How Many Roster Spots are Actually Available this Summer?
By Paul_Bretl
Many of us spend the summer putting together 53-man roster predictions and pontificating about which under-the-radar players are going to make a roster push with strong training camp and preseason performances.
However, how many roster spots are truly up for grabs--especially on a Green Bay Packers team that is loaded with veteran experience?
The reality is there are oftentimes very few, and most of the roster spots on the 53-man depth chart are already accounted for. So with that being the case, I wanted to go position by position through this Green Bay Packers team in an attempt to get an idea of how many roster openings there actually are this summer.
Quarterback: 0
This is pretty straight forward--Aaron Rodgers and Jordan Love are the two quarterbacks for this season.
Running back: 0-2
If Kylin Hill is ready to go for Week 1, then there may not be any spots available if the Packers intend to keep three running backs as they did in 2021. However, if Hill begins on the PUP list, or if he isn't a roster lock, then there will be one or two spots available, depending on how many running backs Matt LaFleur wants to keep.
Recevier: 0-1
My initial thought was to put that there were no openings at the position--the reason being that during LaFleur's tenure as head coach, the Packers have never kept more than six receivers, and on one occasion, they rostered just five on the initial 53-man.
Allen Lazard, Sammy Watkins, Christian Watson, Amari Rodgers, Randall Cobb, and Romeo Doubs already take up six roster spots--not to mention that this is an offense under LaFleur that relies on the running backs and tight ends in the passing game. However, with that said, I will leave the door open for a seventh receiver, given the uncertainty at the position.
Tight End: 0
The big question facing the Green Bay Packers' tight end position is will they keep four or five on the roster? However, when it comes to who those players will be, well, we already know that answer.
This group will be made up of Robert Tonyan, Marcedes Lewis, and Josiah Deguara for sure, with Dominique Dafney and Tyler Davis as potential cut candidates. Although, if there is an added emphasis on special teams this season, then keeping five tight ends may make the most sense as Dafney and Davis could both be core contributors under Rich Bisaccia.
Offensive line: 1-2
There is going to be a lot of competition along the offensive line this summer, but when it comes to who is going to make up the final roster, I would consider seven of those spots locked up, and potentially eight if you include Elton Jenkins--although he could very well begin the season on the PUP list. And for reference, the Packers kept nine offensive linemen last season.
My initial roster locks include David Bakhtiari, Jon Runyan, Josh Myers, Royce Newman, Yosh Nijman, Zach Tom, and Sean Rhyan.
Interior Defensive Line: 0-1
The Packers did keep six interior defenders last season; however, during the 2020 season, they would only roster five. If that's the case once again, then each of those five spots are arleady accounted for by Kenny Clark, Dean Lowry, TJ Slaton, Devonte Wyatt, and Jarran Reed.
I tend to think this is how things will play out, but I'll at least entertain the idea of them keeping six.
Edge Rusher: 2-3
I think it's a safe bet that Green Bay keeps five edge rushers on the roster, and right now, I would consider only Rahsan Gary and Preston Smith as the locks, although you can probably include Kingsley Enagbare in that group as well. While the roster spot for a fifth-round pick isn't what I would consider guaranteed, I do think that Enagbare makes this team and is utilized in obvious passing situations early on.
The depth of the edge rusher unit is one of the bigger concerns that I have about this Packers team. It's a heavily rotated position, which enhances the importance of reliable depth, and there was a serious lack of impact plays when Smith and Gary were on the sidelines last season.
Linebacker: 1-2
Again, this all depends on how many players the Packers choose to roster at this position. We know that De'Vondre Campbell and Quay Walker will be on this team, and I would consider Krys Barnes as a near lock as well, given his defensive experience, inexpensive contract, and potential on special teams.
Cornerback: 1
There are quite a few question marks about the back-end of this Green Bay Packers cornerback room, but I do believe that in addition to Jarie Alexander, Rasul Douglas, and Eric Stokes, we will also see Keisean Nixon and Shemar Jean-Charles on this roster.
Nixon was a core special teams player in Las Vegas under Bisaccia and has the opportunity to give the Packers an added presence in the slot. Jean-Charles will have that same opportunity as well, and although he is a former Day-3 pick, in only his second season and with minimal experience, I'll venture to say that he makes this team.
