which is why he's not part of the safety group. In reality, he can do both. Xavier McKinney and Evan Williams form one of the league's best safety duos, while Kitan Oladapo is close to a lock for the 53-man roster.
Specialists
- Kicker: Trey Smack
- Punter: Daniel Whelan
- Holder: Daniel Whelan
- Punt returner: Skyy Moore | Will Sheppard | Jaden Nixon
- Kick returner: Skyy Moore | Savion Williams | Pierre Strong Jr.
- Long snapper: Matt Orzech | Cal Adomitis
Despite Trey Smack's up-and-down summer, he is still the only kicker on the roster. That doesn't guarantee he'll keep the job by Week 1, but it's his for now.
As expected, Skyy Moore is the clear favorite to win both return jobs.
The Packers may temporarily have an issue at long snapper. Matt Orzech has spent all of camp on the PUP list, while backup Cal Adomitis exited Tuesday's practice with an apparent injury. If Adomitis is unable to play in the preseason opener, the Packers will need to add a third long snapper. Fun times.
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