vince
07-13-2009, 05:17 PM
Packer Report has offered some analysis on each player on the roster and and ranked them from 1- 83.
http://gnb.scout.com/2/878866.html
35 — Will Blackmon, CB/KR
Blackmon (6-foot, 206 pounds) plays an important role on defense and special teams. While the fourth cornerback doesn’t play nearly as much as the nickel cornerback, the Packers have six games against the NFC North’s star quarterbacks, as well as matchups against pass-happy Cincinnati and Arizona. He’s been a below-average cornerback (four passes defensed, no interceptions in three seasons) and could be supplanted by Pat Lee. Nonetheless, he’s a mainstay on special teams, where he led the Packers in tackles, was one of the NFL’s top punt returners and figures to be the main character as they try to upgrade last year’s last-ranked kickoff return. Don’t dismiss how field position impacts winning and losing. A few yards here and a few yards there add up to hundreds of yards over the course of a season. He was the fourth corner for most of the offseason and the top kickoff and punt returner.
36 — Donald Lee, TE
There’s been a lot of hype about second-year tight end Jermichael Finley, but first, he must beat out the reliable Lee (6-4, 248). When the Packers have been at their best during the Mike Holmgren-Mike Sherman-Mike McCarthy era, their tight ends have been top-notch playmakers, whether it was Mark Chmura pairing with Keith Jackson, or Bubba Franks being a big-time red-zone threat, or a flash-in-the-pan performance by Tyrone Davis. Lee fell from 48 catches for 575 yards (12.0-yard average) and six touchdowns in 2007 with Brett Favre to 39 catches, 303 yards (7.8 average) and five touchdowns in 2008 with Aaron Rodgers. He spent the offseason as the starter.
37 — T.J. Lang, G/T
Assuming Jason Spitz is successful in his move from right guard to center, the Packers will have new starters at right guard and right tackle. While Josh Sitton and Allen Barbre will enter training camp as the front-runners at those spots, they better not rest on their shorts-and-helmets laurels from the spring. Lang (6-4, 316) was one of the most impressive linemen as the top backup at both spots during offseason workouts, and a couple of the coaches have said they can’t wait to see Lang perform when the pads go on in August. If nothing else, he’ll push Sitton and Barbre this year and compete for a starting job next year, when the Packers might need a new left guard in case Daryn Colledge moves to left tackle to replace Chad Clifton or departs in free agency. Lang, the Packers’ fourth-round pick, received a four-year deal with a signing bonus of about $502,000.
38 — Jamon Meredith, T
Meredith (6-5, 304), the second of the Packers’ fifth-round picks, has all the tools required to be the long-term answer for when longtime left tackle Chad Clifton finally gives way. Meredith is tall, has long arms and is an impressive athlete. He just needs to get stronger and refine his technique. He’ll do both this year, assuming he gets to watch and learn from Clifton rather than have to replace him. Either Meredith will fade away into oblivion or he’ll blossom into a starter, but at this point, he’s the only player on the roster with the potential to replace Clifton at the offensive line’s most important position. With Clifton recovering from offseason surgery, Meredith spent the offseason as the No. 2 left tackle. His four-year deal included a $172,500 signing bonus.
39 — Tony Moll, T/G
Moll (6-5, 311) is the Packers’ utility man. He’s started at right tackle and right guard, he’s played left guard and he spent the offseason as the starting left tackle as Chad Clifton recovered from surgery. Moll has 18 starts in three seasons, all at right guard or right tackle, but he wasn’t part of the offseason battles at those positions. He had a chance to make a statement at right tackle last year, when he replaced the injured Mark Tauscher, but after two starts, he was benched and the Packers moved Daryn Colledge from left guard to right tackle for the season finale. Whether he can actually play left tackle will be determined during the preseason, though his play at right tackle gives a hint on the answer. If the Packers can get by with Moll at left tackle, he’d be a huge asset because the team wouldn’t have to move Colledge and, as a consequence, have new faces at two positions.
40 — Johnny Jolly
Whether Jolly (6-foot-3, 325 pounds) is a good fit as a 3-4 defensive end remains to be seen, but he’s the only proven big body among the presumed backups. Jolly started all 16 games last season at defensive tackle. He provided practically no pressure on the quarterback but he made some plays with his ability to get between blockers and make a tackle down the line of scrimmage. With the only other big man at defensive end being the unreliable-so-far Justin Harrell, losing Jolly to an injury or a suspension in his codeine trial that starts Friday would be a big loss. He spent the offseason as the starting right defensive end, but he was merely filling in for Cullen Jenkins. If he can play, he’ll be the top backup along the line and the No. 3 interior rusher behind B.J. Raji and Jenkins on passing downs.
41 — Anthony Smith
Smith (6-0, 200) was the Packers’ major offseason acquisition. The hard-hitting safety, a third-round selection by Pittsburgh in 2006, comes to Green Bay well-versed in the Packers’ new 3-4 scheme and was coached as a rookie by the Packers’ new safeties coach, Darren Perry. By filling in for Nick Collins for most of the offseason work, Smith was a big help as the defense got its first taste of the defense. He started 10 games and had two interceptions in 2007, when Pittsburgh boasted the league’s top-ranked defense, but he fell out of favor last year and wasn’t even on the gameday roster as the Steelers rolled through the playoffs and won the Super Bowl. He spent the offseason running the No. 1 defense, but he was hurt (groin) and out of the lineup when Collins arrived for minicamp. He’ll presumably be the third safety but he’s a solid insurance policy should Collins or Atari Bigby go down.
42 — Korey Hall and John Kuhn
With the assumption being that fifth-round draft pick Quinn Johnson will earn a roster spot and possibly start, veterans Hall and Kuhn will battle for the second spot at fullback. Hall (6-0, 236) and Kuhn (6-0, 250) have proven to be a decent combo with their own strengths. Hall, with 15 catches in his two NFL seasons, is the better receiver. Kuhn, with seven catches in his two seasons in Green Bay, is the better blocker and has proven to be a good short-yardage runner. Hall had 13 tackles on special teams compared to 12 for Kuhn. Hall isn’t a big guy at such a violent position, and perhaps that’s why he’s missed seven games in two seasons. Kuhn, on the other hand, is a perfect 32-for-32 with the Packers. Hall ran with the starters through the offseason, with Kuhn the No. 2 and Johnson the No. 3. If Johnson is ready to start, special teams may swing this battle to Hall. If Johnson isn’t ready, then Kuhn might get the nod.
44 — Pat Lee
Lee (6-0, 194) was a big disappointment last season, with the second-round pick playing in only five games before heading to injured reserve with a minor knee injury. During limited action, he broke up one pass against Atlanta but otherwise wasn’t a factor on defense or special teams. Lee was drafted because of his man-to-man prowess at Auburn, but with the Packers’ defense shifting away from an all-man, all-the-time scheme, Lee’s growth this season will be something to watch. He was impressive this offseason, spending most of the practices as the fifth corner but supplanting Will Blackmon on the final day of the minicamp. With starters Al Harris, 34, and Charles Woodson, 32, among the Packers’ oldest players, they need Lee to grow into at the very least a quality nickel corner. Stepping up and being the fourth corner this year, behind Woodson, Harris and Tramon Williams, would be a good step.
45 — Brady Poppinga, OLB
Poppinga (6-foot-3, 250 pound) at No. 45, you ask? There’s no better mix of team-first attitude and gung-ho enthusiasm in the Packers’ locker room. Nonetheless, Poppinga is coming off a season in which he saw his playing time cut and recorded no sacks or turnover plays. As a 3-4 outside linebacker, the duties are stop the run, drop into coverage and rush the quarterback. Stopping the run isn’t an issue — he’s a lead blocker’s worst nightmare. But pass coverage has never been a strong suit and, his pass-rushing credentials at BYU notwithstanding, he’s shown almost no ability to pressure the quarterback with three sacks in four seasons. In a fit of desperation by then-defensive coordinator Bob Sanders, Poppinga was thrown in as a pass-rushing defensive end late last season to no effect. He spent the offseason as the No. 2 left outside linebacker behind Aaron Kampman, who played 95.1 percent of the defensive snaps last season. Poppinga signed a five-year contract last year worth about $17 million. Either that contract makes him a too-expensive luxury to keep for special teams or makes him a possibility to start next year, should Kampman depart in free agency. Assuming he makes the roster, he doesn’t figure to get much playing time unless there’s an injury.