Safety: 2
Operating under the assumption that the Packers keep four safeties, the only locks at this point are Darnell Savage and Adrian Amos--the other two spots are completely up for grabs.
Specialists: 1
As I wrote recently, I don't believe that Mason Crosby is in a true competition with Dominik Eberle. Meanwhile, Pat O'Donnell is the only punter on the roster, but there are, however, two long-snappers and Steven Wirtel was one of PFF's lowest-graded long-snappers last season. Competing with him is Jack Coco, who was a long-snapper on field goal attempts at Georgia Tech and a tight end his final season.
Truthfully, I still believe that Wirtel will win the job because of his experience, but he is far from a roster lock.
How many roster spots are available?
So now that we've gone through each position, on the low-end, there are eight roster spots up for grabs this summer, which means 45 are already accounted for. On the high-end, there are 15 available. And as is often the case, the answer probably lies somewhere in the middle.
Out of 90 players on the current training camp roster, 53 will make the final cut, and of those 53 spots, roughly 10 or 11 are up for grabs.
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__________________________
Born and raised in Green Bay, WI and I still call it home. After my family, watching the Packers, sharing my opinions on the team through my writing and interacting with other fans is my greatest passion. You can find me on Twitter at @Paul_Bretl.
Comments (47)
stockholder
June 06, 2022 at 11:12 am
I doubt we need 5 TEs. The Jack of all trades, just seems like a waste. And trying to prove 5 are needed. Could hurt the Need in other areas.
PatrickGB
June 06, 2022 at 01:30 pm
I have often wondered why Matt seems to love that position. There are few coaches that utilizes that scheme. I don’t even know what to call it. Is it TE, Move TE, H-Back, Fullback or what? And the narrative has been about how hard it is to learn and do it right. Having them on roster takes away from other positions especially the WR group. Perhaps someone could show film clips and explain their use?
JonathanSpader
June 06, 2022 at 02:03 pm
The way MLF uses the TE group ties in to his illusion of complexity offense. You don't know if Tonyan is in there as a blocker or receiver. When MVS was on the field you knew he was running a go route.
The reason I think we could see another WR and 1 less TE is Sammy Watkins and Allen Lazard graded out as 2 of the best blocking WRs in football according to PFF.
Leatherhead
June 06, 2022 at 07:32 pm
If Tonyan played every snap, and we threw it to him 10 times every game, he'd still be a blocker on the other 56 plays, or a decoy. When Tonyan plays 40 snaps, he gets a few 3-4 targets, and so the rest of the time, he's a blocker or a decoy. So you can assume he's a blocker or a decoy and only be wrong 3 or 4 times.
The "complexity " thing is that you don't know who he's going to block. Mercedes Lewis, for example, is going to block that guy across from him. But LaFleur puts these guys in motion, then back the other way, and he plays two of them together. It makes it easier to get the angles we want.
As I've pointed out, if we play 3 WRs, the opponent has to play nickel, leaving them with 6 guys in the box, against our offensive line + TE, followed by Jones/Dillon. And we're essentially putting an offensive lineman in motion......except that once or twice he sneaks loose and gives us a fresh set of downs.
mrtundra
June 06, 2022 at 02:27 pm
I doubt Davis, TE, gets cut or sent to the PS. He is an up and comer at his position and we can look for him on the roster.
PhantomII
June 06, 2022 at 08:48 pm
The only reason we need any TE's is because we don't have a really bad ass OL. If we had road graders all around TE's would not be required at all. Only big TE's who are hard to bring down with good speed and good hands like Gronk would do...We don't have any like that. ML method of blocking and going out for a pass....Illusion limits true pass catchers and makes it harder to move the chains. With our colossal fails in the playoffs we need to either be able to run at our will.....OL bad asses....or throw to multiple WR's and move the chains. When we have a sucky OL with multiple pro Bowlers out injured we neither Block aggressively in the run game and use more TE's not going for a pass and don't pass block effectively against playoff caliber defenses which is why our playoff record is poor and no SB appearances in 12 years. IF BAK gets back and is 100% and IF Jenkins gets back 100% we will be okay if nobody else get's hurt......Otherwise a big dice roll. Having a dominant defense will help but offense will have to execute or our D will get worn down like last playoff game even though they played magnificent. We need a little luck getting guys back.
