Ross' 53-man Packers Roster Prediction 2.0

As soon as the 2016 NFL Draft ended, I published a "way too early" 53 man roster prediction, which you can find here. It was certainly knee-jerk and no actual football had been played.  Now we've seen a little football.  The Packers have gone throgh OTAs and a few weeks of training camp, last night's preseason game autograph session notwithstanding.

I had a chance to be on the Packers sidelines for the first few days of camp and have been paying attention to the beat writer's and I think I'm ready to refine my 53 man roster.  I'll release one more prediction after the third preseason game and include a practice squad projection.

Quarterbacks (2)

  • Aaron Rodgers
  • Brett Hundley

Running Backs (4)

  • Eddie Lacy
  • Aaron Ripkowski
  • James Starks
  • John Crockett

Wide Receivers (6)

  • Jordy Nelson
  • Randall Cobb
  • Davante Adams
  • Trevor Davis
  • Ty Montgomery
  • Jeff Janis

Tight Ends (4)

  • Jared Cook
  • Richard Rodgers
  • Justin Perillo
  • Mitchell Henry

Offensive Linemen (9)

  • David Bakhtiari
  • Josh Sitton
  • Corey Linsley
  • TJ Lang
  • Bryan Bulaga
  • JC Tretter
  • Jason Spriggs
  • Kyle Murphy
  • Lane Taylor

Defensive Linemen (6)

  • Mike Daniels
  • Kenny Clark
  • Letroy Guion
  • Dean Lowry
  • Christian Ringo
  • Brian Price

Elephant ends (3)

  • Julius Peppers
  • Datone Jones
  • Nick Perry

Outside Linebackers (4)

  • Clay Matthews
  • Jayrone Elliot
  • Kyler Fackrell
  • Lerentee McCray

Inside Linebackers (4)

  • Sam Barrington
  • Jake Ryan
  • Blake Martinez
  • Joe Thomas

Cornerbacks (4)

  • Damarious Randall
  • Sam Shields
  • Quentin Rollins
  • Ladarius Gunter

Safeties (2)

  • HaHa Clinton-Dix
  • Chris Banjo

Hybrid DBs (2)

  • Morgan Burnett
  • Micah Hyde

Specialists (3)

  • Mason Crosby
  • Tim Masthay
  • Rick Lovato

Notes: I thought from the beginning of the season that John Kuhn would not return, and he has signed a contract with the New Orleans Saints.  I maintain my belief that Jared Abbrederis will not make the squad.  Trevor Davis has more upside and is cost-controlled for longer.  Jeff Janis is going to make the team no matter what strictly based on his special teams ability.  Whether you believe he can contribute on offense doesn't really matter at this point.  The team obviously believes in Lane Taylor more than I do, as he was the first guard off the bench.  I think either McCrae or Price will be released when Mike Pennel returns.  Watch out for Mitchell Henry potentially in the tight end group, possibly at the expense of Kennard Backman.  I was hoping Peter Mortell would unseat Tim Masthay.  It seems unlikely at best.

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Ross Uglem is a staff writer for Cheesehead TV. He can be found on Twitter @RossUglem 

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Comments (41)

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sonomaca's picture

August 08, 2016 at 04:44 pm

Monty is likely going to the 6-week PUP. Does that create an additional roster spot for Abby, at least until Monty returns?

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Ross Uglem's picture

August 08, 2016 at 11:55 pm

I sat in on McCarthy's first press conference and he told us that all of the PUP players would return during training camp (as in before the first game). Until I hear something different I'm operating on that premise.

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sonomaca's picture

August 08, 2016 at 04:46 pm

Only 4 corners. Hmmm. Corners are injured early an often. I know Hyde becomes your 5th corner, but still. Plus, the Packers love to develop young corners.

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staffordsneckfat's picture

August 08, 2016 at 05:05 pm

Agreed, would like to see Robertson Daniel here as well. Even with Janis making a contribution on special teams, I think only keeping 8 DB's would leave Zook's unit pretty thin.

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stic56's picture

August 08, 2016 at 06:45 pm

You are correct. Price and Thomas will be gone. CB's Daniel and Hawkins will make the team. IF the Packers bring Pennel back. Ringo will be released.

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ackjack81's picture

August 09, 2016 at 01:05 am

I think Thomas makes the team given the depth at ILB. I wouldn't be surprised if Barrington starts the year on the PUP list. His foot injury occurred week 1 last season and he's still not ready to practice/play. Even if/when he is ready, he may not be the same player he used to be. And to be fair it's not like he was a world-beater prior to the injury either. He was an up-and-coming player with a decent amount of potential, but still had a long ways to go to prove he was a consistent, capable starter.