46 — DeShawn Wynn, RB
Last season, Ryan Grant carried the ball 312 times. The other backs carried the ball 62 times combined. Wynn finished with eight carries for 110 yards and a 73-yard touchdown, but all but one of those carries and 4 yards came against the winless Lions, who threw in the towel quickly in the season finale. Wynn was an easy cut during training camp last season, with nagging injuries continually keeping him off of the practice field. He was added to the practice squad, where he spent the first five weeks of the season before being promoted. He spent just five of the next 11 games on the gameday roster. At 5-foot-10 and 232 pounds, Wynn’s got the size to be an effective pass blocker, a trait he showed in a midseason game at Seattle when he stopped a safety blitz to allow Aaron Rodgers to hit Greg Jennings for a long touchdown. Somehow, the Packers need more production from their backup running backs, regardless of whether it’s Wynn, Brandon Jackson or the next two guys on this list. Wynn is the early favorite to be the No. 3 back — a role he held during the offseason — but he must stay healthy and work harder.
— Kregg Lumpkin, RB
Lumpkin (5-11, 228) beat out Wynn to be the No. 3 halfback last season and had an impressive performance in Week 2 at Detroit, when he had one carry for 19 yards and three receptions for 22 yards. But an injured hamstring landed him on season-ending injured reserve, with Wynn having a few bright spots in his place. Lumpkin, a big-time recruit at Georgia who saw his road to stardom with the Bulldogs sunk by injuries, enters training camp in the same position as last year. He’ll have to prove himself and stay healthy to win a job. That the Packers featured him a receiver against the Lions shows he’s got a chance. He spent the offseason practices as the No. 4 halfback.
— Tyrell Sutton, RB
Sutton (5-8, 213) enters training camp in the same position as Lumpkin last year as an undrafted free agent having to fight his way past a few players who have NFL resumes. What gives Sutton a fighting chance is the success of short backs like Maurice Jones-Drew and Darren Sproles as well as his ability as a receiver. Sutton, Ohio’s all-time prep rusher, caught 149 passes in his four seasons at Northwestern. Brandon Jackson caught 30 passes last season but really wasn’t much of a threat with the ball, Lumpkin hasn’t shown he can stay healthy and Wynn hasn’t shown he can be a reliable receiver. While Sutton might be short, he’s certainly stout enough to be an effective blocker, though it remains to be seen whether he can do it. If he proves he can be something more than a speed bump between a blitzer and Aaron Rodgers and can get past the injury issues that plagued him at Northwestern, then his hands and the burst he showed as a runner give him a chance to vault past Wynn and Lumpkin. The Packers signed him with a $4,000 bonus.
49 — Brett Goode, LS
J.J. Jansen had the long-snapping job won during training camp, but his one mistake — a bad snap to punter Jon Ryan in the preseason finale — led to Jansen suffering a season-ending knee injury. General manager Ted Thompson and his staff scoured the list of available snappers and hit on Goode, who received looks by Jacksonville in 2007 and 2008 but never had snapped in a game. No pun intended, but Goode was good, going all season without a bad snap. He’ll enter training camp without a challenger — he’s far, far better than the couple of linemen who have been given a chance at it during the offseason practices. With Jansen having been traded to Carolina, Goode will keep this job, barring a meltdown at training camp.
50 — Brandon Underwood, CB
Underwood (6-1, 191) was the second of the Packers’ sixth-round draft choices. While the chances of him making an impact this season are pretty slim with Al Harris, Charles Woodson, Tramon Williams, Pat Lee and Will Blackmon firmly ahead of him on the depth chart, Underwood plays a position where the Packers are in desperate need of young talent. Harris and Woodson are two of the Packers’ oldest players, and while Williams looks like a future starter, the jury is out on Lee and Blackmon’s niche is returning kicks. Underwood missed the first three weeks of organized team activities because of NCAA rules forbidding players from joining their professional teams until school is out, so he’s far down the depth chart. He admits he’s behind, but he’s got ideal height, length and speed to play the position. His four-year contract includes a $102,200 signing bonus.
51 — Ruvell Martin, WR
Last year, Martin (6-4, 220) was coming off a season in which he scored four touchdowns. As a friend of Aaron Rodgers and with their chemistry built on the scout team, many expected big things from Martin — including Martin himself. Instead, he managed only 15 receptions for 149 yards and one touchdown. He remains a valued player because of his height and willingness to block, but he also has a horde of talented receivers gunning for his job, led by Brett Swain. Martin won’t give up this job without a fight, but if Swain has a productive camp, it might be time to give the young guy a chance.
52 — Breno Giacomini, T
A couple of months ago, Giacomini (6-7, 311) would have been in the top 20 in these rankings. After an encouraging season of watching and learning last year as a rookie, he entered the offseason as the top candidate to replace longtime starting right tackle Mark Tauscher. Instead, sidelined for all of OTAs and the minicamp by offseason ankle surgery, Giacomini was passed on the pecking order by Allen Barbre. And rookie fourth-round pack T.J. Lang impressed at right tackle, too. If Barbre seizes control of the position, what’s Giacomini’s future, considering he’s only played right tackle during his short stay here while practically every other lineman on the roster can play multiple spots?
53 — Aaron Rouse, S
Rouse (6-4, 227) is the team’s biggest enigma. He’s got superior size for the position and he can run. And with four interceptions in his two seasons, he’s got an obvious nose for the ball. But at that size, he hasn’t shown any glimpses of being a hitter or any real skill in running the defense. Simply put, in given ample opportunities to show what he can do with Atari Bigby’s season-long injury problems last year, Rouse didn’t show the consistency necessary to be a starter. He spent most of the offseason as the starter with Bigby recovering from offseason surgery and Nick Collins skipping the practices and figures to be with the second team at the start of training camp. He’ll battle Anthony Smith, Jarrett Bush and Charlie Peprah for what might be only two backup positions.
54 — Jarius Wynn, DE
On paper, Wynn was the biggest head-scratcher of the Packers’ draft picks. Defensive ends in a 3-4 defense should stand 6-foot-4 or 6-foot-5 and weigh between 290 and 310 pounds. Instead, Wynn — the first of the Packers’ sixth-round picks — was only 6-3 and 277. How would he fit in a position that must be sturdy against the run? During offseason practices, the long-armed Wynn showed an impressive ability to shed blockers and get to the ball-carrier. How he’ll fare when the pads go on and he has to hold up against a 310-pound blocker remains to be seen. He was up to 285 pounds by the minicamp, and the Packers are confident he can play at 290 or more. He spent most of the offseason working with the No. 3 defense. Assuming Johnny Jolly avoids jail/suspension and Justin Harrell is healthy, there figures to be only one more backup position available on the defensive line. His four-year contract includes a $108,730 signing bonus.
55 — Jarrett Bush, DB
Bush (6-0, 200) is the swing man when trying to project who will make the Packers’ roster in the secondary. He spent the offseason practices as a full-time safety for the first time in his career, and how well he adapts will help determine the fate of fellow safeties Aaron Rouse, Charlie Peprah and Anthony Smith. The wild card is special teams, where Bush is one of the core players. His 17 tackles trailed only Will Blackmon’s 18 last year, though he committed a team-high six penalties in the process. Nonetheless, what the Packers think of Bush in that role is evident in their three-year, $4.5 million contract, which included a $1 million bonus. If Bush can play safety at a decent level, he’ll definitely stick. If not, then the Packers will have to decide whether a special teams-only players is too big of a luxury.
