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I wasn’t planning to do this, but saw the article at the link below and really didn’t agree with a number of that writer’s decisions.  So compelled me to do my own.  Way too early for, but still fun.  As always, welcome your take!

NOTES

  • I’ve noted players who were drafted this year and what round (D-#), and those that are college free agents (CFA)
  • I’ve attempted to keep the 63 best players (53 active roster + 10 practice squad), but understand salary cap considerations may sometimes force different decisions
  • Latest I’ve seen is teams will be allowed to have 12 players on the Practice Squad (PS).  I’ve only for now designated 10, allowing for a couple of pickups from other teams.
  • This is once again a very young team overall, with only 3 players over 30:  QB Rodgers (37), TE Lewis (37) and PK Crosby (36)
  • It’s also on paper one of the very strongest rosters we’ve had in years – if Rodgers is on it – and easily a Super-Bowl competitive one
  • Full Packer roster with heights, weight, age, school, etc. found here:  https://www.packers.com/team/players-roster/


OFFENSE

QB (2):  Rodgers (37), Love

PS:  Benkert

Cut: Bortles, Dolegala

Comments:   Of course whether Rodgers is our starting QB or not will likely impact this and other parts of the roster.  If he’s traded, will we want/get a veteran QB back as part of the deal?  Would any other players come to us, or only draft choices?  If Rodgers does come back, I think odds are good he can replicate the high level of play he gave us last year – assuming of course he remains healthy.  From all I’ve read and watched, I am very high on Love’s potential.  Very excited to see what he can show in camp and especially the pre-season games.  But not ideal for him or this team is he’s forced to start this season.  Bortles stays only if Rodgers doesn’t return and we don’t get another veteran back in a trade.  Toss-up at this point whether Benkert or Dolegala is the #3 on the Practice Squad.  

RB (3):  Jones, Dillon, Hill (D-7)

PS:  Taylor, Williams

Cut:  None

Comments:  Loved Jamaal Williams, wish we could have kept somehow.  But Dillon is a huge upgrade purely running the ball.  He and Jones could give us the best pair of backs we’ve had since John Brockington and MacArthur Lane in the early ‘70s.  Kylin Hill certainly reads like a steal in the 7th round.  Patrick Taylor is unknown to most, but he is big and fast and has the pedigree to beat out Hill for that 3rd spot.  Dexter Williams gets his third and likely last shot to demonstrate the talent he showed at Notre Dame.  

WR (6):  Adams, Valdes-Scantling, Rodgers (D-3), Funchess, Lazard, St. Brown

PS:  Winfree

Cut:  Taylor, Begelton, Blair (CFA), Gaither (CFA), Thompkins (CFA)

Comments:  Packers supposedly working on a contract extension for Adams that will make him highest paid WR in the game.  Some have suggested that’s not the best investment.  But while he’s on the roster, he’s an elite weapon.  Valdes-Scantling took a nice step up last year, hopefully can take another one this year.  Third round pick Amari Rodgers looks ready to contribute from the get-go, be the jack-of-all-trades LaFleur’s been looking to add.  Hoping Funchess can shed the rust and show why the Colts just a couple of years ago threw big money at him in free agency.  He appears motivated and tailor-made for this offense.  Lazard a solid player and a clone of Funchess.  Having both a real strength.  Like Dexter Williams above, I think this is St. Brown’s last and best chance to show he belongs.  He’s got size and speed, knows the playbook, but hasn’t been very productive and too injury prone.  If Winfree – the star of the off-season workouts – continues to show well he could easily grab that last spot from St. Brown.

