Way too early to do this, but what the heck.  Was fun to look at the Packers roster post-draft, take a first cut at a final roster – which in 2020 is now effectively 55, up from 53, with 2 of the 12 Practice Squad players able to be added to the active roster each week.  As always, welcome your thoughts. 

SUMMARY COMMENTS

• Still think, if relatively healthy, this roster is the best in NFC North.  And I think just as good on paper as NFC teams like Dallas, Philadelphia, Seattle and LA.  But whether we have the horses to genuinely compete with San Francisco and New Orleans is questionable.  But hey, that’s why they play the games (we hope).  
• With 55, basically kept an extra (3^rd) QB and OL (10 total)
• This is a surprisingly young team overall, with only 5 players 30 or older:  QB Rodgers (36), TE Lewis (35), PK Crosby (35), OT Wagner (30), G Taylor (30).  Considering mid-30’s in not considered old for QBs or PKs, Lewis stands out as the only really “old” player on the entire roster.
• A couple of positions beg (maybe even scream) for Gutekunst to still add a quality veteran between now and Training Camp:  DL and WR – the same two position groups we didn’t draft a single player for.  If it happens, it’ll likely be players not yet cut by their team, less likely via a trade.  Still hoping we sign a run-stuffing DL like former Jet/Giant/Lion Damon Harrison, maybe trade for a young WR like Pittsburgh’s JuJu Smith-Schuster.  Gutekunst likely will get a couple of nice compensatory pick in next year’s draft for losing Bulaga, Martinez, Graham, Fackrell, could reasonably give up a decently high pick next year to improve this year’s team and chances.

OFFENSE (27)

QB (3):  Rodgers (36), Boyle, Love (D1)

Cut:  Morton (CFA)

Comments:  Believe Rodgers would still look elite if given the kind of receiving weapons teams like Kansas City and Dallas offer their QBs – and which Rodgers once had.  I really like Boyle, and look forward to seeing what he looks like this pre-season with another year of development under his belt.  He has nice size, an excellent arm, looks composed, stands in the pocket unfazed and to me exhibits that elusive “it” factor so critical for the position.  Of course, everyone’s forgotten about him in the wake of drafting Love.  I think with a 55 man roster, no brainer to keep 3 QBs.  If Rodgers goes down, Boyle should give us best chance to win in 2020.  Ideal if we can avoid throwing Love into a regular season game his rookie year.  

RB (5):  HB:  A. Jones, Dillon (D2), J. Williams, Ervin  FB:  Deguara (D3)

Cut:  HB:  D. Williams (PS), Taylor (CFA), Crockett  FB:  Wellman, Jones (CFA)

Comments:  Aaron Jones is great, and to be great all the time needs to be healthy and fresh.  Dillon should allow that while still offering having a truly talented runner on the field.  Can’t wait to see this guy with his size and speed in a Packer uniform.  Appreciate Jamal Williams’ tough running, but think Dillon so much more inherently talented.  Ervin mostly Special Teams, but adds a nice complementary element to the run game.  As a foursome they should comprise a strong unit.  Packers list Deguara as a TE.  I have him here as our starting FB.  He’s both of course, a true H-Back and should be on the field a lot as a rookie.  May be too soon to write off last year’s 6^th round pick, Dexter Williams.  If eligible for Practice Squad (not sure if he is or not), he might stick around.  Patrick Taylor is an intriguing 6-2 217 lb CFA.

TE (3):  Sternberger, Tonyan, Lewis (35)

Cut:  Looney (PS), Baylis

Comments:  Jimmy Graham was just a bad signing by Gutekunst.  Will be exciting to see what last year’s 3^rd round pick, Sternberger, with speed and real pass catching ability, can do.  Tonyan a forgotten man last year, but still offers intriguing potential.  He catches everything thrown to him.  Unless converted DT Looney shows he’s the best blocking TE on the team (at at 287 lbs he should be), Lewis, at 35, sticks for another year and Looney continues his transition on the Practice Squad.