56 — Duke Preston, C/G
Preston (6-5, 320) was brought in as a versatile lineman capable of playing all three interior positions. Through the offseason practices, it appears he’ll only be providing depth, with the team seemingly happy with Scott Wells vs. Jason Spitz at center and Daryn Colledge and Josh Sitton locked in as the guards. Perhaps that will change if Preston impresses once the pads are thrown on in three weeks. Even if he’s not a starter, versatility is key when figuring out the 45-man gameday roster. Preston, who started 11 games at center last year for Buffalo but struggled against the AFC East’s mammoth defensive tackles, signed a two-year, $2 million contract with no signing bonus in free agency. He’s a decent bet to earn a roster spot — especially if Spitz beats out Wells — but he’s not a sure thing.
57 — Desmond Bishop, ILB
Bishop (6-2, 238) was a difference-maker last season. When Nick Barnett went down against Minnesota, Bishop stuffed Adrian Peterson and forced a fumble on a fourth-down run. He also got toasted on a pass in the flat that Chester Taylor turned into a 47-yard touchdown. Bishop’s potential is evident in this statistic: He forced three fumbles in the final eight games of last season, while Barnett and A.J. Hawk have combined to force four fumbles in their 10 years in the NFL. Still, Bishop’s fourth in the pecking order at inside linebacker behind the starters and Brandon Chillar. He’s a good bet to make the roster, though his hard-hitting skills might be limited to special teams.
58 — Scott Wells, C
Wells (6-2, 300) has been the starter for the last four seasons, but he’ll enter training camp behind Jason Spitz, who’s been moved from right guard to center. It’s not that Wells has been bad but the Packers want to get Josh Sitton into the lineup, so Sitton is penciled in as the starting right guard. Spitz started three games and played the bulk of two others at center last season. The Packers averaged more than 140 rushing yards in those games, 28 above their season average. If Wells doesn’t win the starting spot, he might be out of a job because center is his only position while Duke Preston can play all of the interior spots. Wells is an intelligent and proud player who won’t go down without a fight.
59 — Brett Swain, WR
Swain (6-0, 203) was one of the stars of the offseason practices. He looks like a far superior player to when he was a seventh-round draft pick last year, when he struggled through training camp mentally and physically and wound up spending the season on the practice squad. Swain’s gained 9 pounds from when he was drafted, with the strength making him better able to beat press coverage while retaining his quickness. He’ll enter camp as the favorite among the six receivers challenging returning No. 5 wideout Ruvell Martin.
60 — Brad Jones, OLB
Jones (6-foot-3, 239 pounds), the Packers’ seventh-round pick, comes well-versed in the basics of Green Bay’s defensive scheme after starting as an outside linebacker in Colorado’s 3-4 defense for 36 games. He paced the Buffs with seven sacks and 14 tackles for losses as a senior, when he was an honorable mention on the all-Big 12 team. His potential was evident during offseason practices, when he was the third-team right outside linebacker behind Jeremy Thompson and Clay Matthews III. Jones signed a four-year deal worth $1.81 million with a $60,250 signing bonus. He’ll be battling, among others, undrafted outside linebacker Cyril Obiozor for a roster spot, but his athleticism could make him a valuable contributor on special teams while he grows into a role on defense. With Aaron Kampman an unrestricted free agent after this season, Jones might be worth keeping around.
61 — Michael Montgomery, DE
The lanky Montgomery (6-5, 282) was at least adequate in replacing the injured Cullen Jenkins last season. His 71 tackles were more than he had in his first three NFL seasons combined, and he added 2.5 sacks to equal his career total. He piled up 15 tackles and one sack as the Packers almost won at undefeated Tennessee at midseason. Even though he lacks the ideal bulk to play defensive end in the new 3-4 scheme, the Packers retained him in restricted free agency with a two-year contract. He’s got the potential to add the necessary weight to be effective — he’s up 9 pounds from last year — but will he make the roster? The Packers likely will keep six defensive linemen, and assuming Johnny Jolly avoids an NFL suspension with his legal problems and Justin Harrell remains healthy, Montgomery would be fighting for the sixth spot. During offseason practices, he was with the No. 2 nickel defense as an inside rusher.
62 — Tory Humphrey, TE
After spending half of 2006 and all of 2007 on injured reserve, Humphrey (6-2, 255) finally stayed healthy and got regular playing time. Bouncing back from a broken leg sustained on the first day of training camp in 2007, Humphrey caught 11 passes for 162 yards. He had two of the three longest receptions from a tight end with 29- and 37-yarders and didn’t have a drop. Still, the Packers didn’t tender him an offer as a restricted free agent but brought him back in April. He remains the third tight end, though he’ll have to hold off Carson Butler, Evan Moore, Devin Frischknecht and, perhaps, someone signed off the waiver wire.
Tied for 63rd — Alfred Malone, DE
Malone (6-4, 312) is the great unknown among the defensive linemen. He’s got the textbook size to play defensive end, but in his four seasons in the NFL, he’s given little indication he’s a player. He played in two games as an undrafted rookie for Houston in 2005 (Dom Capers’ last year as head coach), two games in 2006 for Houston and was out of football for most of 2007 until being signed to the Packers’ practice squad. Even with all of the defense’s problems last season, Malone only played in the four December games but provided no push on passing downs. He sat out the offseason practices after ankle surgery. With his size and the pass-rushing ability he showed during training camp last summer, he could make some noise.
— Ronald Talley, DE
Talley (6-3, 286) is one of the players the coaches are most anxious to see when the pads go on in training camp. The undrafted free agent from Delaware started his collegiate career at Notre Dame but transferred because he didn’t see eye-to-eye with coach Charlie Weis. In two seasons at Delaware, Talley was a tremendous run defender, and since that’s the key role for a 3-4 end, he’ll be someone worth watching. With Joe Flacco, he helped lead the Blue Hens to the FCS championship game as a junior. He mostly lined up with the third unit during offseason practices. Talley was given a $5,000 signing bonus.
— Danny Lansanah, ILB
In one of the stranger moves of last season, the Packers released special-teams ace Tracy White and promoted Lansanah (6-1, 259) from the practice squad because he was about to be signed by the Dolphins. In return, Lansanah played in all of five games and recorded two tackles on special teams — all while the Packers’ special teams went from strength to weakness. With that said, he’s got the size the Packers don’t have in their other inside linebackers, and he was a physical presence last summer. He spent the offseason paired with Desmond Bishop with the second unit, but that was with Nick Barnett sidelined. Either Lansanah will have to beat out Bishop or hope the Packers keep 10 linebackers instead of nine.
— Charlie Peprah, S
Peprah (5-11, 203) was the star of the first week of training camp, but a hamstring injury put an end to that. He played in 13 games with one start, but the explosiveness and hitting ability seen during the summer wasn’t evident. He’s got all of the intangible qualities you’d want but he isn’t very big and he isn’t very fast. His ticket to the roster will be dependent on him returning to last year’s form and being irreplaceable on special teams. Unfortunately for him, the Packers added only two players in free agency, and one of them was a safety, Anthony Smith, who’s faster and more experienced in this defense.
— Spencer Havner, ILB/TE
Outside of a four-game cameo to end last season in which he downed two punts inside the 10-yard line, Havner (6-3, 250) spent his first three professional seasons on the Packers’ practice squad. With no more practice squad eligibility, Havner’s last chance in Green Bay will be as a two-way player. Special teams will have to be his ticket, and if he can develop quickly enough to be a serviceable third tight end to replace Humphrey, he’s got a shot. More often than not at this level, though, switching sides of the ball doesn’t work.
Tied for 68th — Evan Dietrich-Smith, G
Dietrich-Smith (6-foot-2, 305 pounds) was signed as an undrafted free agent after starting 44 games at Idaho State. He was a four-time honorable mention on the all-Big Sky team, including at left tackle his final two seasons. He might have gained more attention had the Bengals won more than a combined four games during those two seasons. He also started at left guard and right guard for the Bengals, and has seen snaps at right guard and center in Green Bay. Aaron Rodgers lauded Dietrich-Smith’s “demeanor.” He was the second-team right guard when rookie fourth-round pick T.J. Lang swung from right guard to right tackle. He received a $3,000 signing bonus.
