I am writing this on Sunday August 29th. The final cut down date is Tuesday, August 31st. This will be my final prediction for the Packers 53 man roster. If someone gets cut or put on IR prior to Tuesday I will update it.
You can find my previous prediction here: https://atbnetwork.com/2021/08/07/green-bay-packers-53-man-roster-prediction/
Quarterbacks:(2)
Aaron Rodgers, Jordan Love
I feel this is pretty self explanatory. Everyone understood this was going to be their quarterback group going into the season. Nothing in preseason has changed that.
Running back:(3)
Aaron Jones, AJ Dillon, Kylin Hill
I feel this group is kind of the same as the quarterbacks. Most knew this was going to be the group once word of how well Hill was doing in camp came out. The only real question was would Taylor or Williams push enough to either beat out Hill or force the Packers to keep four. That did not happen. I think Taylor has a good shot at the practice squad though.
Tight ends:(4)
Robert Tonyan, Marcedes Lewis, Josiah Deguara, Dominique Dafney
Similar to the quarterback group. This group has been set most of camp. None of the bubble guys did anything to push the top four guys. Also, Sternberger is suspended the first two games of the season. He has been pretty iffy this camp. The Packers could cut him when he comes off the suspension list.
Wide receivers:(6)
Davante Adams, Allen Lazard, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Randall Cobb, Amari Rodgers, Malik Taylor
Through the off season the question was would the Packers keep five or six receivers? We all knew the top five were locks. But once camp started and some of the other guys started flashing the questions came. Most of camp it was a battle between Taylor and Funchess. Then after the first pre season game a lot of fans gave it to Funchess. I didn’t see the fit because he didn’t play special teams. Once Funchess was put on IR then release it was game over. Taylor had locked up the #6 spot. Begelton put up a fight at the end, but not enough to over take Taylor.
Offensive line:(10)
David Bakhtiari, Elgton Jenkins, Josh Myers, Lucas Patrick, Billy Turner, Jon Runyan, Ben Braden, Royce Newman, Yosh Nijman, Dennis Kelly
We know at least seven guys are locks. Bakhtiari, Jenkins, Myers, Patrick, Turner, Runyan and Newman are all locks for the roster. Newman looks like he has won one of the starting guard spots. The other one is between Patrick and Runyan. Patrick looks to have a slight lead on Runyan. I would not be surprised if Runyan did get a few snaps here and there during the early games before Bakhtiari comes back. Braden has shown versatility in playing both guard and right tackle so I think that gives him a spot. While he has had some hick ups Nijman has played well overall and he would probably be the #3 left tackle, but he has also gotten snaps on the right side. There is a chance they keep Kelly over him and keep Van Lanen for his versatility and upside.
Defensive line:(5)
Kenny Clark, Dean Lowry, Kingsley Keke, Jack Heflin, TJ Slaton
Through most of the offseason and camp it was thought that the five were locked in with Clark, Lowry, Keke, Slaton, and Lancaster. But Lancaster has been out played by Heflin. Heflin is a similar type player, but he seems to be a touch better athlete. He can also play more outside. Lancaster was best as a back up nose. With Slaton being the back up nose now there was no need for Lancaster to play that spot. When he didn’t play at nose tackle he didn’t play as well. Heflin is probably the same player right now but three years younger and cheaper.
Edge:(5)
Za’Darius Smith, Preston Smith, Rashan Gary, Chauncey Rivers, Tipa Galeai
Obviously the top three were locks. The fight was going to be for the #4 spot and #5 spot if they decided to keep one. There is a chance they keep a 5th if Z’s injury lingers into the season. I am keeping five just in case Z’s back flares up and Tipa can be a good special teams player. Rivers has come in a brought a spark as a rusher and played special teams as well. According to the outside linebacker coach special teams play was going to be important to choosing who gets the #4 spot. Garvin and Scott could both end up on the practice squad. Both showed flashes.
Linebackers:(4)
Krys Barnes, De’Vondre Campbell, Ty Summers, Oren Burks
The release of Kamal Martin took us all by surprise. It was looking like they would keep five inside linebackers with him. With him gone though and both Burks and Summers already being good special teams players. There doesn’t seem to be a need to keep a 5th just to do what they already do. Burks has shown some improvements in preseason from scrimmage. I don’t think he will ever be confused with Ray Lewis or anything like that but coming into camp he was looking like a cut candidate. Summers also showed some improvements as a leader and communicator.
Cornerbacks:(6)
Jaire Alexander, Kevin King, Chandon Sullivan, Eric Stokes, Shemar Jean-Charles, Kabion Ento
This is another group that was set for the most part entering camp. The top five were set outside of some sort of freak injury or something like that. The main battle was for the #6 corner spot. Ento has kind of won it by default. The only other competition he has had was Jackson who was shipped off for Yiadom, but Yiadom has not done any thing in camp or preseason to beat him out. Ento did struggle a little against the Bills. Yiadom got beat a number of times. I don’t see any other corners on the roster worth a practice squad spot.
Safties:(5)
Adrian Amos, Darnell Savage, Henry Black, Vernon Scott, Christian Uphoff
With this group the interesting battle was for the 5th and or possibly 6th spot. Which is very unusual keeping 6 safeties. Also it does not make sense keeping a 6th safety. The top three guys are locked in. Black played a lot in the dime packages and looks to be the #3 safety. Scott is injured but he has shown enough to keep him around. The main battle was between Uphoff and Gaines. Both had their moments. Gaines had a good game against the Texans, then Uphoff had a good game against the Jets. They both did not have good games against the Bills. So now it comes down to who fits what they need the best.
Uphoff is more of a unfinished product since he did not play in 2020 due to COVID. Uphoff is probably more of a strong safety while Gaines is more of a free and he can line up in the slot as well. Gaines issue however is a bad one. He has had problems tackling, and if you are playing mostly special teams…thats an issue. Uphoff for the most part has tackled well. Thats why he edges out Gaines.
Specialists:(3)
Mason Crosby, TBD, TBD
It was looking like it was going to be the same crew early on in camp. JK shanked that 21 punt and it just feels like his days in Green Bay are numbered. He is still too inconsistent for a guy going into his 4th season. The Packers punter is on someone else’s roster right now. As for the long snapper Bradley has also been inconsistent. Just the other day in practice he had three bad snaps. A long snapper can not have more than maybe one bad snap a season. As with JK the Packers long snapper is on another teams roster as well. Gutey may pick up one or the other on the waiver wire or even trade for one.