WR (6):  Adams, Funchess (FA), Lazard, St. Brown, Valdes-Scantling, Begelton (FA)

Cut:  Kumerow, Taylor, Shepherd, Stewart (CFA, PS)

Comments:  As mentioned above, just not enough talent, explosion, speed here.  The one thing this unit does have though is size.  Adams is simply great.  I’m penciling in Funchess as the other starter.  He was a high draft pick, had an excellent season with Carolina just a couple of years ago.  If he stays healthy, he should be better than anything we had last year beyond Adams.  Hoping Lazard continues his development, contributes even more this season.  St. Brown another forgotten player, missing all last year with injury.  Has legitimate speed to go with his tremendous size, and as such is a real wild card here.  Gutenkunst and Lafleur keep talking up Valdes-Scantling – which is interesting, considering how badly he played.  We know he’s the only true downfield threat we have.  Maybe his injuries really held him back last year, and in his third year – like other Packer WRs before him – he emerges.  Color me skeptical, but hopeful.  Don’t know much about Begelton, the Canadian import, but for now will give him the nod over Kumerow.  I like Kumerow, who Rodgers talks up.  He has nice size, seems to run good routes and catch everything.  Yet he was largely invisible last year when seemingly given plenty of chances.  College Free Agent Stewart may be a guy worth putting on the Practice Squad.

OL (10):  OT:  Bakhtiari, Wagner (FA, 30), Nijman  G:  Jenkins, Turner, Madison, Patrick, Runyan (D6A)  C: Linsley, Hanson (D6B)

Cut:  OT:  Light, Conway, Leglue, Bruffy (CFA)  G:  Taylor (30), Stepaniak (D6C, PS), Johnson (CFA)

Comments:  In my view, the most intriguing unit on the team from a roster standpoint.  Bakhtiari one of the best in the NFL, lucky to have him.  Still only 28.  Seems like he’s been here forever.  Hoping what I read about Wagner – that his down year last year with Detroit was because they changed the scheme, that he’s much better made for ours, that he was a huge FA signing a few years ago by the Lions to get him from the Ravens – all proves to be true.  He’s younger and less injury prone than Bulaga, likely a better run blocker, but not as good a pass protector.  Hopefully, overall, can be a wash.  Because Bulaga was great last year pass-blocking.  Will miss him.  But at less than half the cost, can’t blame Gutekunst for making the switch.  Is Wagner the best RT on the team, or do the Packers move Jenkins or Turner from Guard to play there?  Assuming they don’t, who’s the third OT?  It should have been Jason Spriggs, but that ship sailed.  Is it possible it’s Nijman, the 6-7 314 lb College Free Agent from a year ago that scouts said had tremendous talent but needed more development?  Not sure, but giving him that spot over another former College Free Agent, Alex Light, who wasn’t good enough last year.  Maybe the Packers bring back Jared Veldheer?  Why not, since he played so well when needed.  Jenkins was simply a stud at Left Guard as a rookie, high 2^nd round pick.  The fact he can play Center, and possibly OT, just enhances his value to the team.  Big Free Agent signing Turner was decent at Right Guard, I thought played better as the year went on.  He played RT with Denver and Miami, so a real consideration to move there with what seems like good depth at G.  Everyone surprised Packers have kept former LG starter Lane Taylor on the roster – especially at his salary.  Is it because they have thoughts to give him his old LG spot back, move Jenkins to be the starting RT and Wagner the backup at both Tackles?  If not, then why is he still here?  Linsley a quality Center.  Packers seem to like Patrick as a backup G/C, but just think we need to get better there.  Madison yet another forgotten man after missing most all last year with injury.  But if healthy, he’s bigger and more talented than the scrappy Patrick.  Have 6^th round picks Runyan sticking at G, Hanson at C.  Read that the third 6^th round pick, G Stepaniak, will likely not be healthy enough to start the season.  That’s why I have him on the Practice Squad for now.      

DEFENSE (25)

DL (6):  Clark, Keke, Lowry, Lancaster, Adams, Hester (FA)

Cut:  Previlon (CFA, PS)

Comments:   Already said we need to add to this group.  I think it’s the weakest on the team right now – worse than WR.  And from purely a numbers standpoint, not even enough to go to camp with.  Clark one of the best players on this team, one of the best NTs in the NFL.  One of the rare #1 picks Thompson hit on.  Hoping for big things from Keke.  Though he was only a 5^th round pick last year, I thought he flashed real talent in the limited playing time he got.  Lowry was a real disappointment.  After signing him to a big contract extension and touting how he’d be a cornerstone for years to come, he appeared to be nothing more than average.  Adams was an even bigger disappointment.  Last year he was supposed to emerge as a quality starter.  Instead he looks like another in an agonizingly long line of high draft pick DL busts for the Packers.  Have him making the team hoping beyond hope he still emerges, but even more so because we have no one else.  Lancaster, a former College Free Agent, a try-hard guy and a nice-to-have, but shouldn’t have been a starter last year and questionable if he’s even a quality backup.  Hester a recent Free Agent pick up, a real unknown.  Will give him a roster spot as well because we’re so desperate here.     