— Carson Butler, TE
Butler (6-4, 255) was signed as an undrafted free agent after a strange career at Michigan. He appeared in 29 games over two-and-a-half seasons at tight end, including 20 catches for 246 yards and one touchdown as a sophomore and 19 catches for 166 yards and one touchdown as a freshman. But with new coach Rich Rodriguez moving the Wolverines to a spread offense, Butler had no role and was moved to defense midway through last season. He played three games at defensive end, then turned pro with a year of eligibility remaining. He has an intriguing competition of size and athletic ability to challenge No. 3 tight end Tory Humphrey. Butler was sidelined for the minicamp with a sprained knee, but when healthy, he was splitting reps with Humphrey and the other tight end hopefuls with the third unit. He received a $6,000 signing bonus, which was second-highest among the undrafteds.
— Evan Moore, TE
One of the guys Butler will be battling is Moore (6-foot-6, 247). Moore joined the Packers in May 2008 after spending three weeks with the Saints as an undrafted free agent. He injured a knee during the preseason game at San Francisco and spent the year on injured reserve. Moore was a wide receiver at Stanford, where he tallied 103 catches for 1,555 yards and 12 touchdowns in four seasons. With that background, Moore provides an intriguing target in the passing game as a tight end. But is he big enough and strong enough to block after gaining 10 pounds last year?
— Jake Allen, WR
Lost in the middle of the Justin Beaver hoopla last year was Allen (6-4, 196), a Division III star who actually got to stick around Green Bay. Allen, an undrafted free agent out of Mississippi College who caught 61 passes for 1,254 yards and 12 touchdowns as a senior, spent the year on the practice squad and came back this spring 6 pounds heaver and much more sure of what he was doing. The suspect hands that bedeviled him last summer were gone, but he has an uphill battle with the next two guys on this list being the best among four undrafted receivers added in May.
— Kole Heckendorf, WR
Heckendorf (6-2, 191) will be the feel-good story of training camp. The native of Mosinee, Wis., and a lifelong Packers fan is one of Wisconsin’s all-time high school stars. He caught a state-record and nation-leading 116 passes as a junior and added 63 receptions for 1,257 yards and a state-record 19 touchdowns as a senior. He holds Wisconsin career records with 235 receptions, 3,831 yards and 36 touchdowns. That was good enough to get him to North Dakota State, a Football Championship Subdivision school. He led the Bison in receiving all four seasons, posting 178 catches for 2,732 yards and 17 touchdowns. Even battling turf toe for most of last season, he had 41 catches, 744 yards, a 15.3-yard average and four touchdowns. Because of his intelligence, he’s been learning all of the Packers’ receiver positions. He was a standout of the offseason practices, showing good hands, as-advertised speed and a surprising feel for the professional game. He’s at the head of the undrafted receiver class, and will join Allen and Brett Swain in the battle to unseat No. 5 receiver Ruvell Martin. He received a $4,000 signing bonus.
— Jamarko Simmons, WR
Simmons (6-2, 231) seemed like the favorite among the four undrafted receivers to win a roster spot, but Heckendorf’s play and a back injury that sidelined Simmons for the last week of OTAs and the minicamp put him behind. His college production is undeniable. He broke several of Greg Jennings’ Western Michigan records, including 104 receptions for 1,276 yards as a senior. Among his 260 career catches came big games against the likes of Illinois, West Virginia, Virginia and Florida State. He torched Illinois’ Vontae Davis — a first-round pick by the Dolphins — early last season. He’s unusually heavy for a receiver of his height, but he’s not soft and the Packers’ coaches are happy with where he’s at. He’s a big guy with strong hands and intriguing potential. He received a $2,000 signing bonus.
— Cyril Obiozor, OLB
Obiozor (6-4, 267), who was brought in for a pre-draft workout, was signed as an undrafted free agent out of Mike Sherman’s Texas A&M. He started the final 28 games of his collegiate career at defensive end for the Aggies, and he posted 45 tackles, 6.5 tackles for losses and three sacks as a senior. He lined up as the No. 3 left outside linebacker behind Aaron Kampman and Brady Poppinga. With his size and ability to run, he’s got a shot to make it as the final linebacker on the roster and special-teams performer. His signing bonus of $6,500 was the most among the undrafted rookies, which speaks to the Packers’ fondness for his potential.
— Joe Porter, CB
Porter (5-10, 203) was an undrafted free agent in New Orleans in 2007 who was signed to the Packers’ practice squad in November 2007. He spent the first 12 games of 2008 on the practice squad before being promoted. He played in one game, at Chicago in Week 16, and exited with a concussion. He lacks ideal size but, as a record-setting sprinter at Rutgers, he’s one of the fastest players on the team. His route to the roster requires rookie sixth-round pick Brandon Underwood to struggle and combo defensive back Jarrett Bush to not make the team.
— Anthony Toribio, NT
Toribio (6-1, 304) failed to make the Dolphins’ roster as an undrafted rookie out of Carson-Newman last summer and was signed to the Packers’ practice squad in November. He didn’t play during a two-game promotion to the active roster. He spent the offseason workouts as the No. 3 nose tackle behind starter Ryan Pickett and his backup, starting end B.J. Raji. He lacks the requisite size to play in a 3-4 defense, wasn’t exactly a stud at a Division II school and the roster numbers are working against him.
Tied for 77th — Andrew Hartline, G
Hartline (6-foot-5, 297 pounds), an undrafted free agent, started all 52 games at Mid-American Conference powerhouse Central Michigan, tying him for the second-longest streak in Bowl Championship Subdivision history. He was first-team all-MAC at left tackle last season and a second-team choice as a junior. He started at right tackle as a freshman and sophomore. He played in the Texas vs. The Nation all-star game in January. During offseason practices, he became the Packers’ second-string left guard after the team released Nevin McCaskill.
— Dane Randolph, T
Randolph (6-5, 300) was signed after a successful tryout at the Packers’ rookie camp. He’s a definite project with the requisite size and strength and surprising athleticism, but he only started seven games as a senior after opening all 13 games as a junior. Inconsistency was an issue, his college coaches have said. He spent the offseason as the third-team right tackle, and would fall to fourth for training camp with the return of Breno Giacomini.
— Devin Frischknecht, TE
Frischknect (6-3, 258) started eight games in two seasons at Washington State after playing for two seasons at a junior college. Finished with 35 catches for 412 yards and four touchdowns for the Cougars. He was signed by the Packers in mid-June and rotated with the third team with holdovers Tory Humphrey and Evan Moore.
— JaRon Harris, WR
Harris (6-0, 193), a nephew of all-world receiver Jerry Rice and the son of a former Vikings draft choice, was a three-year starter at South Dakota State and signed as an undrafted free agent. As a senior, he tallied 70 catches for 966 yards and 11 touchdowns to win first-team all-Missouri Valley Conference honors. He returned a kickoff for a touchdown as a freshman but hasn’t been given that chance with the Packers. He’s got some talent but is simply stuck at the Packers’ deepest position.
— Patrick Williams, WR
Williams (6-1, 204) was one of four receivers signed as undrafted free agents. He started eight games as a senior and 20 during his four years at Colorado. Posted career highs with 30 catches, 322 yards and two touchdowns last year. His inconsistent hands during offseason practices and depth at the position make him a possibility to be cut before training camp.
— Dean Muhtadi, NT
Muhtadi (6-3, 295) was signed after a successful tryout at the Packers’ rookie camp. He started his career at Division III Christopher Newport before spending two seasons at Maryland. He started three games with 2.5 sacks as a senior. Very strong and intelligent. He was the third-string nose tackle behind starter Ryan Pickett and holdover Anthony Toribio during the offseason. With Pickett and B.J. Raji the likely nose tackles once the regular season begins, Muhtadi is a long shot.
— Trevor Ford, CB
Ford (6-0, 188) also was signed after the rookie camp. He began his career at Florida State before spending his final two seasons at Troy. He started 13 games and broke up six passes as a senior. The Packers already have a bunch of young corners, making Ford a possibility to be released before training camp.
