Predicting the Green Bay Packers’ initial 53-man roster
The Green Bay Packers must decide on their initial 53-man roster to start the 2020 season by Saturday at 3:00 p.m. CT. GM Brian Gutekunst and coach Matt LaFleur must sort through 80 players and find the best combination of 53 in the next 24 hours.
We attempted to predict how the two will construct their first roster of 2020.
Note: Positions are based on the position listed on the Packers’ roster.
Quarterback (3): Aaron Rodgers, Tim Boyle, Jordan Love
No surprises here.
Running back (4): Aaron Jones, Jamaal Williams, Tyler Ervin, A.J. Dillon
Dexter Williams is talented, but there’s a good chance he’ll get squeezed off this roster. Maybe he sticks as the fourth running back if the Packers truly think Ervin is going to be a receiver.
Wide receiver (5): Davante Adams, Allen Lazard, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Equanimeous St. Brown, Jake Kumerow
Is there any reason to keep a sixth receiver, especially with Ervin on the roster? The Packers know what they have in these five, and keeping only five allows for an opportunity to keep another tight end/fullback hybrid player.
Tight end (5): Marcedes Lewis, Jace Sternberger, Robert Tonyan, Josiah Deguara, John Lovett
The first four are locks, but Lovett makes sense. He has the size and skillset the Packers like in the LaFleur offense.
Offensive line (10): David Bakhtiari, Elgton Jenkins, Corey Linsley, Lane Taylor, Billy Turner, Rick Wagner, Lucas Patrick, Jon Runyan, Alex Light, Yosh Nijman
Cutting Jake Hanson would be a risk, but he’s an ideal practice squad candidate. The Packers need to keep Light and Nijman for depth at offensive tackle.
Defensive line (4): Kenny Clark, Dean Lowry, Tyler Lancaster, Kingsley Keke
Only four? Well, that’s why this is an “initial” roster. Without Montravius Adams and Treyvon Hester, who are both injured, the Packers may have to search for a rotational defensive lineman among the cuts.
Outside linebacker (5): Za’Darius Smith, Preston Smith, Rashan Gary, Tim Williams, Jonathan Garvin
This is a good group with a ton of potential, top to bottom. The risk here is cutting Tipa Galeai, but he’d be perfect for the practice squad.
Inside linebacker (4): Christian Kirksey, Kamal Martin, Oren Burks, Ty Summers
If he needs to go on IR, Martin must first be on the initial roster to eventually return midseason.
Cornerback (5): Jaire Alexander, Kevin King, Chandon Sullivan, Josh Jackson, Ka’dar Hollman
Hollman makes it over Stanford Samuels, who – like Galeai – would make a great developmental player for the practice squad.
Safety (5): Adrian Amos, Darnell Savage, Raven Greene, Will Redmond, Vernon Scott
Redmond and Scott provide versatility and special teams ability behind the first three, who will all play big roles.
Specialists (3): Mason Crosby, JK Scott, Hunter Bradley
No surprises here.
