Jacob’s 53-Man Roster Prediction
GREEN BAY, Wis. – The preseason has come to a close.
Now, general manager Brian Gutekunst has the unenviable task of telling 37 players that their dream of making a 53-man roster is on hold for now.
Based on the information we have, here's a best guess at the 53 players who will be on that roster, as well as the practice squad with not everyone on the roster necessarily being with the team as camp comes to a close.
Quarterbacks
On the 53 (2): Jordan Love, Sean Clifford.
Practice squad (1): Alex McGough.
Jordan Love is the starter. There's no question there. He had a solid preseason. Now, it's on to the real games where Love will have to prove himself further.
Coach Matt LaFleur announced that Sean Clifford is the team's backup quarterback. He won that job decisively with a strong preseason.
Alex McGough was a relative unknown when he came into camp as the reigning MVP of the USFL.
He lost out on reps when the Packers' second preseason game was ended prematurely due to an injury to Patriots defensive back Isaiah Bolden.
McGough played the entire fourth quarter against the Seattle Seahawks and played well. He led a game-winning touchdown drive that included a 52-yard pass to Jadakis Bonds.
Someone will end up on the practice squad as the third quarterback. The guess here is it'll be McGough getting the nod due to knowledge of the offense.
Running Backs
On the 53 (2): Aaron Jones, AJ Dillon.
Practice squad (3): Patrick Taylor, Tyler Goodson, Emanuel Wilson.
Veteran standouts Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon figure to be heavily involved in the offense.
With the new rules stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, this is a position the Packers can afford to go lighter at.
Running backs are a dime a dozen, as emphasized by holdouts across the league by Indianapolis Colts' star Jonathan Taylor and NFL rushing leader Josh Jacobs of Las Vegas Raiders.
That means the Packers should be able to get all of their running backs from training camp back, should they so choose.
Players on the practice squad can be elevated three times before signing that player to the 53-man roster. Theoretically, the Packers could use all three running backs' elevations and get through half the season.
Goodson's injury could complicate things a bit, but he's a perfect candidate for the practice squad.
So, too, are his running mates, Patrick Taylor and Emanuel Wilson.
Fullback
On the 53 (1): Josiah Deguara.
Practice squad (1): Henry Pearson.
The Packers have finally admitted what Josiah Deguara is. Sure, he can do some stuff that tight ends do, but he's a fullback. Don't ask him to line up on the line of scrimmage or stretch the seam. That's not the best use of his abilities.
If you ask him to make plays in the flat and block in space. He's good at that.
So long as his knee injury isn't too serious, Pearson will make the practice squad because the FB/H-back position is incredibly valuable in LaFleur's offense.
Receivers
On the 53 (6): Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, Grant DuBose, Jayden Reed, Dontayvion Wicks, Malik Heath.
Practice squad (2): Jadakis Bonds, Bo Melton.
Almost every decision the Packers have made this offseason has leaned toward the younger player as the preferred option. That's included receiver, where they did not add a veteran despite their elder statesmen being second-year players.
Cutting Toure to go even younger might seem like a crazy thought, but it would fit with the way the Packers have made decisions since trading Aaron Rodgers.
Heath appears to have surpassed Toure. Wicks and DuBose are draft picks that are younger with more upside.
Toure is 25 years old with limited upside. The guess here is the Packers bet on the younger players.
Bonds made enough plays at the end of camp to grab a spot on the practice squad. Melton has been injured, but they liked him enough to bring him in last year.
Tight Ends
On the 53 (3): Luke Musgrave, Tucker Kraft, Austin Allen.
Practice squad (1): TBA.
This seems like the position most likely to get an outside addition. Whether that's to the active roster or the practice squad remains to be seen.
For now, Allen makes the roster simply due to the void left by Tyler Davis.
Musgrave is going to be a primary contributor to the offense. Kraft has shown some nice things but appears more prone to the ups and downs of a rookie tight end.
There's likely to be a veteran to shake loose after cutdown day that Gutekunst could look to add.