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35 — Will Blackmon, CB/KR
Blackmon (6-foot, 206 pounds) plays an important role on defense and special teams. While the fourth cornerback doesn’t play nearly as much as the nickel cornerback, the Packers have six games against the NFC North’s star quarterbacks, as well as matchups against pass-happy Cincinnati and Arizona. He’s been a below-average cornerback (four passes defensed, no interceptions in three seasons) and could be supplanted by Pat Lee. Nonetheless, he’s a mainstay on special teams, where he led the Packers in tackles, was one of the NFL’s top punt returners and figures to be the main character as they try to upgrade last year’s last-ranked kickoff return. Don’t dismiss how field position impacts winning and losing. A few yards here and a few yards there add up to hundreds of yards over the course of a season. He was the fourth corner for most of the offseason and the top kickoff and punt returner.
36 — Donald Lee, TE
There’s been a lot of hype about second-year tight end Jermichael Finley, but first, he must beat out the reliable Lee (6-4, 248). When the Packers have been at their best during the Mike Holmgren-Mike Sherman-Mike McCarthy era, their tight ends have been top-notch playmakers, whether it was Mark Chmura pairing with Keith Jackson, or Bubba Franks being a big-time red-zone threat, or a flash-in-the-pan performance by Tyrone Davis. Lee fell from 48 catches for 575 yards (12.0-yard average) and six touchdowns in 2007 with Brett Favre to 39 catches, 303 yards (7.8 average) and five touchdowns in 2008 with Aaron Rodgers. He spent the offseason as the starter.
37 — T.J. Lang, G/T
Assuming Jason Spitz is successful in his move from right guard to center, the Packers will have new starters at right guard and right tackle. While Josh Sitton and Allen Barbre will enter training camp as the front-runners at those spots, they better not rest on their shorts-and-helmets laurels from the spring. Lang (6-4, 316) was one of the most impressive linemen as the top backup at both spots during offseason workouts, and a couple of the coaches have said they can’t wait to see Lang perform when the pads go on in August. If nothing else, he’ll push Sitton and Barbre this year and compete for a starting job next year, when the Packers might need a new left guard in case Daryn Colledge moves to left tackle to replace Chad Clifton or departs in free agency. Lang, the Packers’ fourth-round pick, received a four-year deal with a signing bonus of about $502,000.
38 — Jamon Meredith, T
Meredith (6-5, 304), the second of the Packers’ fifth-round picks, has all the tools required to be the long-term answer for when longtime left tackle Chad Clifton finally gives way. Meredith is tall, has long arms and is an impressive athlete. He just needs to get stronger and refine his technique. He’ll do both this year, assuming he gets to watch and learn from Clifton rather than have to replace him. Either Meredith will fade away into oblivion or he’ll blossom into a starter, but at this point, he’s the only player on the roster with the potential to replace Clifton at the offensive line’s most important position. With Clifton recovering from offseason surgery, Meredith spent the offseason as the No. 2 left tackle. His four-year deal included a $172,500 signing bonus.
39 — Tony Moll, T/G
Moll (6-5, 311) is the Packers’ utility man. He’s started at right tackle and right guard, he’s played left guard and he spent the offseason as the starting left tackle as Chad Clifton recovered from surgery. Moll has 18 starts in three seasons, all at right guard or right tackle, but he wasn’t part of the offseason battles at those positions. He had a chance to make a statement at right tackle last year, when he replaced the injured Mark Tauscher, but after two starts, he was benched and the Packers moved Daryn Colledge from left guard to right tackle for the season finale. Whether he can actually play left tackle will be determined during the preseason, though his play at right tackle gives a hint on the answer. If the Packers can get by with Moll at left tackle, he’d be a huge asset because the team wouldn’t have to move Colledge and, as a consequence, have new faces at two positions.
40 — Johnny Jolly
Whether Jolly (6-foot-3, 325 pounds) is a good fit as a 3-4 defensive end remains to be seen, but he’s the only proven big body among the presumed backups. Jolly started all 16 games last season at defensive tackle. He provided practically no pressure on the quarterback but he made some plays with his ability to get between blockers and make a tackle down the line of scrimmage. With the only other big man at defensive end being the unreliable-so-far Justin Harrell, losing Jolly to an injury or a suspension in his codeine trial that starts Friday would be a big loss. He spent the offseason as the starting right defensive end, but he was merely filling in for Cullen Jenkins. If he can play, he’ll be the top backup along the line and the No. 3 interior rusher behind B.J. Raji and Jenkins on passing downs.
41 — Anthony Smith
Smith (6-0, 200) was the Packers’ major offseason acquisition. The hard-hitting safety, a third-round selection by Pittsburgh in 2006, comes to Green Bay well-versed in the Packers’ new 3-4 scheme and was coached as a rookie by the Packers’ new safeties coach, Darren Perry. By filling in for Nick Collins for most of the offseason work, Smith was a big help as the defense got its first taste of the defense. He started 10 games and had two interceptions in 2007, when Pittsburgh boasted the league’s top-ranked defense, but he fell out of favor last year and wasn’t even on the gameday roster as the Steelers rolled through the playoffs and won the Super Bowl. He spent the offseason running the No. 1 defense, but he was hurt (groin) and out of the lineup when Collins arrived for minicamp. He’ll presumably be the third safety but he’s a solid insurance policy should Collins or Atari Bigby go down.
42 — Korey Hall and John Kuhn
With the assumption being that fifth-round draft pick Quinn Johnson will earn a roster spot and possibly start, veterans Hall and Kuhn will battle for the second spot at fullback. Hall (6-0, 236) and Kuhn (6-0, 250) have proven to be a decent combo with their own strengths. Hall, with 15 catches in his two NFL seasons, is the better receiver. Kuhn, with seven catches in his two seasons in Green Bay, is the better blocker and has proven to be a good short-yardage runner. Hall had 13 tackles on special teams compared to 12 for Kuhn. Hall isn’t a big guy at such a violent position, and perhaps that’s why he’s missed seven games in two seasons. Kuhn, on the other hand, is a perfect 32-for-32 with the Packers. Hall ran with the starters through the offseason, with Kuhn the No. 2 and Johnson the No. 3. If Johnson is ready to start, special teams may swing this battle to Hall. If Johnson isn’t ready, then Kuhn might get the nod.
44 — Pat Lee
Lee (6-0, 194) was a big disappointment last season, with the second-round pick playing in only five games before heading to injured reserve with a minor knee injury. During limited action, he broke up one pass against Atlanta but otherwise wasn’t a factor on defense or special teams. Lee was drafted because of his man-to-man prowess at Auburn, but with the Packers’ defense shifting away from an all-man, all-the-time scheme, Lee’s growth this season will be something to watch. He was impressive this offseason, spending most of the practices as the fifth corner but supplanting Will Blackmon on the final day of the minicamp. With starters Al Harris, 34, and Charles Woodson, 32, among the Packers’ oldest players, they need Lee to grow into at the very least a quality nickel corner. Stepping up and being the fourth corner this year, behind Woodson, Harris and Tramon Williams, would be a good step.
45 — Brady Poppinga, OLB
Poppinga (6-foot-3, 250 pound) at No. 45, you ask? There’s no better mix of team-first attitude and gung-ho enthusiasm in the Packers’ locker room. Nonetheless, Poppinga is coming off a season in which he saw his playing time cut and recorded no sacks or turnover plays. As a 3-4 outside linebacker, the duties are stop the run, drop into coverage and rush the quarterback. Stopping the run isn’t an issue — he’s a lead blocker’s worst nightmare. But pass coverage has never been a strong suit and, his pass-rushing credentials at BYU notwithstanding, he’s shown almost no ability to pressure the quarterback with three sacks in four seasons. In a fit of desperation by then-defensive coordinator Bob Sanders, Poppinga was thrown in as a pass-rushing defensive end late last season to no effect. He spent the offseason as the No. 2 left outside linebacker behind Aaron Kampman, who played 95.1 percent of the defensive snaps last season. Poppinga signed a five-year contract last year worth about $17 million. Either that contract makes him a too-expensive luxury to keep for special teams or makes him a possibility to start next year, should Kampman depart in free agency. Assuming he makes the roster, he doesn’t figure to get much playing time unless there’s an injury.