TE (4): Tonyan, Deguara, Lewis (37), Dafney

Suspended:  Sternberger (will miss first 2 games)

PS:  None

Cut:  Kaufusi (30), Nauta

Comments:  Hoping Tonyan gets even more balls thrown his way this year.  The guy catches everything.  Excited to get Deguara back.  LaFleur had last year’s 3rd round pick playing all over the place in the first couple of games, and he looked excellent before he was then lost for the season.  Another Amari Rodgers chess piece that should be a major contributor.  A bit surprised Packers resigned Lewis, but I guess even at 37 they feel he can still block.  Dafney was a nice pick up off the street, a poor man’s Deguara.  Sternberger, another former 3rd round pick, still has significant potential, hopefully demonstrates it in camp and pre-season before missing the first two games.  If so, he and Tonyan would form a lethal pass-catching TE duo.  Guessing Dafney goes to Practice Squad when Sternberger returns.

OL (10): C/G Myers (D-2), G/OT/C Jenkins, G/C Patrick, G Runyan, G Stepaniak, OT/G Turner, OT Newman (D-4), OT Nijman, OT/G Braden, OT Cronk (CFA)

PUP:  OT Bakhtiari (will miss at least first 6 games)

PS:  G/OT Van Lanen (D-6A)

Cut: C Hanson, G Johnson, G Dietzen (CFA), OT Capra (CFA)

Comments:  I’m assuming Packers go conservative with the highest paid LT in the NFL, start Bakhtiari on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list, get by for at least the first third of the season without him.  Even if that ends up being the case, this is a good unit with good, young – if albeit untested – depth.  2nd round pick Myers replaces Linsley, starts from day one at Center.  Jenkins already a young star, may move to LT until Bakhtiari returns.  If that happens, Patrick and Runyan the likely starting Guards.  Runyan appears ready after showing well as a 6th round rookie last year.  Patrick’s come a long way and is tough/scrappy, but if Stepaniak is fully healthy after a lost rookie season, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him emerge as a starter.  He’s bigger, stronger and more talented.  If that happens, Patrick would then become the primary backup at C and both G spots.  After a so-so initial season at Guard, Turner proved to be an excellent free agent signing in his second season with us last year with his play at both Tackle positions.  So he remains at RT as a quality starter.  4th round pick Newman will be groomed to be the swing OT.  Nijman has all the measurables, Packers have been patient with him, but he needs to show significant development this year to stick.  I never would had Braden in the mix until the OL coach raved about him in the off-season, suggesting he’d compete for a starting position at either G or T.  I have a hard time believing, but hoping he’s right and therefore he makes the 53.  Assuming Packers keep 10 OL, most I would expect would automatically give 6th round pick Van Lanen – a local favorite – a spot.  But I like more so what I’ve read about Cronk, who if fully recovered from his injuries had a more impressive college career.  Regardless, I think you can keep both – one on the 53 and one on the PS.  When Bakhtiari returns, both can be on the PS.     

DEFENSE

DL (5):  Clark, Keke, Lowry, Slaton (D-5A), Lancaster

PS:  Previlon

Cut:  Heflin (CFA)

Comments:  On paper this remains the weakest unit on the team for the 3rd year in a row.  Frustrating.  Still hoping Packers pick up a quality veteran like Jurrel Casey or Geno Atkins to improve the picture.  Kenny Clark one of Ted Thompson’s best picks, a stud that new Defensive Coordinator Joe Barry will reportedly move around more.  Keke developed nicely last year, especially for a former 5th round pick.  His inside pass rush was really missed against Tampa Bay in the NFC Championship Game.  He’s being counted on to be strong contributor.  Lowry’s been a huge disappointment, but coaches say he played his best at the very end of last season and are hoping that continues.  I didn’t see it, but we’ll know soon enough if they’re right and Gutekunst was right not to cut him this off-season.  Slaton is huge, talented and comes from a major college program.  But was a 5th round pick largely because of his inconsistency.  Up to Packers coaches to get him to realize his potential as the next Gilbert Brown.  Hopefully can contribute from the start in spot duty against the run.  Lancaster a decent backup, should never be a starter.  Guessing Previlon just a guy.  We really ideally need to replace Lowry and Lancaster with better.

