Examining Packers’ Roster Through Lock-O-Meter

Breaking down the roster into seven tiers, here’s a look at who is a 100 percent lock, who’s on the bubble and who will be hoping for a spot on the practice squad.

Author:
Bill Huber
Publish date:
Aug 24, 2023 10:14 AM EDT

In this story:

Green Bay Packers

GREEN BAY, Wis. – For about three-dozen players, the dream of making the Green Bay Packers’ roster will end on Tuesday with the 53-man roster cutdown.

For some, their career flame will continue to flicker with a spot on the practice squad. For a few others, the flame will be re-ignited with another team. And for some, the NFL flame will be extinguished entirely.

Using our patent-pending Lock-O-Meter 2023, here’s a fresh look at the Packers’ roster heading into Saturday’s preseason finale against the Seattle Seahawks. Who has a roster spot completely locked down? Who is on either side of the bubble? And who will be hoping for another opportunity?

100.0 Percent Locks: 34

This list of players requires zero explanation. These players will form the starting units or be key role players.

Quarterbacks: Jordan Love, Sean Clifford.

Running backs: Aaron Jones, AJ Dillon.

Receivers: Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed.

Tight ends: Luke Musgrave, Tucker Kraft, Josiah Deguara.

Offensive line: David Bakhtiari, Elgton Jenkins, Josh Myers, Jon Runyan, Zach Tom, Rasheed Walker.

Defensive line: Kenny Clark, TJ Slaton, Devonte Wyatt, Colby Wooden, Karl Brooks.

Outside linebackers: Rashan Gary, Preston Smith, Lukas Van Ness, Kingsley Enagbare.

Linebackers: De’Vondre Campbell, Quay Walker, Isaiah McDuffie.

Cornerbacks: Jaire Alexander, Rasul Douglas, Keisean Nixon, Carrington Valentine.

Safeties: Darnell Savage, Rudy Ford.

Specialists: None

90-Plus Percent Locks: 2

Receivers: Dontayvion Wicks. Wicks has shown plenty of promise when healthy, and general manager Brian Gutekunst tends to keep his draft picks. That puts him around 99 percent.

Specialist: Anders Carlson. Put Carlson at about 99.9 percent to make the roster, with the tiniest bit of wiggle room in case he completely melts down.

60 Percent to 90 Percent Locks: 9

Receiver: Samori Toure. Toure has had a good camp but nothing exceptional, and he has little value on special teams. Still, he’s much closer to 90 percent than 60 percent.

Offensive line: OT Yosh Nijman, OT Caleb Jones, G Sean Rhyan. Nijman has gone from the potential starting right tackle to potentially losing his grasp on even the swing spot. Still, he’s played some high-level football, which is why he was given $4.3 million as a restricted free agent. Jones remains an enormous bundle of upside. A third-round pick last year, Rhyan’s had a good enough camp to stick around for another year.

Outside linebackers: Justin Hollins. Hollins seems much closer to 90 percent than 60 percent. He was a valuable veteran pick-up last year and has had a strong training camp.

Inside linebackers: Eric Wilson. Wilson tied for the team lead in tackles on special teams last year despite not joining the team until October. Taking Nixon out of the equation, he might be the team’s best player on special teams.

Safeties: Anthony Johnson, Dallin Leavitt. Johnson, a seventh-round pick, has had a strong second half to training camp and played well in the games. Leavitt isn’t just one of special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia’s guys. He is Bisaccia’s guy. Who can forget this quote from last year: “When you get in the huddle with Aaron Rodgers on offense, I think the hair on the back of your neck stands up and you have to know what you’re doing. I like to think when you get in the huddle with Dallin Leavitt, the hair on the back of your neck better stand up.” Put Johnson at about 70 percent and Leavitt around 65 percent.

Specialists: Matt Orzech. Orzech won a Super Bowl ring with the Rams. He’s been OK but not quite as automatic as you’d like.

50.1 Percent to 60.0 Percent Locks: 3

Receiver: Malik Heath. The undrafted free agent has had an excellent camp. Is that enough to beat out Grant DuBose as the sixth receiver?

Safety: Tarvarius Moore. Put him on the lower end of the spectrum. Moore’s got real speed and probably was the team’s best safety against Cincinnati. He’s out with a knee injury but should be back soon.

