Packers Depth Chart

[HarveyWallbangers]

Thought I'd run through these by position and get people's feel for how the depth chart will look.

[HarveyWallbangers]

QB

1) Does Harrell show enough to be the backup or will the Packers have to go outside of the organization for a backup? The brass has shown no inclination to do so. Yet.
2) Coleman would seem to have the upper hand if the Packers keep three QBs--provided Harrell wins the backup spot.
3) If neither Coleman nor Hill show anything, they could keep just two QBs again.

My gut right now says

QB Aaron Rodgers, Graham Harrell, B.J. Coleman

[Joemailman]

I think Harrell would really have to screw up not to be the backup. He at least knows the offense pretty well. If Coleman shows anything, they will keep him as #3, as they could possibly lose him if they put him on the practice squad.

[HarveyWallbangers]

RB/FB

1) Do the Packers resign Grant?
2) Provided they are healthy, do we roll with Starks, Saine, and Green? Do we trust those guys (health concerns)?
3) Is there any UFDA that has a shot?
4) We went from keeping three FBs to looking like we'll have one on the roster. Does Hoese have a chance or are we covered by a guy like Ryan Taylor?

My gut right now says

RB James Starks, Brandon Saine, Alex Green
FB John Kuhn

This is a hard one. They could just as easily resign Grant this week. Starks is injury prone. Green is coming off a major injury. However, all three guys have flashed enough to warrant a roster spot, if healthy. The Packers could always wait until the end of preseason for a RB, if one of these guys doesn't pan out. This is one where I expect to be wrong, but there are other teams that didn't pick up an RB in the draft (Patriots, for example) who could have interest in Grant, and I don't think the Packers will go too far in resigning Grant.

[HarveyWallbangers]

WR/TE

1) Does Driver get cut?
2) If not, everybody assumes Gurley makes the team, but Borel is intriguing. Call Gurley the favorite, but Borel is a dark horse.
3) If so, do the Packers keep 6 WRs this year?
4) How healthy are the injured TEs? Do we keep 5 again? We could, if we only keep 1 FB again. Of the four backing up Finley, who is the most likely to get cut?

My gut right now says:

WR Greg Jennings, Jordy Nelson, James Jones, Randall Cobb, Tori Gurley
TE Jermichael Finley, Andrew Quarless, Tom Crabtree, Ryan Taylor, D.J. Williams

I'm going to say they keep 5 TEs again because I think they are all good enough to deserve a roster spot, but I have the feeling that one will get cut. I wouldn't be surprised by any of them getting cut. Quarless because of his injury. Crabtree because I think he's ordinary, and the two rookies from last year could beat him out if they improve. I was actually disappointed in Williams last year. I thought he'd look better. I was surprised by Taylor because he was better than I thought.

[HarveyWallbangers]

OL

1) Can Datko stay healthy? The reports sound like he's a good player, if healthy.
2) What about Herb Taylor? I would have thought he was an insurance policy and would have been cut by now, but he's still on the roster and has started games in the NFL.
3) Of the group of interior OL, does it come down to Dominguez vs. Patler's favorite Sampson Genus vs. the UDFA Brooks?

My gut right now says:

OT Bryan Bulaga, Marshall Newhouse, Derek Sherrod, Chris Campbell
OG/OC Josh Sitton, T.J. Lang, Jeff Saturday, Evan Dietrich-Smith, Ray Dominguez

Unfortunately, I'm guessing Datko can't stay healthy. The Packers seemed to be intrigued by Campbell. It's hard to put a UFDA like Brooks on the final roster, but I think he has a chance. Seems like Datko vs. Campbell and Dominguez vs. Brooks.

[Lurker64]

WR/TE

1) Does Driver get cut?
2) If not, everybody assumes Gurley makes the team, but Borel is intriguing. Call Gurley the favorite, but Borel is a dark horse.
3) If so, do the Packers keep 6 WRs this year?