OLB (5):  Z. Smith, P. Smith, Gary, Garvin, Galeai

PS:  Scott

Cut:  Ramsey, Kemp (CFA)

Comments:  Zadarius was a great Free Agent signing, has have two excellent years for us, should offer a third.  Preston Smith had a huge drop-off last year after a very solid season the year before.  His history, restructured contract, coming into camp this year in much better shape, new Defensive Coordinator all factors that point to a bounce-back season.  Gary was 2nd most productive pass rusher in the NFL the second half of last season, appears poised for a truly breakout year and to fully justify Gutekunst taking that swing for the fences with the 12th pick in the draft 3 years ago.  Garvin didn’t do anything last year – even considering he was only a 7th round pick.  But he is extremely young and has genuine potential – as does Galeai, a CFA last year.  Expecting both to show much more in their second seasons.

ILB (4):  Campbell, Martin, Barnes, Burks

PS:  McDuffie (D-6B)

Cut:  Summers, Wilborn, Harris

Comments:  Very pumped about the Campbell signing.  Remember well him making plays seemingly all over the field for the Falcons.  Not an All-Pro by any means.  But I expect he’ll bring much better size and pass coverage ability than we’ve had at ILB in many, many years.  All up to the coaches to get Martin to take that exciting speed and hitting ability we saw in flashes last year and get him to apply it consistently.  He could easily emerge as one of our young stars on defense.  Barnes was a nice surprise as a College Free Agent.  He may be like Lucas Patrick – a decent starter with a fairly low ceiling.  Burks has done absolutely nothing to warrant a roster position.  But like some other players mentioned earlier, this is clearly his last best shot to realize his potential.  He’s got the size and speed.  Doesn’t seem to have either the instincts or the heart.  Can the new Defensive Coordinator – who specializes in LBers – get him to show why Guteknust traded up into the 3rd round a few years ago to grab this guy?  Odds say no, that 6th round pick McDuffie gets that 4th spot.  But for now, we’ll hope Burks surprises and we let McDuffie spend his first year on the Practice Squad.  Had higher hopes for Summers, even though he was only a 7th round pick.  But I just haven’t been impressed with him, so moving on.       

CB (6):  Alexander, King, Stokes (D-1), Sullivan, Jean-Charles (5B), Jackson

PS:  Ento

Cut:  Hollman, Samuels

Comments:  When Gutekunst bounced back and forth in the first round in his first draft as GM 3 years ago and ended up with Alexander, I wasn’t thrilled.  I was wrong, as Alexander quickly developed into one of the very best CBs in the league.  Hopefully Gutekunst has struck gold again with Stokes.  We know he has world-class speed and size and held up extremely well against the very best WRs in college football.  He may start at some point in the season.  Surprised King was resigned.  He did seem to have a fairly decent regular season until he looked like one of the worst CBs to ever play in the NFL against Tampa Bay in the NFC Championship Game.  Still unfathomable how incredibly bad he played.  Maybe Jerry Gray and the new DC can squeeze a decent season out of him.  Even then, no Packer fan will ever be able to forget Ted Thompson passed up ********* for this guy.  Sullivan also sucked in that game, but at least he had the excuse of being a former College Free Agent and not picked at the very top of the 2nd round like King was.  Hoping 5th round pick Jean-Charles develops quickly so he can leap-frog Sullivan and improve our play at slot CB.  Jackson same story as Burks above.  What Gutekunst saw in this guy we’ll likely never know.  He didn’t have the speed or tackling ability in college, yet he spent a 2nd round pick on him and the guy’s been an absolute bust to date.  He gets one last chance with new DC to replicate his production at Iowa.  Converted WR Ento remains intriguing.  Hollman has never turned his size and speed into anything, likely runs out of chances.  Samuels was a CFA last year who stuck around, but probably no room for this year.  

