Predicting the Packers 53-man roster going into training camp

Linebackers: 5 (42/53)

• Quay Walker
• Edgerrin Cooper
• Ty'Ron Hopper
• Isaiah McDuffie
• Eric Wilson

New defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley is implementing a 4-3 base defense, which means the Packers are going to have to be fully stocked at the linebacker position. Keeping only five guys on the 53-man roster feels a little low with that in mind, especially because Kristian Welch made such a mark on special teams last year, but every area of the roster has to be considered as well.

As far as special teams are concerned, we will probably see all of Ty'Ron Hopper, Isaiah McDuffie, and Eric Wilson making an impact there this coming season. The Packers don't need to have four or five guys at linebacker who only play special teams -- they need to find a starting unit that can operate within Hafley's defense.

Cornerbacks: 6 (48/53)

• Jaire Alexander
• Eric Stokes
• Keisean Nixon
• Carrington Valentine
• Corey Ballentine
• Kalen King

One of the more concerning areas of the roster going into the 2024 offseason for the Packers was the cornerback position. Every player on this list except Kalen King started for the Packers at one point or another last season, and this list doesn't include Rasul Douglas, who was probably prematurely traded to the Buffalo Bills.

But the Packers obviously have high hopes for some of these young corners here, including Carrington Valentine, who started 12 of the 17 games he played last year and allowed under 58 percent of passes thrown into his coverage to be completed. Corey Ballentine isn't as young as Valentine (28 compared to the 22-year-old Valentine) but was outstanding last season in his opportunities as well, allowing just 56.3 percent of throws into his coverage to be completed.

Valentine and Ballentine are the two biggest reasons why the Packers probably feel good about rolling with Eric Stokes and Jaire Alexander for another year.

Safeties: 5 (53/53)

• Xavier McKinney
• Javon Bullard
• Evan Williams
• Kitan Oladapo
• Anthony Johnson Jr.

No position group on the Packers' roster was overhauled more dramatically than the safety position this offseason. The biggest move the Packers made in free agency was to sign Xavier McKinney from the Giants, a former second-round pick who upgrades that unit substantially.

They followed up that move by spending three picks in the 2024 NFL Draft on the safety position, including investing a second-rounder in Javon Bullard from Georgia. With two new starters and a couple of new depth pieces in Evan Williams and Kitan Oladapo, the Packers are in a good place here on paper, but these guys will be called upon early.

Anthony Johnson Jr. played over 300 defensive snaps last year as a seventh-round rookie and shouldn't be counted out from making this team by any means.

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