My gut right now says:

WR Greg Jennings, Jordy Nelson, James Jones, Randall Cobb, Tori Gurley

I would not be at all surprised if Driver is cut. I think the only way they keep him is if he agrees. He's still a good player, but I don't think there's any way he's worth $5m.

I think Dale Moss could conceivably beat out Gurley, whether that wins him a roster spot or not remains to be seen. Borel probably has the inside track over either of them but Moss is the sort of guy you may not be able to stash on the PS. Six WRs isn't out of the question (that's actually pretty normal in the NFL) but it will come down to roster numbers at other positions. I think they keep 7 DL and 3 QBs this year, so having only 5 WRs could be a necessity.

TE Jermichael Finley, Andrew Quarless, Tom Crabtree, Ryan Taylor, D.J. Williams

I'm going to say they keep 5 TEs again because I think they are all good enough to deserve a roster spot, but I have the feeling that one will get cut. I wouldn't be surprised by any of them getting cut. Quarless because of his injury. Crabtree because I think he's ordinary, and the two rookies from last year could beat him out if they improve. I was actually disappointed in Williams last year. I thought he'd look better. I was surprised by Taylor because he was better than I thought.

I think they keep four TEs by starting the season with Quarless on the PUP list. No guarantee he'll be healthy enough to play at all this year, so IR isn't out of the question once the "activate or IR" decision comes up. Williams is a guy who you kind of have to actually design plays for in order to get him the ball, he's not really a plug and play TE in Mac's offense as it was last year. It's entirely likely that Mac puts in some time in the lab this offseason to figure out what to do with him, but I wouldn't be surprised to see him get traded either, he has value and may be a better fit for another team. That being said, since at least one UDFA is going to make this roster, I wouldn't be surprised if it's TE/FB Eric Lair out of Minnesota: the kid can pick up blitzes and catch the ball out of the backfield.

[HarveyWallbangers]

DL

1) What happens if Raji or Pickett get hurt?
2) Will we see Neal again?
3) Will Hargrove get suspended?
4) Where are these guys going to play and who is fighting who for a spot? Muir vs. Guy for the backup to Raji and Pickett? Hargrove vs. Daniels vs. Wynn for an interior rush position or two? Does Wilson stick around until Neal comes back, if he does?

Hardest positon to project. You could guess just about any combination, and I'd probably think it was plausible.

My gut right now says:

DL B.J. Raji, Ryan Pickett, Jerel Worthy, Anthony Hargrove, Daniel Muir, Mike Daniels, C.J. Wilson

I'm going to project that they keep 7--which would be one more than usual. Mostly because of the uncertainty of Neal and Hargrove. Who is the most likely to backup the big guys? Muir? If so, then he has a solid shot at making the roster. Perhaps Worthy can play that role. Wynn could win a spot again, but I would think picking up three pass rushing types (Worthy, Hargrove, Daniels) does not bode well for him. A big crapshoot here.

[HarveyWallbangers]

I think they keep four TEs by starting the season with Quarless on the PUP list. No guarantee he'll be healthy enough to play at all this year, so IR isn't out of the question once the "activate or IR" decision comes up.

Good point about not counting on Quarless. That would free up one roster spot at another position. If so, then they'll likely keep the other three backups from last year.

[HarveyWallbangers]

LB

1) How many do they keep? Pittsburgh and New England have kept 10 or more LBs before.
2) Francois vs. Manning at backup ILB? Or do they keep both?
3) Which of the three headed monster at ROLB from last year gets cut?
4) Will one of the developmental projects from last year show enough to earn a spot over a suddenly crowded position?