Offensive Line
On the 53 (9): LT David Bakhtiari, LG Elgton Jenkins, C Josh Myers, RG Jon Runyan, RT Zach Tom, OT Yosh Nijman, G Sean Rhyan, T Rasheed Walker, T Caleb Jones.
Practice squad (2): T Kadeem Telfort, C James Empey.
The strongest position group on the team. The Packers' offensive line was the star of the preseason. Even with David Bakhtiari playing zero snaps, the group allowed one sack of zero yards. That came in the preseason opener when McGough was the quarterback.
The only intrigue now, is how do they line up? Walker was starting at left tackle in the last two games. Zach Tom did get some snaps at center with the twos in the preseason finale. Could there be a scenario in which they start Walker at tackle and move Tom into center?
It's possible, but for now the smart money is on Tom at right tackle with Myers at center when the team heads to Chicago in two weeks.
Zach Tom
Benny Sieu - USA Today
Defensive Line
On the 53 (6): Kenny Clark, Devonte Wyatt, TJ Slaton, Jonathan Ford, Colby Wooden, Karl Brooks.
Practice squad (1): Chris Slayton.
Wooden and Brooks were two of the stars of the preseason. Ford makes the roster because the Packers simply don't have a lot of players with his size.
If Slaton were to miss time, the Packers could move Clark back to nose but would need someone to spell him. The guess here is that's Ford.
Outside Linebackers
On the 53 (6): Rashan Gary, Preston Smith, Lukas Van Ness, Kingsley Enagbare, Justin Hollins. Brenton Cox.
Practice squad (2): Keshawn Banks, Aaron Mosby.
The only debate here is whether the team keeps five or six players in the room.
Cox was the most intriguing undrafted free agent. He was nervous going into the final preseason game, but we think he's done enough to make the final roster. His power was evident as a pass rusher, run defender and even on special teams vs. Seattle.
Last year, offensive tackle Caleb Jones didn't make the initial roster but was almost immediately promoted to the active roster to prevent the other 31 teams from signing him.
Players don't often get claimed at cutdown day, but Cox could be an exception.
Instead of taking the risk, the Packers keep him on one of the deepest position groups on the team.
Kingsley Enagbare (Photo by USA Today Sports Images)
Inside Linebackers
On the 53 (5): De’Vondre Campbell, Quay Walker, Isaiah McDuffie, Eric Wilson, Tariq Carpenter.
Practice squad: None.
The first three players listed are stone-cold locks to be on the roster. Campbell is one of the team's best players on defense. Walker was a first-round pick. McDuffie is the primary backup to both players.
Wilson and Carpenter are core special teamers. Wilson might be the team's best player on special teams. Carpenter has been taken under the wing of Rich Bisaccia, and had a strong finish to last season on special teams.
Cornerbacks
On the 53 (5): Jaire Alexander, Rasul Douglas, Keisean Nixon, Innis Gaines, Carrington Valentine.
Practice squad (2): Kiondre Thomas, Corey Ballentine.
Eric Stokes' injury might make for an extra roster spot. He remains on the PUP list, and appears likely to start the regular season there, which would knock him out for the first month of the season.
We'll give that spot to Gaines as he's one of the team's core special-teamers. His ability to play slot and safety gives the team some versatility in the defensive backfield.
Safeties
On the 53 (5): Darnell Savage, Jonathan Owens, Rudy Ford, Dallin Leavitt, Anthony Johnson.
Practice squad: None.
This position might be the weakest one on the roster, though there might be strength in numbers. Leavitt might as well be listed with the specialists. Ford looks to be the starter next to Savage to open the season. Johnson had a strong finish to camp, but not enough to overtake Ford as a starter.
Moore's injury complicates things and leaves him on the outside looking in.
Specialists
On the 53 (3): K Anders Carlson, P Pat O’Donnell, LS Matt Orzech.
Practice squad (1): P Daniel Whelan.
There was a bit of a debate as to whether the Packers might lean younger with Whelan as the punter, but O'Donnell's experience should help Carlson in the field goal operation if nothing else.
Carlson struggled in camp at times, but the team never brought in any competition for him. He drilled a 57-yard field goal in the preseason finale that could give him some confidence as the team heads into regular-season play.
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