wildbill
June 06, 2022 at 11:12 am
Very nice breakdown, thanks. There will always be surprises but you covered it nicely
pack1487
June 06, 2022 at 12:08 pm
Great article and breakdown. More articles like this please
Leatherhead
June 06, 2022 at 12:10 pm
I think this was a good breakdown, but I also think that there are fewer spots than the author
Rodgers and Love and one inactive.
Jones, Dillon, Hill, and one inactive
Lewis, Tonyan, Deguara, Davis.
Cobb, Watkins, Watson, Amari, Doubs. And Lazard, because he will sign.
Bakhtiari, Runyan, Myers, Rhyan, Newman, Nijman, Van Lanen, Tom and probably Walker. That's 26 on offense already.
On defense, it's even tighter.
Clark, Lowry, Slaton, Reed, Wyatt are on the D line. We never have more than 5 DL active, and sometimes only 4.
Gary, Smith, Garvin, and Engabare. One more inactive.
Campbell, Walker, and Barnes.
That's 12 out of 13 spots already taken.
In the secondary, We've got our great starting 5, but after that it's murkier. We've got a couple of guys in Innis Gaines and Vernon Scott who've been with the program quite a bit but haven't played many snaps on the field. We've got the new hybrid safety guy, Tariq. We added Kaisean Nixon, but he's here for special teams, not because we want him covering guys in the playoffs. IF we consider him a corner, then we cut some guy who can cover better to keep him on the gameday roster. If we're going to keep our best corners after Alexander-Stokes-Douglas, then we're probably looking at Shemar and Ento. We're only going to dress 9 DBs, so that's mostly covered.
Any dark horse UDFA or 7th round pick is going to have to start on the practice squad and wait for an injury to get on the 53.
Turophile
June 06, 2022 at 01:14 pm
Good post Leatherhead. Like your thinking.
Leatherhead
June 06, 2022 at 06:07 pm
Thank you. I'm sorry you got downvoted for saying that, but there's a guy that does that.
Johnblood27
June 06, 2022 at 02:35 pm
I do not think that the GBP carry 3 QB on the 53, stop counting at 2 with 1 (or 2-?doubtful?) on the PS.
Leatherhead
June 06, 2022 at 06:14 pm
JB, if we only carry two, and one of them is unavailable, then we're going to be activating a PS guy a couple of days before the game, and he'll be one sack away from playing. Ugh.
You have to carry an insurance policy on your house and your car....and your team, even though you hope you won't ever need it. Kind of the same principle here, IMO. In fact, if this is Rodgers last year, then we could be developing Love's backup for next year.
Johnblood27
June 06, 2022 at 07:50 pm
The debate becomes - is Kurt Benkert valuable enough to protect on the 53 versus placing him on the practice squad. In either place he provides the back up to a back up insurance of which you speak.
I haven't seen anything that elevates him above PS to this point.
Coldworld
June 06, 2022 at 07:02 pm
The reality is that injury will muddy these waters between now and September, but that’s a pretty good guess in my view, though I’d take out the 3rd QB and reallocate that. I’m also not expecting more than 3 RBs (I personally think Taylor will get that spot).
Other than that, I think the wild card is STs. A good ST player could shift the balance. We could see a 4th ILB be really a box S (either Davis or our pick this year project to STs) and we could see a guy like Dafney making it in STs primarily, or even an outsider like Gafford (STs experience with RB too).
How much worse are those holdovers than a Summers or SJC? Can they play STs better? Bush was often not our best remaining cover corner going into seasons, but I’m glad we kept him. I’m thinking that that’s more similar to the current thinking than recent practice had been. RB will get his guys wherever possible I think.
pack69go
June 06, 2022 at 07:37 pm
When you use "inactive" do you mean practice squad? otherwise we are talking about the 53 man roster not who are the actives or inactives come game time!!!