I agree with you about Daniel and Price though (Price is a better candidate for the practice squad). If the Packers keep 6 CBs on the roster (7 if you include Hyde) I would suspect Makinton Dorleant makes the team over Hawkins.

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ackjack81's picture

August 10, 2016 at 01:02 am

I stand corrected about Barrington and the PUP list. Still think Thomas makes the roster though.

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Packer_Pete's picture

August 08, 2016 at 04:46 pm

What happened to the 'Micah Hyde' position group?

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Bearmeat's picture

August 08, 2016 at 05:21 pm

Unless Montgomery gets on the field, and I mean FAST, he's going to PUP. Abby will make the squad I'd bet.

I really am not sure about Bryan Price or Perillo either. I'd take 7 WRs over any of those guys.

Rest looks about right.

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Ross Uglem's picture

August 09, 2016 at 05:53 pm

Montgomery off the PUP

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al bundy's picture

August 08, 2016 at 05:37 pm

Eliminate anyone on the PUP list. Jordy will be back when we see it. Ditto Montgomery, Barrington, Clark. As they say in Wiscon, nerver make plans for eating fish until you caught them.
The way Mike M covers up real injury issues I plan on nothing. All these guys could miss the whole year when your dealing with Mike and his assessment he wants you to hear.

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stockholder's picture

August 08, 2016 at 09:43 pm

Instead of Daniel at CB, I'm looking at Warren Gatewood. I am not a Thomas or Brown Fan either. I say Mathews, and the Burnett experiment, will change that ILB position. Opening the door for another safety, maybe Kentrell Brice.

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PaulRosik's picture

August 08, 2016 at 10:35 pm

People want you gone because you are an anti-Packer fan. If the Packers win or do well you never comment and you only surface when there are complaints and joy (for you) to be had in a loss. You are only happy if the Packers lose and you live in mortal fear of them doing well.

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stockholder's picture

August 09, 2016 at 07:30 am

No , I think Mathews will be playing more than Burnett at ILB. Burnett is an experiment. His position is still SS. Thomas is not fast enough! You are going to see the best pass defense in the NFL. To make that happen Thomas needs to go.

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dobber's picture

August 09, 2016 at 08:17 am

You make an interesting proposition with Linsley on PUP with his hammy. With Tretter around and healthy, this would give Linsley time to get that injury right.

That said, putting Abbrederis on IR is ridiculous unless you see that as a way to hide him for a year. If you're "projecting an injury"? Well, then let's just say I'd like to draft after you in an FFL.

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dobber's picture

August 09, 2016 at 10:04 am

"Better than 75% chance he gets knocked out again."

This projection of future injury coming from cow's "crystal udder".

"He's too little."

At 6'1", 195, he's a pretty average-sized WR.

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Ross Uglem's picture

August 09, 2016 at 05:53 pm

Cook not PUP or IR, Montgomery not PUP, Barrington not PUP

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Oppy's picture

August 08, 2016 at 06:24 pm

I'm still puzzled by how many Packers fans discount Abbrederis.

QB's love WR's who play the game like Abbrederis does.

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croatpackfan's picture

August 09, 2016 at 03:56 am

You are not alone in this feeling. To be honest, Abby is the best WR Packers has at the moment. Yes, things will be changed, but to be so evil to wish and predict soembody's injury, just to be able to say: "What I was saying!" is so low and devilish. Shame on you people. You call it reality, I call that selfish... And I also want to apologize if any of you find offended. That was not my intention to offend any of you...

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Beep's picture

August 09, 2016 at 12:28 pm

Too many Badger homers are cheering for Abbrederis blindly out of pride for Wisconsin. You can't knock his work ethic, but he's not as physically gifted as some of our other receivers. He's definitely on the fringe of making the team. I wouldn't be surprised either way when they go down to 53.

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Oppy's picture

August 09, 2016 at 06:09 pm

He's not near being on the fringe IMO... he's currently playing as the third best WR on the roster. I think Davante Adams has more potential, but it hasn't been realized (yet! I'm still pulling for Adams). Abby is a player, nothing fringe about him. He simply needs to stay healthy.

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dobber's picture

August 09, 2016 at 06:15 pm

According to Cow, Abby has a 75% chance of getting hurt and missing the season...I hope he makes his saving throw against bovine curses..

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GatorJason's picture

August 08, 2016 at 06:31 pm

Barclay makes 10th OL.
Montgomery on PUP
Abby is 4th receiver
Janis may get bounced to S if he does progress as WR
Perillo is 3rd and final TE
Price or Ringo but not both on DL
Daniel as 5th corner
Masthay retains P position

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Big Moe's picture

August 08, 2016 at 09:21 pm

I agree with Abby as the 4th with Monty on the pup, he's always where AR wants him to be, it will be a career year for Abby and for you fantasy guys the sleeper pick of your drafts, Go Pack!!!!