46 — DeShawn Wynn, RB
Last season, Ryan Grant carried the ball 312 times. The other backs carried the ball 62 times combined. Wynn finished with eight carries for 110 yards and a 73-yard touchdown, but all but one of those carries and 4 yards came against the winless Lions, who threw in the towel quickly in the season finale. Wynn was an easy cut during training camp last season, with nagging injuries continually keeping him off of the practice field. He was added to the practice squad, where he spent the first five weeks of the season before being promoted. He spent just five of the next 11 games on the gameday roster. At 5-foot-10 and 232 pounds, Wynn’s got the size to be an effective pass blocker, a trait he showed in a midseason game at Seattle when he stopped a safety blitz to allow Aaron Rodgers to hit Greg Jennings for a long touchdown. Somehow, the Packers need more production from their backup running backs, regardless of whether it’s Wynn, Brandon Jackson or the next two guys on this list. Wynn is the early favorite to be the No. 3 back — a role he held during the offseason — but he must stay healthy and work harder.
— Kregg Lumpkin, RB
Lumpkin (5-11, 228) beat out Wynn to be the No. 3 halfback last season and had an impressive performance in Week 2 at Detroit, when he had one carry for 19 yards and three receptions for 22 yards. But an injured hamstring landed him on season-ending injured reserve, with Wynn having a few bright spots in his place. Lumpkin, a big-time recruit at Georgia who saw his road to stardom with the Bulldogs sunk by injuries, enters training camp in the same position as last year. He’ll have to prove himself and stay healthy to win a job. That the Packers featured him a receiver against the Lions shows he’s got a chance. He spent the offseason practices as the No. 4 halfback.
— Tyrell Sutton, RB
Sutton (5-8, 213) enters training camp in the same position as Lumpkin last year as an undrafted free agent having to fight his way past a few players who have NFL resumes. What gives Sutton a fighting chance is the success of short backs like Maurice Jones-Drew and Darren Sproles as well as his ability as a receiver. Sutton, Ohio’s all-time prep rusher, caught 149 passes in his four seasons at Northwestern. Brandon Jackson caught 30 passes last season but really wasn’t much of a threat with the ball, Lumpkin hasn’t shown he can stay healthy and Wynn hasn’t shown he can be a reliable receiver. While Sutton might be short, he’s certainly stout enough to be an effective blocker, though it remains to be seen whether he can do it. If he proves he can be something more than a speed bump between a blitzer and Aaron Rodgers and can get past the injury issues that plagued him at Northwestern, then his hands and the burst he showed as a runner give him a chance to vault past Wynn and Lumpkin. The Packers signed him with a $4,000 bonus.
49 — Brett Goode, LS
J.J. Jansen had the long-snapping job won during training camp, but his one mistake — a bad snap to punter Jon Ryan in the preseason finale — led to Jansen suffering a season-ending knee injury. General manager Ted Thompson and his staff scoured the list of available snappers and hit on Goode, who received looks by Jacksonville in 2007 and 2008 but never had snapped in a game. No pun intended, but Goode was good, going all season without a bad snap. He’ll enter training camp without a challenger — he’s far, far better than the couple of linemen who have been given a chance at it during the offseason practices. With Jansen having been traded to Carolina, Goode will keep this job, barring a meltdown at training camp.
50 — Brandon Underwood, CB
Underwood (6-1, 191) was the second of the Packers’ sixth-round draft choices. While the chances of him making an impact this season are pretty slim with Al Harris, Charles Woodson, Tramon Williams, Pat Lee and Will Blackmon firmly ahead of him on the depth chart, Underwood plays a position where the Packers are in desperate need of young talent. Harris and Woodson are two of the Packers’ oldest players, and while Williams looks like a future starter, the jury is out on Lee and Blackmon’s niche is returning kicks. Underwood missed the first three weeks of organized team activities because of NCAA rules forbidding players from joining their professional teams until school is out, so he’s far down the depth chart. He admits he’s behind, but he’s got ideal height, length and speed to play the position. His four-year contract includes a $102,200 signing bonus.
51 — Ruvell Martin, WR
Last year, Martin (6-4, 220) was coming off a season in which he scored four touchdowns. As a friend of Aaron Rodgers and with their chemistry built on the scout team, many expected big things from Martin — including Martin himself. Instead, he managed only 15 receptions for 149 yards and one touchdown. He remains a valued player because of his height and willingness to block, but he also has a horde of talented receivers gunning for his job, led by Brett Swain. Martin won’t give up this job without a fight, but if Swain has a productive camp, it might be time to give the young guy a chance.
52 — Breno Giacomini, T
A couple of months ago, Giacomini (6-7, 311) would have been in the top 20 in these rankings. After an encouraging season of watching and learning last year as a rookie, he entered the offseason as the top candidate to replace longtime starting right tackle Mark Tauscher. Instead, sidelined for all of OTAs and the minicamp by offseason ankle surgery, Giacomini was passed on the pecking order by Allen Barbre. And rookie fourth-round pack T.J. Lang impressed at right tackle, too. If Barbre seizes control of the position, what’s Giacomini’s future, considering he’s only played right tackle during his short stay here while practically every other lineman on the roster can play multiple spots?
53 — Aaron Rouse, S
Rouse (6-4, 227) is the team’s biggest enigma. He’s got superior size for the position and he can run. And with four interceptions in his two seasons, he’s got an obvious nose for the ball. But at that size, he hasn’t shown any glimpses of being a hitter or any real skill in running the defense. Simply put, in given ample opportunities to show what he can do with Atari Bigby’s season-long injury problems last year, Rouse didn’t show the consistency necessary to be a starter. He spent most of the offseason as the starter with Bigby recovering from offseason surgery and Nick Collins skipping the practices and figures to be with the second team at the start of training camp. He’ll battle Anthony Smith, Jarrett Bush and Charlie Peprah for what might be only two backup positions.
54 — Jarius Wynn, DE
On paper, Wynn was the biggest head-scratcher of the Packers’ draft picks. Defensive ends in a 3-4 defense should stand 6-foot-4 or 6-foot-5 and weigh between 290 and 310 pounds. Instead, Wynn — the first of the Packers’ sixth-round picks — was only 6-3 and 277. How would he fit in a position that must be sturdy against the run? During offseason practices, the long-armed Wynn showed an impressive ability to shed blockers and get to the ball-carrier. How he’ll fare when the pads go on and he has to hold up against a 310-pound blocker remains to be seen. He was up to 285 pounds by the minicamp, and the Packers are confident he can play at 290 or more. He spent most of the offseason working with the No. 3 defense. Assuming Johnny Jolly avoids jail/suspension and Justin Harrell is healthy, there figures to be only one more backup position available on the defensive line. His four-year contract includes a $108,730 signing bonus.
55 — Jarrett Bush, DB
Bush (6-0, 200) is the swing man when trying to project who will make the Packers’ roster in the secondary. He spent the offseason practices as a full-time safety for the first time in his career, and how well he adapts will help determine the fate of fellow safeties Aaron Rouse, Charlie Peprah and Anthony Smith. The wild card is special teams, where Bush is one of the core players. His 17 tackles trailed only Will Blackmon’s 18 last year, though he committed a team-high six penalties in the process. Nonetheless, what the Packers think of Bush in that role is evident in their three-year, $4.5 million contract, which included a $1 million bonus. If Bush can play safety at a decent level, he’ll definitely stick. If not, then the Packers will have to decide whether a special teams-only players is too big of a luxury.
