The Green Bay Packers’ 26-13 loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday marks the official halfway point of the preseason. In just two weeks, Matt LaFleur and GM Brian Gutekunst will trim the roster from 90 to 53 players. This is a prediction as to what the Packers should do based on the Training Camp and the preseason thus far.
Offense
QB (2): Aaron Rodgers, DeShone Kizer
As has been the case for the Packers since 1993, QB1 is not a question. Two-time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers leads the Green and Gold in his 14th NFL season. If things go according to plan, the Packers will not have another quarterback touch the field, other than perhaps some garbage time at the end of games. By no means is DeShone Kizer the answer in Green Bay, but he’s arguably the best of the guys on the roster. Tim Boyle makes a strong case to win this roster spot, but when you trade a former first-round pick to acquire a guy, you end up committed to him.
RB (4): Aaron Jones, Jamaal Williams, Dexter Williams, FB Danny Vitale
Aaron Jones is far and away the number one back in the Packers system. Grossly underused in his first two years under former coach Mike McCarthy, Jones is expected to flourish in the running-friendly offense of LaFleur. Jamaal Williams should get plenty of usage as well, although having not participated much in camp, it remains to be seen how he will mesh in the offense. Sixth-round pick Dexter Williams has fit very well into the offense, despite a rough showing in the preseason contest against Baltimore. Fullback Danny Vitale earns the last backfield spot with an incredible training camp, where he has shown versatility with his ability to catch out of the backfield, block and handle carries as well.
WR (7): Davante Adams, Geronimo Allison, Marquez Valdez-Scantling, Jake Kumerow, Equanimeous St. Brown, Trevor Davis, Darrius Shepherd
For a position group with so many locks, this also may be the hardest group to predict. The reason being just how close Davis and Shepherd are. Both have legitimate speed, both are dangerous returners and both have had solid camps catching the ball, something Davis has not had to this point in his pro career. In the grand scheme of things, depending how roster cuts do end up going, the conversation to keep either six or seven receivers could be one of the hardest decisions the Packers front office has to make. Shepherd has proven enough thus far in camp to earn a spot.
TE (3): Jimmy Graham, Marcedes Lewis, Robert Tonyan
While Jimmy Graham has had a notoriously tough time adjusting to new teams, both with Seattle and Green Bay, Graham may be the biggest benefactor of the LaFleur hire. LaFleur loves using two tight end sets and Graham is on a mission to prove his doubters wrong. Lewis will remain the top tight end in terms of blocking and ideally a small resurgence as a legitimate red zone threat. Tonyan has shined nearly his entire tenure in Green Bay. He can run routes like Graham and block like Lewis and has earned high praise from Rodgers. Jace Sternberger makes the team in some capacity, although he may be someone Green Bay could stow on an injury list after remaining sidelined since being on the receiving end of a controversial hit in the first day of joint practices with the Texans.
OL (9): David Bakhtiari, Elgton Jenkins, Corey Linsley, Billy Turner, Bryan Bulaga, Lane Taylor, Alex Light, Lucas Patrick, Justin McCray
With most of this position group set, the only real debate in terms of this list is whether or not Cole Madison has earned a spot on the depth chart after taking last season off for mental health reasons. Madison has looked like a beast at points, but has also gotten beat badly on some plays, including a fumbled exchange between Williams and Boyle during the Ravens game, which led to a Baltimore touchdown just a few plays later. Unfortunately, there may not be enough room, barring injuries. With two weeks of camp and exhibition games left, Patrick and McCray had been on the bubble, but their versatility and improvement have seemingly locked up their positions.
Defense
DL (5): Kenny Clark, Dean Lowry, Montravius Adams, Kingsley Keke, Fadol Brown
This position got a bit more muddy after the surprise release of Mike Daniels just a day before the start of Training Camp. Kenny Clark and Dean Lowry are the only two NFL proven players in this group. That said, Montravius Adams has improved immensely over the offseason and has earned high praise from the coaching staff. Kingsley Keke has very quietly impressed in his second string role. Brown gets the final spot due to flashes we saw last year from him, despite having been out the majority of camp due to injury.
OLB (5): Za’Darius Smith, Preston Smith, Rashan Gary, Kyler Fackrell, Reggie Gilbert
When a team that infamously does not spend in free agency decides to spend on not just one, but two high profile edge rushers, expectations for that position group should be very high. Combine that with also getting an absolute athletic freak in Rashan Gary at the 12th overall pick in this year’s draft, the Packers should have a high quality pass rush. Of course, you can’t forget Kyler Fackrell, who is coming off a career year of leading the team with 10.5 sacks. Rounding out the position group is Reggie Gilbert, who has been quite serviceable in his time in Green Bay and can also contribute on special teams if need be.
ILB (3): Blake Martinez, Ty Summers, Curtis Bolton
This is a bit of a copout, as Oren Burks should be on this list but I am predicting that he will start the season on the IR and be designated to return after eight weeks. This could updated to include Josh Jones, who will be playing a hybrid safety-linebacker role, but I am going to include him later in the DB group. Blake Martinez leads the young group, having been one of the NFL’s leading tacklers over the last two years. Summers and Bolton have gotten a lot of reps so far, and Bolton also added an interception to his resume.
CB (6): Jaire Alexander, Kevin King, Tramon Williams, Josh Jackson, Tony Brown, Ka’dar Hollman
This might be the most fun group on the team. There is a lot of energy here, a lot of talent and a very good relationship among teammates. They’re competitive and should be improved by comparison to the last few seasons. Jaire Alexander is the real deal as the leader of the group and has the potential to be a legitimate shutdown corner in the NFL. If he can stay healthy, Kevin King can use his size to match up with the NFL’s elite himself. Another name to watch is Tony Brown, a second-year player who had gone undrafted out of Alabama and joined the team last year. Brown has really figured things out and has made the most of going against Rodgers in practice. Sixth-round pick Ka’dar Hollman has opened a lot of eyes as well and picked off Joe Webb against the Texans in the preseason opener. Tramon Williams rounds out the corners and provides the veteran leadership for the young group and isn’t a slouch by any means either.
S (6): Adrian Amos, Darnell Savage, Raven Greene, Josh Jones, Ibraheim Campbell, Natrell Jamerson
Much like the OLB group, a prominent free agent and first-round pick (Amos and Savage, respectively) headline this list. Also included is Raven Greene who, like Tony Brown, managed to come on as an undrafted free agent, stick around and come into 2019 playing at a high level. As mentioned earlier, Josh Jones will probably play a lot of the hybrid safety/linebacker role, but has worked with the DBs throughout camp as well. The Packers would also like to hold onto Campbell and Jamerson, who have both been incredibly versatile and made splashes at the end of the 2018 season.
Specialists (3) P JK Scott, K Mason Crosby, LS Hunter Bradley
With all due respect to Sam Ficken, the only other player who was even considered at this group, the kicker job was Mason Crosby’s to lose and he didn’t lose it. JK Scott has had a good camp and should see improved numbers from last year. Lastly, if this is the last time you hear Hunter Bradley’s name until next training camp, he had a very good year.
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