Bear
June 06, 2022 at 01:20 pm
I think the battle for RB will be tight. Taylor had just as good of a college career as Hill. In comparing their most complete year (Junior season) Taylor had more TDs 18 to Hills 11.
Patrick Taylor vs Kylie Hill
Junior year full season
Plays. Yds. Avg. TD
Taylor 225. 1319. 5.9. 18
Hill 260. 1530. 5.9. 11
BirdDogUni
June 06, 2022 at 01:32 pm
I've been on the Patrick Taylor Jr. train since before it left the station. IDK if he showed up ready to roll this year, but if he did, he gets my vote. It will be interesting to see who shows out this year in TC. Can't wait to hear.
LLCHESTY
June 06, 2022 at 04:22 pm
I wouldn't be surprised if Hill starts the season on the PUP list. It would be nice if they could find a way to keep both Taylor and Hill, there's a good chance this is Jones' last year with the Packers. Dillon is more than capable of handling 275+ carries but that still leaves over 150 for other backs. Taylor, Hill and a mid to late round rookie would be a good competition for those carries.
Leatherhead
June 06, 2022 at 06:21 pm
The more I think about it, the more I think you're right about Hill starting on PUP. Not only do we have Taylor, but we drafted a rookie (whose name has slipped my mind) who was pretty kick-ass in college last year, so we're looking 4 deep without Hill. Considering that we usually only play one RB at a time, that should be plenty. And that would still leave us room on the practice squad if we really felt we needed one more.
I'd keep 4 RBs on the 53, with one inactive on gameday. Being able to keep Hill rehabbing on PUP gives us one more weapon in the arsenal who is available as soon as somebody else gets hurt.
mattgsx
June 07, 2022 at 10:27 am
Agreed, but mid-tier RBs are cheap and easily obtained in the draft.
Hill and Taylor can both contribute in ST play, which could help lock a roster spot for both of them, though they will also be battling Doubs and Toure there.
Also, he may be a receiver, but I think we could see Amari in the backfield on occasion this year as that cobra guy I am getting some Monty vibes from him, and with Doubs already showing strong, Rodgers may be that surprise odd man out unless he shows drastic improvement or a new wrinkle in his game.
PatrickGB
June 06, 2022 at 01:37 pm
My first thought was “who did they face in college”? My second was “how do they look in preseason”? I did like both players from what I saw of them. Hill looked a tad faster and more elusive. But it was an incredibly short sample. I expect that the coaches will figure it out.
Coldworld
June 06, 2022 at 07:06 pm
Hill is more similar to Jones and Taylor to Dillon in style. That’s the argument for keeping 4 on the roster essentially. Personally I think you keep a back up hard yards back active. That’s Taylor. If Jones is not there then we’d likely just see more Dillon and passing plays but sometimes you have to have that pounder.
Johnblood27
June 06, 2022 at 02:36 pm
ummm Bear, this ain't college... Teams are not made by college stats.
Bear
June 06, 2022 at 04:27 pm
If you compare their first year pro stats which are meaningless, Taylor still had a better season. Ummm John, I guess you have no current info to go on.
Johnblood27
June 06, 2022 at 07:45 pm
performance versus other professional players, in games and in practice, as well as performance in learning their responsibilities as evaluated by the coaching staff count much more than college stats Bear.
That's my point.
Statistics are for losers... they can't even really tell a true story of the past and they certainly do not predict the future.
Carpy
June 06, 2022 at 01:33 pm
Good analysis, Paul. I have not seen many people include in their early roster predications the possibility that the Packers bring in a FA/cut from another team who makes their final roster. Does this seem like a strong possibility, and if so, at which one or two positions is that most likely to happen? (and any names you'd like to speculate on, please do!)
PatrickGB
June 06, 2022 at 01:42 pm
Gutie will churn the roster. There will be a few surprising cuts and a few players picked up to see what they can do.
gkarl
June 06, 2022 at 02:06 pm
Most likely will be looking hard for Edge and Safety help once cut downs begin, don't think they'll do much will FA's at this point.
Johnblood27
June 06, 2022 at 02:38 pm
ummm... cut downs ARE FA's...
gkarl
June 07, 2022 at 07:41 am
correct, but cut downs haven't started, yet you can still sign FA right now.