Specialist: P Pat O’Donnell. In his battle with Daniel Whelan, O’Donnell’s directional punting and experience as a holder could give him the edge.

50 Percent Locks: 7

Running back: Patrick Taylor. Early in camp, this is what GM Brian Gutekunst said about the No. 3 job: “If he can’t play special teams, if he can’t pass-block, it’s going to be hard to use him.” That would indicate Taylor has the edge over the other challengers.

Offensive line: Royce Newman. Newman’s been good enough to start 22 games in two seasons. He’s been bad enough to lose the starting job both seasons. If Nijman, Jones and Rhyan make it, Newman would be a 10th lineman.

Defensive line: Jonathan Ford. There is no doubt Ford has played well enough to have earned a spot on the roster. Do the Packers want to keep six, though?

Inside linebacker: Tariq Carpenter. Carpenter’s size and athleticism scream special-teams stud.

Cornerbacks: Corey Ballentine, Innis Gaines. With Eric Stokes seemingly destined to start the season on PUP, Ballentine’s chances get a boost. Listed as a safety, Gaines has played nothing but the slot. After returning from a minor injury, he immediately moved back in with the second unit. Injuries have been an ongoing issue, though.

Safety: Jonathan Owens. Owens was a starter for most of training camp but lost his grip on that role. He’s been a liability in coverage.

40.0 Percent to 49.9 Percent Locks: 6

Running backs: Emanuel Wilson, Tyler Goodson. If you had to start one in Week 1, you’d probably pick Wilson over Taylor and Goodson. If you had to pick one to convert a key third-and-6, you’d probably pick Goodson. Goodson’s shoulder injury, which kept him out vs. New England might again vs. Seattle, couldn’t have come at a worse time.

Receivers: Grant DuBose. DuBose is a player on the rise after missing all the offseason practices and the start of camp with a back injury. If the undrafted Heath makes it as a sixth receiver, do the Packers really need a seventh?

Tight end: Austin Allen. With Deguara more of a fullback than tight end, someone has to be the third tight end. Right?

Outside linebacker: Brenton Cox. The established depth will work against Cox. Plus, despite his obvious talent and some impressive rushes, he’s still an undrafted free agent with some baggage. If no team felt like drafting him in April, why would they want him now?

Specialists: P Daniel Whelan. There’s no question Whelan has an NFL leg. Does his ability to flip field position outweigh the inexperience?

0 Percent to 39.9 Percent Locks: 30

Many of these players could make a legitimate argument for a spot on the practice squad.

Quarterbacks: Alex McGough. The Packers will have someone serving as the third quarterback on the practice squad. Will it be the USFL MVP? Maybe he’ll get an extended look against the Seahawks to find out.

Running backs: Lew Nichols, Nate McCrary. Nichols was a seventh-round pick but a shoulder injury robbed him of any chance to rally and opened the door for Wilson.

Fullback: Henry Pearson (IR). Pearson’s been impressive but walked through the locker room on Wednesday with a brace on his right leg.

Receivers: Bo Melton, Duece Watts, Jadakis Bonds, Cody Chrest. Melton’s early pitch for a roster spot ended with a hamstring injury. Bonds has made some big plays the last couple days.

Tight ends: Dre Miller. Miller signed with the Packers as a receiver, then was moved to tight end when Tyler Davis suffered a torn ACL.

Offensive line: T Kadeem Telford, T Luke Tenuta (IR), G Jean Delance, G/C James Empey, G/C Cole Schneider. Telford seems the most likely to earn a spot on the practice squad.

Defensive line: Chris Slayton, Antonio Moultrie, Jason Lewan. Slayton fell just short of a spot on the 53 last year but never mounted a challenge this year.

Outside linebackers: Keshawn Banks, Arron Mosby, Kenneth Odumegwu. Banks has had a solid camp. Odumegwu will get a year of seasoning as part of the International Player Pathway program.

Linebackers: Jimmy Phillips Jr., Marvin Pierre. Phillips is worthy of an extended look.

Cornerbacks: Eric Stokes (PUP), Shemar Jean-Charles, William Hooper, Kiondre Thomas, Tyrell Ford, Elijah Hamilton. Jean-Charles never panned out after being a lockdown corner at Appalachian State.

Safety: Benny Sapp. Sapp, whose father enjoyed a lengthy NFL career, has shown enough to stick around.

Specialists: LS Broughton Hatcher.