Who Will Make the Packers' 53-Man Roster?

We last took a look at the Packers’ roster way back in May. On episode 651 on Blue 58, I talked through who I thought would make the cut at every position on the Packers’ roster. 

Since then, very little has actually changed, but in the interest of putting my cards on the table, I thought it would be worthwhile to write out my first official prediction on who I think will make the initial 53-man roster now that the Packers have gotten their feet wet in training camp.

Quarterbacks (2) - Jordan Love, Sean Clifford

Analysis: Unless he falls into a void in the space-time continuum, Love is on the roster. Sean Clifford probably gets the nod over Alex McGough right now just by virtue of being a draft pick, but if you flipped it I wouldn’t argue.

Running Backs/Fullbacks (4) - Aaron Jones, AJ Dillon, Tyler Goodson, Josiah Deguara

Analysis: Jones and Dillon are locks. Goodson, I think, offers enough utility on offense to offset the loss of Patrick Taylor’s special teams’ acumen. Josiah Deguara is a fullback now. Will Henry Pearson join this group? The Packers seem to be leading a fullback renaissance.

Wide Receivers (6) - Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed, Dontayvion Wicks, Samori Toure, Bo Melton

Analysis: This group is pretty easy to predict, too. As presently constructed, it’s five draft picks and Bo Melton, and Melton only gets the nod over Grant DuBose because the latter has barely practiced.

Tight Ends (3) - Luke Musgrave, Tucker Kraft, Tyler Davis

Analysis: I’m a surprised as you are, but I could only find three tight ends I’d keep on the roster plus Josiah Deguara. I think they’ll try to make do with bodies on the practice squad to fill out the rest of this unit.

Offensive Linemen (10) - David Bakhtiari, Elgton Jenkins, Josh Myers, Jon Runyan, Zach Tom, Yosh Nijman, Royce Newman, Sean Rhyan, Luke Tenuta, Rasheed Walker

Analysis: I’d love it if the Packers found a way to move on from Royce Newman, either by finding someone to take his spot as a guard or by hanging on to another one of their giant developmental tackles. The coaching staff seems to love him, though I can’t rightly figure out why. Availability is only worth so much.

Defensive Linemen (6) - Kenny Clark, TJ Slaton, Devante Wyatt, Colby Wooden, Jonathan Ford, Karl Brooks

Analysis: I’m less interested in who the Packers keep here than what they do with them. Last year they got gashed week in and week out, but didn’t vary their approach at all in regard to personnel. Will that be different this year?

Edge Rushers (5) - Rashan Gary, Preston Smith, Lukas Van Ness, Kingsley Enagbare, Justin Hollins

Analysis: This is probably the most locked-in position on the roster. Rashan Gary is off the PUP list, Jonathan Garvin is gone, and pretty much everybody else is a lock for the roster. Justin Hollins is the most vulnerable, and I don’t see anybody who seems super likely to take his job.

Inside Linebackers (4) - De’Vondre Campbell, Quay Walker, Isaiah McDuffie, Tariq Carpenter

Analysis: Campbell and Walker are locks, and beyond that the Packers just default to the familiar. Both McDuffie and Carpenter are special teams standbys. Can they add anything on defense?

Cornerbacks (5) - Jaire Alexander, Rasul Douglas, Keisean Nixon, Carrington Valentine, Corey Ballentine

Analysis: This group will change when Eric Stokes comes back, and if I had to guess who gets bumped, it’d be Ballentine. They can replace his special teams contributions elsewhere.

Safeties (5) - Darnell Savage, Jonathan Owens, Rudy Ford, Tarvarius Moore, Dallin Leavitt

Analysis: The Packers have a bunch of bodies here, that’s for sure. I think newcomer Jonathan Owens holds off draft pick Anthony Johnson here, but the Packers also may not want to expose one of their picks to waivers. Leavitt and Moore make it via special teams.

Specialists (3) - Anders Carlson, Matthew Orzech, Pat O’Donnell

Analysis: I don’t think the competition between O’Donnell and Daniel Whelan is real, giving O’Donnell the job. Still, it’s interesting that it’s still going on. Carlson is probably competing against the waiver wire at this point. If someone else the Packers like gets cut, they might make a move, but I doubt it.