56 — Duke Preston, C/G
Preston (6-5, 320) was brought in as a versatile lineman capable of playing all three interior positions. Through the offseason practices, it appears he’ll only be providing depth, with the team seemingly happy with Scott Wells vs. Jason Spitz at center and Daryn Colledge and Josh Sitton locked in as the guards. Perhaps that will change if Preston impresses once the pads are thrown on in three weeks. Even if he’s not a starter, versatility is key when figuring out the 45-man gameday roster. Preston, who started 11 games at center last year for Buffalo but struggled against the AFC East’s mammoth defensive tackles, signed a two-year, $2 million contract with no signing bonus in free agency. He’s a decent bet to earn a roster spot — especially if Spitz beats out Wells — but he’s not a sure thing.
57 — Desmond Bishop, ILB
Bishop (6-2, 238) was a difference-maker last season. When Nick Barnett went down against Minnesota, Bishop stuffed Adrian Peterson and forced a fumble on a fourth-down run. He also got toasted on a pass in the flat that Chester Taylor turned into a 47-yard touchdown. Bishop’s potential is evident in this statistic: He forced three fumbles in the final eight games of last season, while Barnett and A.J. Hawk have combined to force four fumbles in their 10 years in the NFL. Still, Bishop’s fourth in the pecking order at inside linebacker behind the starters and Brandon Chillar. He’s a good bet to make the roster, though his hard-hitting skills might be limited to special teams.
58 — Scott Wells, C
Wells (6-2, 300) has been the starter for the last four seasons, but he’ll enter training camp behind Jason Spitz, who’s been moved from right guard to center. It’s not that Wells has been bad but the Packers want to get Josh Sitton into the lineup, so Sitton is penciled in as the starting right guard. Spitz started three games and played the bulk of two others at center last season. The Packers averaged more than 140 rushing yards in those games, 28 above their season average. If Wells doesn’t win the starting spot, he might be out of a job because center is his only position while Duke Preston can play all of the interior spots. Wells is an intelligent and proud player who won’t go down without a fight.
59 — Brett Swain, WR
Swain (6-0, 203) was one of the stars of the offseason practices. He looks like a far superior player to when he was a seventh-round draft pick last year, when he struggled through training camp mentally and physically and wound up spending the season on the practice squad. Swain’s gained 9 pounds from when he was drafted, with the strength making him better able to beat press coverage while retaining his quickness. He’ll enter camp as the favorite among the six receivers challenging returning No. 5 wideout Ruvell Martin.
60 — Brad Jones, OLB
Jones (6-foot-3, 239 pounds), the Packers’ seventh-round pick, comes well-versed in the basics of Green Bay’s defensive scheme after starting as an outside linebacker in Colorado’s 3-4 defense for 36 games. He paced the Buffs with seven sacks and 14 tackles for losses as a senior, when he was an honorable mention on the all-Big 12 team. His potential was evident during offseason practices, when he was the third-team right outside linebacker behind Jeremy Thompson and Clay Matthews III. Jones signed a four-year deal worth $1.81 million with a $60,250 signing bonus. He’ll be battling, among others, undrafted outside linebacker Cyril Obiozor for a roster spot, but his athleticism could make him a valuable contributor on special teams while he grows into a role on defense. With Aaron Kampman an unrestricted free agent after this season, Jones might be worth keeping around.
61 — Michael Montgomery, DE
The lanky Montgomery (6-5, 282) was at least adequate in replacing the injured Cullen Jenkins last season. His 71 tackles were more than he had in his first three NFL seasons combined, and he added 2.5 sacks to equal his career total. He piled up 15 tackles and one sack as the Packers almost won at undefeated Tennessee at midseason. Even though he lacks the ideal bulk to play defensive end in the new 3-4 scheme, the Packers retained him in restricted free agency with a two-year contract. He’s got the potential to add the necessary weight to be effective — he’s up 9 pounds from last year — but will he make the roster? The Packers likely will keep six defensive linemen, and assuming Johnny Jolly avoids an NFL suspension with his legal problems and Justin Harrell remains healthy, Montgomery would be fighting for the sixth spot. During offseason practices, he was with the No. 2 nickel defense as an inside rusher.
62 — Tory Humphrey, TE
After spending half of 2006 and all of 2007 on injured reserve, Humphrey (6-2, 255) finally stayed healthy and got regular playing time. Bouncing back from a broken leg sustained on the first day of training camp in 2007, Humphrey caught 11 passes for 162 yards. He had two of the three longest receptions from a tight end with 29- and 37-yarders and didn’t have a drop. Still, the Packers didn’t tender him an offer as a restricted free agent but brought him back in April. He remains the third tight end, though he’ll have to hold off Carson Butler, Evan Moore, Devin Frischknecht and, perhaps, someone signed off the waiver wire.
Tied for 63rd — Alfred Malone, DE
Malone (6-4, 312) is the great unknown among the defensive linemen. He’s got the textbook size to play defensive end, but in his four seasons in the NFL, he’s given little indication he’s a player. He played in two games as an undrafted rookie for Houston in 2005 (Dom Capers’ last year as head coach), two games in 2006 for Houston and was out of football for most of 2007 until being signed to the Packers’ practice squad. Even with all of the defense’s problems last season, Malone only played in the four December games but provided no push on passing downs. He sat out the offseason practices after ankle surgery. With his size and the pass-rushing ability he showed during training camp last summer, he could make some noise.
— Ronald Talley, DE
Talley (6-3, 286) is one of the players the coaches are most anxious to see when the pads go on in training camp. The undrafted free agent from Delaware started his collegiate career at Notre Dame but transferred because he didn’t see eye-to-eye with coach Charlie Weis. In two seasons at Delaware, Talley was a tremendous run defender, and since that’s the key role for a 3-4 end, he’ll be someone worth watching. With Joe Flacco, he helped lead the Blue Hens to the FCS championship game as a junior. He mostly lined up with the third unit during offseason practices. Talley was given a $5,000 signing bonus.
— Danny Lansanah, ILB
In one of the stranger moves of last season, the Packers released special-teams ace Tracy White and promoted Lansanah (6-1, 259) from the practice squad because he was about to be signed by the Dolphins. In return, Lansanah played in all of five games and recorded two tackles on special teams — all while the Packers’ special teams went from strength to weakness. With that said, he’s got the size the Packers don’t have in their other inside linebackers, and he was a physical presence last summer. He spent the offseason paired with Desmond Bishop with the second unit, but that was with Nick Barnett sidelined. Either Lansanah will have to beat out Bishop or hope the Packers keep 10 linebackers instead of nine.
— Charlie Peprah, S
Peprah (5-11, 203) was the star of the first week of training camp, but a hamstring injury put an end to that. He played in 13 games with one start, but the explosiveness and hitting ability seen during the summer wasn’t evident. He’s got all of the intangible qualities you’d want but he isn’t very big and he isn’t very fast. His ticket to the roster will be dependent on him returning to last year’s form and being irreplaceable on special teams. Unfortunately for him, the Packers added only two players in free agency, and one of them was a safety, Anthony Smith, who’s faster and more experienced in this defense.
— Spencer Havner, ILB/TE
Outside of a four-game cameo to end last season in which he downed two punts inside the 10-yard line, Havner (6-3, 250) spent his first three professional seasons on the Packers’ practice squad. With no more practice squad eligibility, Havner’s last chance in Green Bay will be as a two-way player. Special teams will have to be his ticket, and if he can develop quickly enough to be a serviceable third tight end to replace Humphrey, he’s got a shot. More often than not at this level, though, switching sides of the ball doesn’t work.
Tied for 68th — Evan Dietrich-Smith, G
Dietrich-Smith (6-foot-2, 305 pounds) was signed as an undrafted free agent after starting 44 games at Idaho State. He was a four-time honorable mention on the all-Big Sky team, including at left tackle his final two seasons. He might have gained more attention had the Bengals won more than a combined four games during those two seasons. He also started at left guard and right guard for the Bengals, and has seen snaps at right guard and center in Green Bay. Aaron Rodgers lauded Dietrich-Smith’s “demeanor.” He was the second-team right guard when rookie fourth-round pick T.J. Lang swung from right guard to right tackle. He received a $3,000 signing bonus.
