How do you get to 53 next year?

[Packman_26]

I know it's WAY too early to seriously pick what the 53 will be next year. But I think we can already see how tough the cuts are going to be. Even if we don't consider the draft (which will have at least 5 players, more likely 7) I find an incredible amount of potential players to make the team.
I went through and found 37 players that I think are the most likely to be on the team for next year:

QBS
Rodgers, Aaron
Flynn, Matt
RBS
Grant, Ryan
Starks, James
Jackson, Brandon
FBS
Kuhn, John
WR
Jennings, Greg
Driver, Donald
Jones, James
Nelson, Jordy
TE
Finley, Jermichael
Quarless, Andrew
OL
Clifton, Chad
Bulaga, Brian
Colledge, Daryn
Wells, Scott
Sitton, Josh
Lang, TJ
DL
Raji, BJ
Pickett, Ryan
Neal, Mike
ILB
Hawk, AJ
Bishop, Desmond
Barnett, Nick
Chillar, Brandon
OLB
Matthews, Clay
Jones, Brad
CB
Woodson, Charles
Williams, Tramon
Shields, Sam
Bush, Jarret
S
Collins, Nick
Burnett, Morgan
Peprah, Charlie
K
Crosby, Mason
P
Masthay, Tim
LS
Goode

Picking 16 players from the rest is going to be very difficult to do. Maybe some of you disagree with some of my picks, but I think we can all agree that some very good players will have to be let go next year.
Here is a list of the current roster if someone else wants to give it a try: http://www.packers.com/team/players.html Don't forget that Jolly will likely be around as well.

[Lurker64]

Keep in mind that at least 4-5 guys we draft are going to make the roster.

[steve823]

I think we get Jolly back, he already is trying to reinstate himself back into the league. Also, I'm not so sure Barnett stays. But, I completely agree it's going to be hard to cut some people since we have so much talent. Other teams are going to be waiting for our cuts, but hey, its a great problem to have.

[Brando19]

Walden and Zombo will be on the team.

[Packman_26]

Walden and Zombo will be on the team.

I tend to agree with you, but does that mean that Poppinga is a goner? I also think they will draft an outside backer in the first three rounds.

[Lurker64]

I tend to agree with you, but does that mean that Poppinga is a goner? I also think they will draft an outside backer in the first three rounds.

Poppinga's not really a great fit for the scheme. The things he does best in the defense, Zombo does just as well if not better. His primary value to this team was on special teams, and we probably don't need to pay him what he's set to get paid to run down the field on kickoffs. Good guy, he's just a player you hope you're able to cut since he's not that good a player.

[pbmax]

Think outside the box. 16 guys will become injured just before camp, go on PUP and be available in case the free weights cause all those injuries again.

[Lurker64]

It's also worth noting that the number for next year may not be 53, it may be bigger. That's a concession I think the owners wouldn't mind giving up in CBA talks.

[HarveyWallbangers]

Nice problem to have. You also have to remember that several guys you listed are going to be free agents.

[Bretsky]

Get tells me they go 18 games and the roster is also expanded by about five

[Freak Out]

So 18 regular season but 2 pre correct? Is that what is being floated now?

[Lurker64]

So 18 regular season but 2 pre correct? Is that what is being floated now?

That's the proposal. The league doesn't want to keep with 4 preseason games (since fans hate paying for them/don't care about them) but doesn't want to lose 2 games worth of revenue.

Wouldn't be surprised to see rosters go to 60 if that were the case. 60 is a nice round number, divisible by 2, 3, and 5.

[bobblehead]

Get tells me they go 18 games and the roster is also expanded by about five

Again, just how brilliant is TT planning ahead and getting so many guys injured so he is fully prepared when the rosters expand under the new agreement. Sheer fucking genius that guy.

[vince]

That's the proposal. The league doesn't want to keep with 4 preseason games (since fans hate paying for them/don't care about them) but doesn't want to lose 2 games worth of revenue.

Wouldn't be surprised to see rosters go to 60 if that were the case. 60 is a nice round number, divisible by 2, 3, and 5.

And 1, 4 and 6.

I don't think anyone wants to pay that many more people. By the time you add in 7 more players, either the current players will get paid less under the salary cap or the salary cap will be higher than the owners want it to be. Neither option is real attractive to anyone. The rosters will increase, but I tend to think the number will be lower.

[Fritz]

Five fullbkcs, five tight ends. No punter. three defensive linemen.