Paul Bretl | 8/25/2024
GREEN BAY, Wis. — Three preseason games and 19 training camp practices are complete for the Packers. We’ve gained all the information that we can from an evaluation standpoint, along with trying to gauge where things stand on the depth chart based on playing time and rotations.
With league-wide roster cuts needing to be complete by Tuesday, August 27th, here is my one and only Packers’ 53-man roster prediction after taking in training camp and the preseason games.
Quarterback (2): Jordan Love, Michael Pratt
The biggest advantage, in my opinion, that Sean Clifford had over Michael Pratt was his experience. Common qualities we’ve also often heard to describe Clifford are that he’s a gamer and resilient. However, as I detailed recently, we didn’t see those attributes routinely on display. The summer was filled with inconsistency from Clifford. Pratt would certainly take his lumps as well, but was the more efficient and effective quarterback throughout the preseason, while having to navigate the learning curve that comes with making the jump to the NFL.
Running back (3): Josh Jacobs, Emanuel Wilson, MarShawn Lloyd
Designated to return from IR: AJ Dillon
This is just a guess on my part, but as of Thursday, Matt LaFleur said they were still waiting on opinions before deciding what the next steps are for AJ Dillon who has been sidelined with a stinger. To me, I just don’t get the sense he’ll be ready for Week 1–but I could be wrong. With Lloyd, who is dealing with hamstring injury, again another guess, I’m assuming that with two weeks already missed, he won’t need another six weeks–two weeks before Week 1 plus four weeks on IR–to be ready to go.
Tight end (3): Luke Musgrave, Tucker Kraft, Ben Sims
Designated to return from IR: Tyler Davis
Putting Davis, who has been out with a shoulder injury, designated to return from IR is just speculation on may part. We do not know the extent of it or even what the specific injury is, but we’ve recently seen Jordan Morgan miss several weeks with a shoulder injury of his own. I know Davis had a rough performance against Denver, but I do believe he’s been a more steady blocker overall than Sims and we know how highly he is thought of on special teams. Davis can also fill in as the do-it-all H-back, a role held by Josiah Deguara, who saw 12-15 snaps per game late last season.
Wide receiver (6): Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed, Dontayvion Wicks, Bo Melton, Malik Heath
DuBose or Malik Heath? Flip a coin. Heath finished out the summer on a high note but more than just in that final preseason game, Heath has been playing some good football. Against the Ravens starters in joint practice, he showed the ability to separate. The same thing was true in the preseason game against Denver. The production didn’t always show up, but from a process standpoint–route running, releases, creating space–I thought Heath was the more consistent of the two throughout the summer between him and DuBose.
Offensive line (10): Rasheed Walker, Elgton Jenkins, Josh Myers, Sean Rhyan, Zach Tom, Jordan Morgan, Jacob Monk, Andre Dillard, Kadeem Telfort, Travis Glover
We know the first seven players are going to be on the team. Based on his play in the preseason and the offensive tackle rotations at practice, I feel confident in saying Dillard will be on the team as well. To me, this decision comes down to keeping Telfort or Glover, or in this instance, I kept both. Again, looking at how each player was used in practice and their overall performance, I have Telfort ahead of Glover on the depth chart. However, as we’ve seen the last two years with Caleb Jones and Luke Tenuta, the Packers have no issue rostering developmental tackles, so I went heavy here.
Defensive line (10): Kenny Clark, Devonte Wyatt, TJ Slaton, Karl Brooks, Colby Wooden, Rashan Gary, Preston Smith, Lukas Van Ness, JJ Enagbare, Brenton Cox
This is pretty cut and dry. Although I will mention that I did consider leaving Cox off of the roster in favor of putting Kristian Welch on at linebacker. The reason that I considered this was because as the fifth member of the rotation, I don’t see him seeing much playing time on defense. He also hasn’t seen a ton of special teams snaps. However, I ultimately kept him because the odds of Cox getting claimed are higher than Welch, who was released by the Ravens last season and went unsigned. Long-term, Welch may not be on the team, but with Preston Smith potentially in his last year or two with the Packers, you can see a path to Cox becoming a member of that rotation.
Linebacker (5): Quay Walker, Isaiah McDuffie, Eric Wilson, Ty’Ron Hopper, Edgerrin Cooper
Without having room for Welch, this position group is pretty straight forward. In not having Welch or Zayne Anderson, the Packers will need Hopper and Cooper to make a quick impact on special teams.
Cornerback (6): Jaire Alexander, Eric Stokes, Carrington Valentine, Keisean Nixon, Corey Ballentine, Kalen King
As I wrote recently, Ballentine brings a lot of value on the back end of the roster. He got some work out of the slot this summer, adding some versatility to his game. He’s been a key teams contributor and was quite steady last season when relied upon defensively, playing over 400 snaps. King, meanwhile, flashed playmaking abilities from the slot this summer and brings physicality to the position.
Safety (5): Xavier McKinney, Javon Bullard, Evan Williams, Anthony Johnson, Kitan Oladapo
Overall, I was quite impressed with Anthony Johnson this summer who has taken well to Jeff Hafley’s defense. His snaps may be limited defensively, but if called upon, I like the stability he can provide if needed. Oladapo’s primary role will be on special teams this season, where there will be a learning curve as he didn’t play a ton of teams snaps at Oregon State, but his combination of athleticism and physicality makes him someone who can be really good in this phase of the game.
Specialists (3): Anders Carlson, Daniel Whelan, Matt Orzech
Over the course of the summer, Carlson had the better hit rate on field goal attempts compared to Greg Joseph. I also think he has the advantage as the younger player who still has some upside that the Packers will want to tap into. Whereas with Joseph, who is in Year 5, we know who he is at this point as a kicker.