LB (9):  OLB:  Z. Smith, P. Smith, Gary, T. Williams, Ramsey  ILB:  Kirksey (FA), Burks, Summers, Martin (D5)

Cut:  OLB:  Garvin (D7B, PS), Roberts, Galeai (CFA), Scott (CFA)  ILB:  Bolton, Barnes (CFA)

Comments:  Za’Darius Smith was justifiably in the running for NFL Defensive Player of the Year last year.  He did it all, every single game.  What a great signing.  His running mate, Preston Smith, seemed to start out strong but then tail off.  I love his length and overall game.  Hoping he’s able to better match Zadarius’ production this coming season.  If this defense is going to be better in 2020, Gary has to go from a little used rookie to a major contributor.  Have not forgotten that Gutekunst told everyone after tabbing Gary with the 12^th pick in the 1^st round last year that it would take him time due to transitioning from DE to OLB.  We heard the same thing about Nick Perry years ago, and it never happened.  Keeping fingers crossed Gary takes all that size, speed and freakish athletic ability and becomes a terror for offenses trying to block the two Smiths.  With Fackrell’s departure we need someone to fill that 4^th OLB slot.  I’ll initially give it to Tim Williams, who was a high pick out of Alabama by Baltimore and offers the inherent talent to still turn into something.  Ramsey showed real pass-rush in Pre-Season last year, needed to add some weight and strength.  Hoping he did.  For now, stashing our 7^th round pick Garvin on the Practice Squad.  Doing same with Roberts, who was a CFA last year but Packers kept around.  At ILB, I’m betting Kirksey – if he can stay healthy – will prove to be a noticeable upgrade over Martinez.  Loved Martinez’s heart and smarts, but his below average size, speed and athletic ability was a glaring weakness on this defense.  Kirksey offers much more.  Penciling Burks as the other starter, but mostly as a courtesy.  Gutekunst talked him up – but he did same last year with DL Adams, and Adams was a bust.  Don’t know what’s missing with Burks.  Gutekunst traded up to grab this guy in the 3^rd round 3 years ago.  He’s got size and speed and as a former Safety knows how to cover.  Maddening.  Maybe Summers, a 7^th round pick last year who showed great straight-line speed last year in Pre-Season, takes a big jump.  Or maybe Martin, our 5^th round pick, contributes more than you’d expect out of a mid-round rookie.  Bolton looked just OK in Pre-Season last year before tearing up his knee.  Lots of ifs and hopes at ILB.   

DB (10):  CB:  Alexander, King, Jackson, Sullivan, Hollman, Ento  S:  Savage, A. Amos, Redmond, Greene

Cut:  CB:  Samuels (CFA, PS), D. Amos, Dequoy (CFA), Sunderland (CFA)  S:  Scott (D7A, PS), Griffin (CFA), Black (CFA)

Comments:  I thought Alexander actually played better as a rookie in ’18 than last year.  Sophomore slump?  We need him to be great.  Glad King stayed healthy.  Played well overall.  But can never forgive Thompson for picking King over T.J. Watt, who has been nothing but great for the Steelers from the moment they gleefully grabbed him after we passed on doing so.  Thanks for nothing Ted.  He screwed us terribly with a number of bad drafts his last few years.  Jackson, like Burks, so far making Gutekunst look like an idiot for drafting him so high (2^nd round).  Josh Jackson Mr. Invisible so far.  Guessing Packers give him one more chance to show he can play in the NFL.  Sullivan a pleasant surprise last year, likely will get more playing time.  Looking for a big jump from Hollman, a 6th round pick in ’19.  I thought Ento really flashed in Pre-Season last year.  Maybe he proves he deserves a roster spot.  Like what I’ve read about College Free Agent Samuels, give him a Practice Squad a lot for now.  Do the Packers bring back Tramon Williams?  He did play decently for us last year, but is truly ancient age-wise for the position.  At Safety, I though Amos played well after throwing big money at him to leave the Bears, but wasn’t great.  Similarly, Savage, as the first DB taken in last year’s draft, and for all his elite speed, was slightly underwhelming.  Hoping both play much better in 2020.  Greene and Redmond provide just OK depth.  Guessing Scott, a 7^th round rookie, sticks on the Practice Squad.   

SPECIAL TEAMS (3)

(3):  PK Crosby (35), P Scott, LS Bradley

Comments:  So far, no competition for any of these players.  Hoping Crosby can continue to play as well as he did last year, that Scott can become more consistent and a real weapon.