Well, here we are, All three of the Packers’ preseason games are in the books, training camp is over, and now the long wait begins for the players on the roster bubble.

While those guys await word of their professional fate and the accompanying world-shaking rearrangements of their personal lives, we get to speculate about who of them will or will not make it. Fun!

Joking aside, this year’s roster seems uniquely difficult to forecast. The Packers have a surplus of offensive tackles and defensive linemen, depth issues at edge rusher, and a trauma unit at safety. Those factors alone make for some tough choices, and we haven’t even talked about what they’ll do at wide receiver.

How will it all shake out? My best guess is below with a couple of caveats. First, this is what I think the Packers will do, not what they should do. Second, this is going to change a lot after the roster deadline, because there’s at least one guy (Dallin Leavitt) who seems like he’s headed for injured reserve. The Packers have to carry him on the initial 53 to be able to bring him back, though, so that’s why he’s on this list.

Quarterbacks (2): Aaron Rodgers, Jordan Love

Danny Etling has been better than expected in the preseason, but there’s no reason to keep a third quarterback on the 53. Even if he’s claimed by somebody else, having Etling on the field for meaningful snaps won’t rescue a doomed Packers season any more than any other random quarterback, so if it comes to that, Gutekunst and company shouldn’t worry about what might have been.

Running Backs (3):  Aaron Jones, A.J. Dillon, Tyler Goodson

By my count, at least four different Packers beat reporters have made some kind of prediction hinting that the Packers will only keep two running backs, so take my take with a big grain of salt here. 

I think the Packers will bank on Goodson’s explosive athletic ability being more attractive to potential claimants than any of the Packers’ offensive line or defensive line prospects. I also think the Packers take a look in the mirror and get honest with themselves for a second, reasoning that Goodson’s ability to run and catch are more valuable than Patrick Taylor’s pass blocking or special teams acumen, because they are.

Wide Receivers (7): Allen Lazard, Sammy Watkins, Randall Cobb, Romeo Doubs, Amari Rodgers, Christian Watson, Juwann Winfree

Samori Toure might draw some eyes here, but I think there’s a version of him in just about every camp, so the odds of a team wanting somebody else’s version of a guy they’ve already got seem low.

And even though I kept seven, this was a frustrating group. In a simpler world, I think the Packers move on from Amari Rodgers and Juwann Winfree. But since they’re favorites of the general manager and starting quarterback, respectively, they both get a chance here. I think it’s more likely that Winfree spends more time on the practice squad this season than on the 53, though.

Tight Ends (4): Marcedes Lewis, Robert Tonyan, Josiah Deguara, Tyler Davis

Alizé Mack gave it his all and Davis had a rough performance in the Packers’ three preseason games, but I think he still wins out on the merit of his special teams play. I’d have to think the leash there is fairly short, though, and his fight for a roster spot will continue.

Offensive Linemen (9): David Bakhtiari, Jon Runyan Jr., Josh Myers, Elgton Jenkins, Zach Tom, Yosh Nijman, Sean Rhyan, Jake Hanson, Royce Newman

This was my toughest group, and you’ll notice I haven’t kept either of the Packers’ project tackles in Caleb Jones or Rasheed Walker. But there are just too many bodies here, and the Packers owe it to themselves to keep Sean Rhyan, who hasn’t had a great camp, for the same reason they seem to feel obligated to keep Amari Rodgers. Getting the chance to flip Jake Hanson or Royce Newman for a pick would make this group a lot easier to forecast and would open a spot for either Walker or Jones.

Defensive Linemen (5): Kenny Clark, Jarran Reed, Dean Lowry, TJ Slaton, Devonte Wyatt

The Packers really could keep seven here, as both Chris Slayton and Jack Heflin made things interesting. I think one or both will end up on the practice squad, but between the presence of Kenny Clark, one of the Packers’ two noteworthy free agent signings from this year in Jarran Reed, Dean Lowry, ascending second-year man TJ Slaton, and 2022 first round pick Devonte Wyatt, the numbers just don’t work. 

Edge Rushers (6): Rashan Gary, Preston Smith, JJ Enagbare, Tipa Galeai, Jonathan Garvin, La’Darius Hamilton

I kept six here, but there are really only three I want. Beyond Gary, Smith, and Enagbare, the depth chart is pretty rough. You’re keeping Galeai, Garvin (who, admittedly, had a pretty good 2021 season), and Hamilton out of familiarity as much as anything.

Inside Linebackers (4): De’Vondre Campbell, Quay Walker, Krys Barnes, Isaiah McDuffie

It’s still shocking to see a Packers’ linebacker group that has an elite starter, has a second very talented linebacker behind him, and has two other options that feel like assets instead of liabilities. What a time to be alive! Ty Summers has special teams value, but so does Isaiah McDuffie and he’s under contract for longer.

Cornerback (5): Jaire Alexander, Eric Stokes, Rasul Douglas, Shemar Jean-Charles, Keisean Nixon

The first three names here are absolute locks, and Shemar Jean-Charles is as good a bet as you’re going to get. Beyond that, it gets complicated. The Packers need more than four corners, but do you go with Keisean Nixon, who has Rich Bisaccia connections and some (albeit VERY limited) slot experience, or Kiondre Thomas, who’s graded out very well so far? I lean toward Nixon, but Thomas certainly wouldn’t surprise me.

Safety (5): Adrian Amos, Darnell Savage, Dallin Leavitt, Shawn Davis, Tariq Carpenter

What a mess. Leavitt is on the 53 man roster, but that’s fake; he’ll be on injured reserve. Shawn Davis is the third safety, but probably wouldn’t be if not for an injury to Vernon Scott, who now finds himself out of a job. Tariq Carpenter, for his part, also sneaks onto the 53 as a result of an injury; if Innis Gaines hadn’t re-aggravated (or maybe re-re-re-re-aggravated) a hamstring injury in the final preseason game, I think he’d have had the final safety spot.

Specialists (3): Mason Crosby, Pat O’Donnell, Jack Coco

Mason Crosby says he’s right on track for Week 1, so I guess we have to believe him. If that’s true, the kicker job is going to be his. Pat O’Donnel’s job was never in doubt. Jack Coco is the least certain of these three, but at this point, I have a hard time seeing the Packers making a switch. Doing so would mean two-thirds of the field goal/PAT battery hasn’t worked together at all to this point.

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