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NickPerry's picture

August 09, 2016 at 05:18 am

He'd be picked up in a second, suggesting he wouldn't is just crazy talk.

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dobber's picture

August 09, 2016 at 10:06 am

As the #3 WR attached to Aaron Rodgers? Yes, people will draft him.

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

August 08, 2016 at 07:19 pm

One less TE.
One more OL (I can deal with 9 OL tho)
WR same #, but Davis to PS, Abby on 53.

Net: 0/+1 (but perhaps OL changes based on play)

One less DL
One less LB - probably Joe Thomas
One more CB

Net: 1 or possibly 2 roster spot goes to BPA.

No point in loading up on TEs who can't play - I see no sense of having more at our least talented position. 3 TEs at most on the 53, one on the PS. I've flirted with keeping just 2 on the 53 man roster if Backman and Henry don't show up. I am just looking ahead to 2017 in my desire to keep one more guard. 6 DL is a lot, considering 2 probably can't play early when we need them. Extra CB subject to having someone play well and force his way onto the 53. I try to keep Joe Thomas, whom I like, but he is on my bubble.

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Colin_C's picture

August 09, 2016 at 12:07 am

Longtime follower here, first post!

Anyways, I'd say that from what I've heard, Daniel has been impressive since Whitt started working with him, so I think he'll be on the 53. I can't see any way right now that Davis makes it over Abby, and I'd be really shocked if we kept 4 TE's.

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RossMC's picture

August 09, 2016 at 01:26 am

You say Peter Mortell unseating Masthay is unlikely at best and you still have him on your roster prediction. I think this roster prediction is lazy at best. You claim you've been paying attention to beat writers but this is almost the exact prediction you had last time. Same biases with or against players like Brian price and Mitchell Henry (with) or Abbrederis (against), regardless of the camps they're having. Come on Ross, don't shame the name mang!

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lucky953's picture

August 09, 2016 at 07:20 am

Jarret Bush 2.0

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dobber's picture

August 09, 2016 at 08:23 am

Billy Schroeder 2.0.

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dobber's picture

August 09, 2016 at 10:13 am

Not until his SIXTH season...

http://www.nfl.com/player/billschroeder/2502858/profile

Barring catastrophic injury and assuming he continues to grow as an ST player, Janis will probably last that long in GB and will have every opportunity to continue to grow as a WR.

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Ross Uglem's picture

August 10, 2016 at 10:55 am

Florio writing something that disagrees with something I believe is almost always going to solidify that belief.

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Cathy Riccio's picture

August 09, 2016 at 07:15 am

What about Jared Abbaderis? He was strong in a couple of practices that I was in attendance.

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lucky953's picture

August 09, 2016 at 07:30 am

Agree with a lot of the commentary: Thomas was an emergency signing last year and with Martinez here, he'll be cut. Abbredaris will be a more reliable target than Davis (Rodgers has to have somebody who can catch the ball). No way Gunter is cut. I believe Ted will add a veteran DL to the group. Don't think they keep 4 TEs - their ST play has been nothing special. Hoping for Nelson, Cook, and Linsley back. I doubt Montgomery can ever be an effective player with that injury. I expect Davis will get a tryout as a gunner. If he's 80% as effective as Janis, then his receiving ability may get him that spot.

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dobber's picture

August 09, 2016 at 12:55 pm

What Janis has that Davis doesn't is strength. At this point, Davis isn't strong enough to make it as a gunner on a regular basis. He'd be the guy you see being ridden out of bounds on every punt play and not making it back in to factor in on a play. Just as we worry about whether or not he can get a release in press on offense, he isn't going to get off the line as a gunner unless he gets stronger.

IN EDIT: Sorry, DPF, I see you posted essentially the same comment yesterday on a different thread. I bow to your getting there first!

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lou's picture

August 09, 2016 at 12:25 pm

I realize this is Version 2 and we have not seen the first pres-season snap yet but it will be fun to compare this with the actual 53 when it is established. Recently I have seen Montgomery give more info on his ankle situation and the word "micro fracture surgery" is the work he used and that is a BIG RED FLAG. This kid flashed big time day one, picked up the system, good size/quickness, and a feel for yards after the catch. Not many pro athletes have gotten back to 100% after micro fracture surgery, lets hope this kid can do it. Just wondering if anyone else has seen the same info on Montgomery.

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Amanofthenorth's picture

August 09, 2016 at 03:40 pm

Tough calls, thankfully packer coaches get it right for the most part.

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lucky953's picture

August 09, 2016 at 05:44 pm

If only they had cut Bostick at the beginning of the season instead of the end......sigh

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Amanofthenorth's picture

August 09, 2016 at 06:06 pm

Uggh...that moment pops in to my mind out of the blue too often.

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