OK, I agree, way too early for this 53 man final roster. But doing this exercise highlights some really interesting position battles, such as at DB and WR. Didn't try to predict the 10 we'll keep on the Practice Squad (PS), as I think it really is too early for that until we see what some of these College Free Agents (CFAs) can do on the field. And I'm trying to keep in mind two exciting roster additions not listed below: Defensive Coordinator Mike Pettine and Offensive Coordinator Joe Philbin. I'm convinced they both will offer enormous upgrades over what we've had for last few years, and will do much more with the talent below than their predecessors. As always, welcome your thoughts.
OFFENSE
QB (2)
Keep: Rodgers (34), Kizer
Cut: Hundley, Boyle (CFA)
Comments: Rodgers will get his new contract, be stoked for a great year after missing most of last season, and hopefully will stay healthy for a Super Bowl run. Packers almost drafted Kizer instead of CB King with the first pick of the second round a year ago. Hopefully he'll show us why -- and ideally in Pre-Season only. He should have so much more talent than Hundley. Hard to see Packers keeping Hundley as a #3 on the active roster. So he's cut. Boyle almost a given for the PS if he shows anything.
RB (4)
Keep: HB's Jones, Williams, Montgomery, FB Ripkowski
Cut: HB's Mays, Bouagnon, FB Kerridge
Comments: If Jones can stay healthy, he and Williams in their second years should provide a very good 1-2 punch. And if Montgomery too can stay healthy, he should provide a nice jack-of-all-trades HB/WR type option for McCarthy to play with, be much more effective if not the every down RB. Guessing we can keep both Mays and Kerridge on PS, bring up if needed.
WR (7)
Keep: Adams, Cobb, Allison, Clark, Moore (D4), Valdes-Scantling (D5C), St. Brown (D6)
Cut: Yancey, Davis, Kumerow, Pearson
Comments: Adams a very good #1. Hoping Cobb can be more effective than last couple of years. Along with Matthews, grossly overpaid in my view. Allison OK. Maybe he takes a jump, but missing the inherent talent to likely do so. Hard not to get excited at the potential of all four of our tall, fast WRs -- Clark from a year ago, new draft picks Moore, Valdes-Scantling and St. Brown. We could field a damn basketball team. I do think as long as they all show decently in camp -- including the ability to play Special Teams -- we can find a way to keep all of them. Giving up on Davis, who just disappointed. But not ready to give up on Yancey, so guessing he goes to PS.
TE (2)
Keep: Graham (31), Kendricks (30)
Cut: Byrd, Tonyan (CFA), Rader (CFA)
Comments: Weakest position on roster. Graham though hopefully proves to be a great Free Agent pick up, that he has better size and speed to offer us this year than Jordy Nelson would have, providing a net up. Kendricks was a disappointment last year, truly an invisible man. The other four are just guys, so keeping only two TEs for now. Hopefully the Packers can trade for or pick up at least one decent veteran (Antonio Gates?) to add to this area. If they do, then maybe they keep 6 WRs or 9 OL.
OL (10)
Keep: OT's Bakhtiari, Murphy, Spriggs, G's Taylor, Madison (D5A), Pankey, Patrick, Kofi, C's Linsley, McCray
PUP (Physically Unable to Perform): OT Bulaga
Cut: OT's Light (CFA), Meadow (CFA), G Alsadek (CFA), C's Day, Davis (CFA)
Comments: Packers standing by Bulaga who, if healthy, is still a top-tier OT. Guessing though he won't be ready for prime time, starts year on PUP. Therefore, guessing Murphy begins the year as our starting RT. Bakhtiari a stud at LT. Still hoping the light goes on for former second round pick Spriggs (who we traded up for), that he develops a bit later than expected the same way Mike Wahle did many years ago. We need him to. Taylor a very good LG. Projecting big rookie 5th round pick Madison to start at RG. Might be wishful thinking. We'll see. Pankey flying below the radar I think. Huge, raw prospect that I hope makes a needed jump. They said last year's 6th round pick Kofi had all the athletic ability, needed a year. We'll see. Packers seems to like Patrick's grit, so he makes it again. Linsley an excellent C. McCray one of the real nice surprises from last year. Maybe he's starting RG (replacing departed veteran Evans), but for now we'll put him as a backup C/G.