— Carson Butler, TE
Butler (6-4, 255) was signed as an undrafted free agent after a strange career at Michigan. He appeared in 29 games over two-and-a-half seasons at tight end, including 20 catches for 246 yards and one touchdown as a sophomore and 19 catches for 166 yards and one touchdown as a freshman. But with new coach Rich Rodriguez moving the Wolverines to a spread offense, Butler had no role and was moved to defense midway through last season. He played three games at defensive end, then turned pro with a year of eligibility remaining. He has an intriguing competition of size and athletic ability to challenge No. 3 tight end Tory Humphrey. Butler was sidelined for the minicamp with a sprained knee, but when healthy, he was splitting reps with Humphrey and the other tight end hopefuls with the third unit. He received a $6,000 signing bonus, which was second-highest among the undrafteds.
— Evan Moore, TE
One of the guys Butler will be battling is Moore (6-foot-6, 247). Moore joined the Packers in May 2008 after spending three weeks with the Saints as an undrafted free agent. He injured a knee during the preseason game at San Francisco and spent the year on injured reserve. Moore was a wide receiver at Stanford, where he tallied 103 catches for 1,555 yards and 12 touchdowns in four seasons. With that background, Moore provides an intriguing target in the passing game as a tight end. But is he big enough and strong enough to block after gaining 10 pounds last year?
— Jake Allen, WR
Lost in the middle of the Justin Beaver hoopla last year was Allen (6-4, 196), a Division III star who actually got to stick around Green Bay. Allen, an undrafted free agent out of Mississippi College who caught 61 passes for 1,254 yards and 12 touchdowns as a senior, spent the year on the practice squad and came back this spring 6 pounds heaver and much more sure of what he was doing. The suspect hands that bedeviled him last summer were gone, but he has an uphill battle with the next two guys on this list being the best among four undrafted receivers added in May.
— Kole Heckendorf, WR
Heckendorf (6-2, 191) will be the feel-good story of training camp. The native of Mosinee, Wis., and a lifelong Packers fan is one of Wisconsin’s all-time high school stars. He caught a state-record and nation-leading 116 passes as a junior and added 63 receptions for 1,257 yards and a state-record 19 touchdowns as a senior. He holds Wisconsin career records with 235 receptions, 3,831 yards and 36 touchdowns. That was good enough to get him to North Dakota State, a Football Championship Subdivision school. He led the Bison in receiving all four seasons, posting 178 catches for 2,732 yards and 17 touchdowns. Even battling turf toe for most of last season, he had 41 catches, 744 yards, a 15.3-yard average and four touchdowns. Because of his intelligence, he’s been learning all of the Packers’ receiver positions. He was a standout of the offseason practices, showing good hands, as-advertised speed and a surprising feel for the professional game. He’s at the head of the undrafted receiver class, and will join Allen and Brett Swain in the battle to unseat No. 5 receiver Ruvell Martin. He received a $4,000 signing bonus.
— Jamarko Simmons, WR
Simmons (6-2, 231) seemed like the favorite among the four undrafted receivers to win a roster spot, but Heckendorf’s play and a back injury that sidelined Simmons for the last week of OTAs and the minicamp put him behind. His college production is undeniable. He broke several of Greg Jennings’ Western Michigan records, including 104 receptions for 1,276 yards as a senior. Among his 260 career catches came big games against the likes of Illinois, West Virginia, Virginia and Florida State. He torched Illinois’ Vontae Davis — a first-round pick by the Dolphins — early last season. He’s unusually heavy for a receiver of his height, but he’s not soft and the Packers’ coaches are happy with where he’s at. He’s a big guy with strong hands and intriguing potential. He received a $2,000 signing bonus.
— Cyril Obiozor, OLB
Obiozor (6-4, 267), who was brought in for a pre-draft workout, was signed as an undrafted free agent out of Mike Sherman’s Texas A&M. He started the final 28 games of his collegiate career at defensive end for the Aggies, and he posted 45 tackles, 6.5 tackles for losses and three sacks as a senior. He lined up as the No. 3 left outside linebacker behind Aaron Kampman and Brady Poppinga. With his size and ability to run, he’s got a shot to make it as the final linebacker on the roster and special-teams performer. His signing bonus of $6,500 was the most among the undrafted rookies, which speaks to the Packers’ fondness for his potential.
— Joe Porter, CB
Porter (5-10, 203) was an undrafted free agent in New Orleans in 2007 who was signed to the Packers’ practice squad in November 2007. He spent the first 12 games of 2008 on the practice squad before being promoted. He played in one game, at Chicago in Week 16, and exited with a concussion. He lacks ideal size but, as a record-setting sprinter at Rutgers, he’s one of the fastest players on the team. His route to the roster requires rookie sixth-round pick Brandon Underwood to struggle and combo defensive back Jarrett Bush to not make the team.
— Anthony Toribio, NT
Toribio (6-1, 304) failed to make the Dolphins’ roster as an undrafted rookie out of Carson-Newman last summer and was signed to the Packers’ practice squad in November. He didn’t play during a two-game promotion to the active roster. He spent the offseason workouts as the No. 3 nose tackle behind starter Ryan Pickett and his backup, starting end B.J. Raji. He lacks the requisite size to play in a 3-4 defense, wasn’t exactly a stud at a Division II school and the roster numbers are working against him.
Tied for 77th — Andrew Hartline, G
Hartline (6-foot-5, 297 pounds), an undrafted free agent, started all 52 games at Mid-American Conference powerhouse Central Michigan, tying him for the second-longest streak in Bowl Championship Subdivision history. He was first-team all-MAC at left tackle last season and a second-team choice as a junior. He started at right tackle as a freshman and sophomore. He played in the Texas vs. The Nation all-star game in January. During offseason practices, he became the Packers’ second-string left guard after the team released Nevin McCaskill.
— Dane Randolph, T
Randolph (6-5, 300) was signed after a successful tryout at the Packers’ rookie camp. He’s a definite project with the requisite size and strength and surprising athleticism, but he only started seven games as a senior after opening all 13 games as a junior. Inconsistency was an issue, his college coaches have said. He spent the offseason as the third-team right tackle, and would fall to fourth for training camp with the return of Breno Giacomini.
— Devin Frischknecht, TE
Frischknect (6-3, 258) started eight games in two seasons at Washington State after playing for two seasons at a junior college. Finished with 35 catches for 412 yards and four touchdowns for the Cougars. He was signed by the Packers in mid-June and rotated with the third team with holdovers Tory Humphrey and Evan Moore.
— JaRon Harris, WR
Harris (6-0, 193), a nephew of all-world receiver Jerry Rice and the son of a former Vikings draft choice, was a three-year starter at South Dakota State and signed as an undrafted free agent. As a senior, he tallied 70 catches for 966 yards and 11 touchdowns to win first-team all-Missouri Valley Conference honors. He returned a kickoff for a touchdown as a freshman but hasn’t been given that chance with the Packers. He’s got some talent but is simply stuck at the Packers’ deepest position.
— Patrick Williams, WR
Williams (6-1, 204) was one of four receivers signed as undrafted free agents. He started eight games as a senior and 20 during his four years at Colorado. Posted career highs with 30 catches, 322 yards and two touchdowns last year. His inconsistent hands during offseason practices and depth at the position make him a possibility to be cut before training camp.
— Dean Muhtadi, NT
Muhtadi (6-3, 295) was signed after a successful tryout at the Packers’ rookie camp. He started his career at Division III Christopher Newport before spending two seasons at Maryland. He started three games with 2.5 sacks as a senior. Very strong and intelligent. He was the third-string nose tackle behind starter Ryan Pickett and holdover Anthony Toribio during the offseason. With Pickett and B.J. Raji the likely nose tackles once the regular season begins, Muhtadi is a long shot.
— Trevor Ford, CB
Ford (6-0, 188) also was signed after the rookie camp. He began his career at Florida State before spending his final two seasons at Troy. He started 13 games and broke up six passes as a senior. The Packers already have a bunch of young corners, making Ford a possibility to be released before training camp.