Since'61
June 06, 2022 at 03:15 pm
A good breakdown but I'm not 100% certain that I agree on the WR position group. I think there is a possibility that Amari Rodgers does not make the final 53. IMO he needs to have a really strong camp to stick after his disappointing rookie season. Another issue is Cobb. I can see the Packers going with 6 in the WR group whether Rodgers is one of the six or not and with the consideration that Cobb will miss time due to injury.
It's always a tough call to pick the final spots since we don't see what the coaches see or how they are planning to use some of the players. Thanks, Since '61
WestCoastPackerBacker
June 06, 2022 at 03:30 pm
Given the amount of time they gave ESQ to develop, and he was a lower draft pick, they are NOT giving up on Amari after only one season in the league.
Since'61
June 06, 2022 at 09:02 pm
WestCoast our probably correct but if we are in an "all in" season then we need better from everyone than what we got from Amari last season. Thanks, Since '61
Leatherhead
June 06, 2022 at 06:59 pm
When was the last time a 3rd round pick was cut after his rookie season?
He may have been more disappointing to you than he was to the coaches. He was our punt catcher last year, and he did not lose a single fumble. One punt he muffed and recovered, one he muffed and it went out of bounds, and one bounced off Malik Taylor's foot. Even after everything, who lined up as kicker/ returner for us all season, including the playoffs? That would be Amari Rodgers.
So, if you'd care to bet a six pack of Pabst on that, I'll take you up on it.
Since'61
June 06, 2022 at 09:00 pm
If Amari Rodgers improves that is all the better for the Packers. I'm hoping that he works out but I also think that he has a long way to go. However if he comes on this season forget the 6 pack, I'll send you a keg of Warsteiner or Stella Artois or you pick the brew, but I need to do better than Pabst for you Leatherhead.
dobber
June 06, 2022 at 09:26 pm
"When was the last time a 3rd round pick was cut after his rookie season?"
Khyri Thornton.
Since'61
June 06, 2022 at 10:55 pm
Cookie!!! Thanks, Since ‘61
Lphill
June 06, 2022 at 03:25 pm
Dafney will make the 53 taking up a TE spot or running back spot he is a very effective run game blocker.
lou
June 06, 2022 at 05:47 pm
Dafney is the future replacement for Lewis and a top ST performer he just needs to stay healthy and on the field.
dobber
June 06, 2022 at 09:19 pm
I just don't think Dafney can handle the in-line blocking role that Lewis currently fills.
Thegreatreynoldo
June 07, 2022 at 02:22 am
Lewis and Dafney are different types of players. They play different positions. I personally do not see how Dafney can replace Lewis.
Swisch
June 06, 2022 at 03:40 pm
Parents, consider training your children to be long snappers, as apparently good ones are rare for the NFL.
Over five seasons, he makes perhaps $3-5 million, gets out of the game before excessive injury, and with good money management is set for life.
He is so valuable to a team that it seems he doesn't really need any other football skills -- except perhaps to stay stout in the way of the massive player directly in front of him for a second or two.
So, he probably has to be kind of big, and have him take an accounting class or two at a community college. He doesn't even need to attend a four-year college.
At age 10, have him sign a contract that he'll give his parents half a million dollars for their foresight.
GregC
June 06, 2022 at 06:30 pm
I think good long snappers are still common, but the Packers don't make it look that way. After a few decades of stability at the position, they have really gone into the weeds with their long snappers lately.
Swisch
June 06, 2022 at 07:20 pm
I hope you're right, Greg, and that the Packers snap one up real soon.
Swisch
June 06, 2022 at 04:37 pm
A couple of guys I'm excited about taking a step up as solid contributors are Amari Rodgers and Dafney.
As far as our substitute running backs, I'm hopeful that at least one or two emerges out of Taylor, Hill, and the two rookie free agents.
Then there's Lazard, who is already good, and I think improves to at least 70 catches with several touchdowns.
lou
June 06, 2022 at 05:52 pm
I still do not know why they replaced Goode mid season, that is when all the issues started, the naked eye could not see any reason to make the change.