DEFENSE
DL (5)
Keep: Daniels, Clark, Wilkerson, Lowry, Adams
Cut: Looney (D7A), Lancaster (CFA), Sheehy (CFA), Mokofisi (CFA)
Comments: Arguably strongest unit on team. Daniels has been consistently excellent. Clark somewhat quietly was a rock against the run last year, and late in the season had a flurry of sacks. Could absolutely be a star. Truly excited at the addition of Wilkerson from the Jets. Just seems like the perfect situation for this guy to show how just a few years ago why he was one of the best DL in the league: Getting out of a toxic situation in NY, a fresh start, a chance to play on a winning/playoff team, playing for his old Defensive Coordinator who knows best how to use him, playing alongside Daniels and Clark so he doesn't have to do it all, etc. I think what he'll bring to the pass rush is a big reason why Gutekunst didn't take an edge rusher high. That point seemed to be lost on just about everybody post-draft. Bringing in Lowry, who's still developing, in the rotation versus counting on as a starter should make him even better. Adams a forgotten man, a real wild card. After a lost rookie season, hoping last year's 3rd round pick can overnight become a big contributor -- again, like Wilkerson, aiding the pass rush.
LB (9)
Keep: OLB's Matthews (31), Perry, Biegel, Fackrell, Gilbert, Donnerson (D7C), ILBs Martinez, Ryan, Burks (D3)
Cut: Odom, Brooks, Hughes (CFA), Johnson (CFA), Thomas, Porter (CFA), Bennett (CFA)
Comments: Same old story: If Matthews and Perry can both stay healthy, they can provide very good run stopping and pass rush. But that's a big if. Like Adams on the DL, hoping Biegel can turn a lost rookie year due to injury to being a major contributor in his second season. We know no one on the roster will be more motivated to prove himself. Can Pettine get more out of Fackrell than the prior coaching staff. We can only hope, because the guy has been such a disappointment in spite of excellent size and underrated athletic ability. Similarly, can Gilbert go from being a CFA to a real contributor? Martinez was a tackling machine at ILB last year, certainly proved his worth as a former 4th round pick. Ryan still solid vs. the run. But neither can cover. Enter 3rd round pick Burks. We've had no one like him for so many years with the inherent size, speed and ability to cover the middle of the field against RBs and TEs. Very excited to see this former Safety roaming the middle. Hopefully he shows he can immediately man that starting position in both nickel and dime.
DB (11)
Keep: CBs King, Alexander (D1), Jackson (D2), Williams (35), Hawkins, Rollins, Brown, S's Clinton-Dix, Jones, Brice, Evans
Cut: CB's House, Pipkins, Waters, Goodson, S's Whitehead, Greene (CFA)
Comments: On paper, the second strongest unit on the team. How exciting to think we can soon line up five starting DBs in passing situations (3 CBs, 2 S's) made up of 3 recent #1 picks (Clinton-Dix, Alexander, and King -- who effectively was a first rounder) and 2 #2's (Jones and Jackson). Wow. CB starts with King, who has both unique size and speed to be a star. Knowing his shoulder was an issue all year last year, can't wait to see him 100% healthy. And while Williams will likely start the year ahead of him, I can't wait to see Jackson manning the other side of the field from King, with Alexander starting in the slot. Like Burks above maybe finally fixing a long-standing weakness against RBs and TEs in the middle of the field on passing downs, it'll be refreshing to take a lightening fast and blazing quick shorter CB like Alexander to pair against all those fast, quick, shorter WRs that have killed us for years. Hawkins has genuine speed to harness. Liked what I saw from Brown last pre-season. Packers staff seems to be standing by Rollins. But if they're right that he can still develop/contribute, I'm guessing it'll require a move to Safety. Betting on Pettine to get Clinton-Dix to play like a true Pro Bowler, and to leverage the same unique size/speed combo King brings to the CB position in Jones at S. Brice, Evans both have speed to burn, still haven't likely hit their ceilings. Don't see a roster spot for House, who was a huge disappointment last year coming back to us from the Jaguars. Probably room on PS for guys like Pipkins, Waters, Whitehead.
SPECIAL TEAMS (3)
Keep: PK Crosby (33), P Scott (D5B), LS Bradley (D7B)
Cut: LS Triner
Comments: Crosby still one of the best in the league. The Packers' drafting of Scott and cutting already of Vogel -- who I thought did a really good job for us last year -- speaks volumes. The staff has referred to him as "rare." If they're right, we'll have the best punter we've had in decades, maybe ever. Exciting to see. Investing a draft pick -- even a 7th -- in a long snapper rare, but if Bradley proves to be a capable replacement for the ever-reliable Goode, it'll have been worth it.