S (5):  Savage, Amos, Scott, Redmond, Uphoff (CFA)

PS:  Gaines (CFA)

Cut: Black

Comments:  Like Gary, his fellow #1 pick three years ago, Savage had an excellent second half of the season last year and appears ready to have a truly breakout season.  That play against Tampa Bay in the 1st quarter when he badly misplayed that bomb still bothers me.  But can’t argue with his world-class speed and overall potential.  Amos also came on in the 2H of ’20 and is a high quality starter.  I really liked the flashes I saw of Vernon Scott, a 7th round pick last year.  I expect him to emerge as the 3rd Safety over Redmond, who to me has never shown much of anything.  His dropped INT against Tampa Bay was pathetic.  Uphoff reads like an uncommon CFA, and he too may be able to leap-frog Redmond.   

SPECIAL TEAMS

ST (3):  PK Crosby (36), P Scott, LS Bradley

PS:  None

Cut:  PK Molson, P Winslow, LS Fortunato

Comments:  No surprises.  Crosby as good as ever last year, hoping we see no decline at 36.  Scott a huge disappointment to date.  Maybe he can still tap that potential and provide the consistency he’s been missing.  Bradley shaky, would not be a surprise if Packers determine Fortunato better.

https://packerswire.usatoday.c...n-roster-projection/

Last edited by sschumer - Packer Fan HoF'r
Original Post

Replies sorted oldest to newest

Team won't expose McDuffie to waivers unless they're prepared to lose him and don't see that happening (assuming he's not an obvious mistake). Only consistency in special teams was Crosby and I'll be disappointed if they stick with Scott and Bradley. Think Winfree gets the nod ahead of either Funchess or ESB (my guess would be the latter).

Much appreciate the feedback guys.  Actually agree on St. Brown (ESB) and Burks and will throw in Jackson as well.  All three have been busts, all I have as the last guy making it in their respective units, and only because I’m clinging to a ray of hope that they finally realize this is their very last chance to tap into their unrealized potential.  And yes, our P and LS may easily lose their jobs if they don’t respond to real competition.  All that said, I think this is such a strong roster with a lot of already excellent players and a slew of young guys with the potential to break out.  Will be a shame if Rodgers doesn’t report and kills what this roster with him is capable of.

@mrtundra posted:

Burks is better on STs than he is at ILB. Will that be reason enough to keep him on the roster?

Yeah ST's is his only shot to make the roster. If there is a new guy or guys that look the part on ST and can offer some value at a position then Burks is toast.

But I do think Funchess and ESB will both be on the final roster unless Winfree has a huge camp or they trade for or pick up a WR cut from another team.

Jackson, don't know about that guy. Wouldn't take much to bump him off the roster. Don't know if even the change in scheme will save him.

@mrtundra posted:

Burks is better on STs than he is at ILB. Will that be reason enough to keep him on the roster?

No. I think the article with the other cuts like St. Brown is more realistic, though I think Funchess makes it.

I agree it's looking like Burks is a goner based on his body of work, BUT I am curious to see if Joe Barry can salvage him. He has a poor track record as a DC, but a pretty solid record as a position coach, specifically as a LB coach. If Barry can unlock the mental side Burks could be a REALLY good LB. His H/W/S is perfect for the modern NFL, it just hasn't clicked on the mental side for whatever reason.

Not to mention he's had some sort of injury problem every year. I think that's the biggest concern with Burks. Even if he figures it out would he be a guy that can be part of a rotation that you can count on every week?

at OLB4:  Ramsey over Garvin per year- end comments from the Bob

Randy Ramsey

He surpassed Jonathan Garvin by midseason as the No. 4 at the position and went on to play an integral role on special teams. Spent all of 2019, his rookie season, on the practice squad. Beat out veteran Tim Williams as well as rookies Delontae Scott and Tipa Galeai for a berth on the 53-man roster.