OLB Clay Matthews, Nick Perry, Vic So'oto, Erik Walden
ILB Desmond Bishop, A.J. Hawk, D.J. Smith, Robert Francois, Terrell Manning

I kept So'oto on the roster because the brass seems to be intent on improving the pass rush, and he flashed a bit of pass rush last year. Walden, Zombo, or Jones? I'm guessing at least one and perhaps two get cut. I'm going to eliminate Zombo because he's had a hard time staying healthy. Tossup between Walden and Jones. I'm going with Walden because I think at his best he's been a better player. I'm guessing he comes in focused this year and won't have the distractions from last year. I could see them keeping 10 though. They've kept four ILBs previously, so I have a hard time projecting 5 ILBs, but Francois showed potential last year and they traded up to get Manning.

[HarveyWallbangers]

DB

1) Does Woodson move to safety?
2) Will we see Bush playing defense much anymore?
3) Does House improve enough to challenge for playing time?
4) Which young safety will challenge Peprah for a starting spot? Do we look to find a safety on another team?

CB Charles Woodson, Tramon Williams, Sam Shields, Casey Hayward, Davon House, Jarrett Bush
S Morgan Burnett, Charlie Peprah, Jerron McMillian, M.D. Jennings

Another tough position to project--mainly because Hayward does a lot of things that you'd want somebody replacing Charles Woodson to do. I don't think it's far-fetched to project Woodson to safety. Williams, Shields, and Hayward as the corners in nickel. Woodson and Burnett at safety. On paper, that looks like the best roster. I'd rather have Shields in base or Hayward in nickel on the field over Peprah. Or Hayward could have been drafted to light a fire under Shields. Until I hear that they are thinking about moving Woodson and Woodson is agreeable, I have to project this.

[HarveyWallbangers]

ST

K Mason Crosby
P Tim Masthay
LS Brett Goode
KR Randall Cobb
PR Randall Cobb

Nothing to see here. Move along.

[HarveyWallbangers]

And after that, I have too many guys on the roster. Got to pare this sucker down.

[HarveyWallbangers]

So many possibilities that this is an exercise in futility. My 53 follows, but Coleman could be put on PS, Grant could be resigned, Driver could be kept, if Datko stays healthy he could make the squad and Dominguez or somebody else could be kept on the inside, who knows with the DL and LB positions, Woodson could move to safety (which could possibly free up a roster spot elsewhere).

QB Aaron Rodgers, Graham Harrell, B.J. Coleman
RB James Starks, Brandon Saine, Alex Green
FB John Kuhn
WR Greg Jennings, Randall Cobb
WR Jordy Nelson, James Jones, Tori Gurley
TE Jermichael Finley, Tom Crabtree, Ryan Taylor, D.J. Williams, (Andrew Quarless)
LT Marshall Newhouse, Derek Sherrod
LG T.J. Lang
C Jeff Saturday, Evan Dietrich-Smith
RG Josh Sitton
RT Bryan Bulaga, Chris Campbell, (Andrew Datko)

LDE Ryan Pickett, C.J. Wilson
NT B.J. Raji, Daniel Muir
RDE Jerel Worthy, Anthony Hargrove, Mike Daniels, (Mike Neal)
LOLB Clay Matthews, Vic So'oto
LILB A.J. Hawk, D.J. Smith
RILB Desmond Bishop, Robert Francois, Terrell Manning
ROLB Nick Perry, Erik Walden
LCB Charles Woodson, Casey Hayward, Jarrett Bush
RCB Tramon Williams, Sam Shields, Davon House
SS Charlie Peprah, Jerron McMillian
FS Morgan Burnett, M.D. Jennings

K Mason Crosby
P Tim Masthay
LS Brett Goode
RET Randall Cobb

[pbmax]

Agree with Quarless on PUP for almost any reason including hangnail. Would need to hide Coleman if they plan to stash him on the PS, assuming he is healthy and flashes potential.

Capers told Drew Smith that it is not planned to move Woodson to safety full time. It will be interesting to see if we start to hear alternate 40 times for Hayward. I might suspect the Packers of thinking his is faster than he timed at the Combine. Does anyone know if his Pro Day numbers were different than the combine?

I am worried about a big body to backup both Raji and Pickett.