If Packers want a linebacker or quarterback, here are some options

The roster the Green Bay Packers took out of Saturday’s cuts could look different than the roster they take to Chicago for a Week 1 showdown for the Bears.

With unproven Oren Burks out with a partially torn pectoral, general manager Brian Gutekunst might want to fortify the inside linebacker position. Off-the-ball linebacker is one of the weaker positions in the league, but a couple intriguing options are available.

One is Brandon Marshall, who the Raiders signed in free agency this offseason but released. A fifth-round pick by Jacksonville in 2012, he barely played his first two seasons before emerging as a 63-game starter in five seasons with the Broncos. Marshall, who will turn 30 on Sept. 10, was called “one of the best coverage linebackers in football” by Raiders coach Jon Gruden.

For more of a long-term option, the Bengals surprisingly released Malik Jefferson, who was a third-round pick last year. He made almost no impact as a rookie but has a huge upside. At the 2018 Scouting Combine, he measured 6-foot-2 and 236 pounds and ran his 40 in 4.52 seconds. During his final season at Texas, he piled up 110 tackles and was a second-team All-American.

Veteran Kiko Alonso remains with Miami, but he wants out and the Dolphins are looking toward the future. A second-round pick by Buffalo in 2013, the 29-year-old has averaged 118 tackles the past three seasons. He had three interceptions last year. (Note: After this was published, Alonso was traded to the Saints for former Packers linebacker Vince Biegel.)

Green Bay kept only four outside linebackers, though that could be quite a foursome with Za’Darius Smith, Preston Smith, Kyler Fackrell and first-round pick Rashan Gary. With Za’Darius Smith figured to be used prominently as an interior rusher, adding a fifth could make sense.

Noah Spence was a second-round pick by Tampa Bay in 2016. He had 5.5 sacks as a rookie but only one in an injury-plagued 2017 and none in 12 games last season. After getting kicked out of Ohio State, Spence flourished at Eastern Kentucky. He had a predraft visit with the Packers.

Jachai Polite was a third-round pick by the Jets this year. He had a monster final season at Florida but dug himself a hole at the Scouting Combine. Speaking of busts, Shane Ray was a first-round pick by Denver in 2015 but had only 14 sacks in four seasons. He was signed in free agency by Baltimore but released.

Another option is adding a quarterback, where the Packers at the moment have only Aaron Rodgers and Tim Boyle after releasing DeShone Kizer and undrafted free agent Manny Wilkins.

The Packers never have had a true veteran backup to Rodgers. Brian Hoyer, who was released by New England, would be that guy. Hoyer, who will turn 34 in October, has played in 65 games with 37 career starts and thrown 48 touchdowns vs. 30 interceptions. The last time he played extensively was 2017, when he went 0-6 with the 49ers.

The Giants released Kyle Lauleta, who had a superb preseason but was stuck behind Eli Manning and first-round pick Daniel Jones. A fourth-round pick in 2018, Lauleta finished behind only Boyle with a preseason passer rating of 103.8.

The Rams released Brandon Allen, who coach Matt LaFleur and offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett know well.

Of course, the Packers could simply go with the undrafted Wilkins, who was handpicked by general manager Brian Gutekunst and LaFleur. He didn't get much of a chance in the preseason but had a decent training camp and has obvious athleticism - evident from hurdling a Chiefs defender on Thursday.

The Packers probably are happy with their running back trio of Aaron Jones, Jamaal Williams and rookie Dexter Williams, but if there are concerns about Dexter Williams’ role in the passing game, then perhaps they’d take a look at Elijah McGure. At Louisiana, he rushed for 4,301 yards and caught 130 passes; in two seasons with the Jets, he rushed for 591 yards and caught 36 passes.

Players claimed off waivers today have to be added to the 53-man roster; players who clear waivers can be added to the practice squad.

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