Ramsey isn’t as big (6-3, 238), fast (4.74), long or smart as Garvin but proved to be a tougher and more reliable player. Logged 237 snaps in the kicking game, fourth most on the team, and was one of the most physical players. Ranked 4th in tackles with 10. Might be maxed out physically. Lost his scholarship at Arkansas early in his career and has been on a mission ever since"

TE (4): Tonyan, Deguara, Lewis (37), Dafney

Suspended:  Sternberger (will miss first 2 games)

PS:  None

Cut:  Kaufusi (30), Nauta

Comments:  Hoping Tonyan gets even more balls thrown his way this year.  The guy catches everything.  Excited to get Deguara back.  LaFleur had last year’s 3rd round pick playing all over the place in the first couple of games, and he looked excellent before he was then lost for the season.  Another Amari Rodgers chess piece that should be a major contributor.  A bit surprised Packers resigned Lewis, but I guess even at 37 they feel he can still block.  Dafney was a nice pick up off the street, a poor man’s Deguara.  Sternberger, another former 3rd round pick, still has significant potential, hopefully demonstrates it in camp and pre-season before missing the first two games.  If so, he and Tonyan would form a lethal pass-catching TE duo.  Guessing Dafney goes to Practice Squad when Sternberger returns.

Lewis is the only TE on the roster who can handle DE's and Edge rushers on his own and MLF absolutely loves him in the run game. Packers are trying to convert Bronson Kaufusi from edge rusher to blocking TE in hopes he can take over that role next year. Kaufusi dropped from 280 down to 265 and has the size/athleticism to make it work. His combine stats at 285 lbs are laudable, reasonable to expect him to be a bit faster at 265lbs. He battled vs TEs for

https://www.mockdraftable.com/player/bronson-kaufusi

Dafney already looked like a solid vet last year, he's a quick study on the playbook and pretty sure he makes the 53 as an STs demon and Deguara sub if needed. MLF needs that move TE to run his offense and he won't get caught without depth again this year.

Satori, thanks for posting.  Actually in reading that I think it helps support Garvin, in his 2nd year, to better leverage his superior size/speed/length/smarts and surpass Ramsey on the roster.

Sschumer - thanks for doing the 53, always enjoy your work

this is what the Bob wrote about Garvin:

Jonathan Garvin

"Late in the 2020 draft, the Packers took a seventh-round flier on Garvin. He has some size (6-4, 257) and speed (4.81), his arms measured 34 inches and he totaled 12 1/2 sacks in three seasons for Miami before declaring for the draft as a third-year junior. But personnel people warned about his marginal effort, work habits and physical and mental toughness. The Packers gave him 85 snaps in the first half of the season as the No. 4 outside linebacker, but not much came of it. Despite playing a prime special-teams position, he had just 22 snaps in the kicking game and didn’t make a tackle. Once Randy Ramsey recovered from a groin injury, Garvin was a healthy inactive for the last 10 games."



Looking forward to the battles in TC.
Garvin clearly has the better tools as noted, but he might actually BE a tool.
We're about to find out

I think you make a good case Satori for Packers grooming Kaufusi to eventually replace Lewis.  But I'm assuming he's not eligible for the Practice Squad.  So if you have him making the 53, would you cut one of these other TE's?  Or maybe not go with that 10th OL?

Last edited by sschumer - Packer Fan HoF'r

Satori, good insight from McGinn on Garvin, thanks for sharing.  I hadn't read that anywhere before.  I have to now agree to not project him to the 53.  Maybe the light goes on for him, but he's got more to overcome than I realized.

I think you make a good case Satori for Packers grooming Kaufusi to eventually replace Lewis.  But I'm assuming he's not eligible for the Practice Squad. So if you have him making the 53, would you cut one of these other TE's?  Or maybe not go with that 10th OL?

Good point, hadn't considered the PS eligibility. I looked up the modified rules from 2020, I think many of them carried over to this season, but not certain
(That last one might apply)

"This is where things get a little extra tricky. It’s broken down into four categories with some having extra limitations placed on them, according to Haislop.

  • Players who have not accrued a season of NFL experience.
  • Players who were on the active roster for fewer than nine regular-season games during their only accrued seasons.
  • Up to four players who have earned no more than two accrued seasons, with no game limitations per season.
  • Up to two (six in 2020) players with no limitations as to the number of accrued seasons of experience they have.
@Boris posted:

Who is the 2nd easiest?

Based on what X4 posters say, it could be Jackson. Guys who were at camp, last year, say Jackson looked pretty good. That's camp, though, and his looking good did not spill over into the regular season. I'd give him one more camp to show what he can do. If he doesn't, its adios! Especially so, if the rookie CB, they drafted, is any good at all.

@Boris posted:

Who is the 2nd easiest?

Dexter Williams, I'm not even sure I'm getting his name correct, that's how forgettable his career has been to this point. The RB from Notre Dame. If this rookie 7th round is the steal he's been hyped to be, then Dex doesn't have a prayer of making the roster. With the backlog of TEs and future HOF QB Kurt Benkert on the roster, there's no possible way they keep more than 3 RBs.

@Boris posted:

Who is the 2nd easiest?

New/Old ST's coach Maurice Drayton will have something to say about the last few cuts

Top ST snaps in 2020:

Burks, Summers, Martin, Ramsey with the top 2 having more than 300 ST snaps
Jamaal Williams and Tyler Ervin had a lot of ST snaps too, they're gone and so is Raven Greene, another guy with a lot of ST snaps.

Burks can't seem to figure it out on defense, but his cap is only $920k, so keeping him/cutting him won't be a $$ decision. Who else can take those 300 ST snaps ?

Bush showed more on the field than Burks ever has including a key interception in the Super Bowl.  Bush was just crazy inconsistent.  Burks just looks completely lost when at LB.

Nothing wrong with having good special teamers but considering how shitty the Packers STs have been I wouldn't exactly call him a game changer at ST either. 

Last edited by Henry
@Chongo posted:

You don't spend a 3rd rounder on a guy hoping he's a great contributor on special teams.

You spend a 3rd looking for the same Unicorn every team has been seeking from Deone Buchanon to Taylor Mays to Jimmy Ward to Raven Greene and all of the others that tried and came up short for one reason or another.

NFL DCs all dream of the Safety / ILB hybrid player. 5 NFL teams tried to make it work for Deone Buchanon and each time he was cut - another team tried.
A Linebacker with Safety speed ? Sign me up.

If it doesn't work out as hoped -  you get what you can and that means STs for a near- vet minimum paycheck for Oren.

Here's a scout comment on Burks:

“What a great kid,” an NFC scout said not long before the Packers drafted him in the third round. “He’s so damn smart. This is the type of kid you search for. There’s no doubt this guy will play a long time in this league.”

Burks didn't work out, BFD. Go get another one....

Last year GB dabbled in the DT market, bringing in slug Anthony Rush and then Damon Harrison. I'm guessing they're scouring the market again, looking for a vet DT who can eat some snaps at 1- tech and 3-tech. Gives Kenny a rest on occasion and a non-lowery running mate on other occasions.

Geno Atkins was recently cleared from his 2020 shoulder surgery and Gerald McCoy is another DT seeking a team for 2021. Atkins is a 5 star human, so whatever he has left - you're going to get it out of him. McCoy wanted to play in Dallas, but after he called out the weasel Jerruh Jones, his time in Dallas was over.

Jurell Casey is another, played in Tenn when MLF was there. Its easier to find a 1-tech than a 3-tech, but Atkins can handle both and has always shown skill in rushing the passer.

@YATittle posted:

If Burks and Summers can’t play their positions they don’t belong on the team. It’s not like either of them is Steve Tasker.

Agree- Jeff Janis was a really good gunner on special teams too and did more at WR that Burks ever has at LB. Unless Burks has a very strong camp or special niche in the new defense, I think it's time to move on.

Does he automatically make the team?

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