2016 Roster

[Patler]

I know Jones is a bit of a hybrid now, but wouldn't he more or less count as one of the linebacking corp now?

I would guess the early favorites are Daniels, Guion, Clark, and Pennel, with Lowry being an obvious keep unless he completely poops the bed, plus Ringo (hereafter to be known as "Ringworm") as a strong candidate. I think Josh Boyd might be the odd man out.

I think they keep six and go light at tight end and fullback to make room.

All in all, Harvey's list looks pretty good, but they are going to have some interesting cuts this year:

WR - Davis could put heat on Abbrederis.
TE - one spot for Backman, Perillo and maybe even Mitchell Henry
OL - Rotheram was a heavily recruited RFA, and the Packers also had to increase his salary to keep him on their PS last year. Might he replace Taylor? Can Barclay return to the passable backup he was before his ACL injury?

DL - as discussed, 7 that I could see making the team, not including Pennel at the start..
OLB - McCray adds an unknown. With him they have 6 possibles, not including Jones at the position.
ILB - Can Thomas hold the 4th spot? Will they even have a 4th spot? Is Brown as good as some thought in Jan., or the guy who fell out of the draft? Is Bradford done?
CB - Will they have a spot for Goodsen when he comes off suspension? They have six possible in addition to him.

Cutting any of those mentioned will cause no anguish. Injuries will probably decide the fates of one or two who will drop from consideration because of their own injury, or who will get a spot due to someone else being injured. Nevertheless, for me it will be interesting to see how it all shakes out at the end of camp.

At least they seem to have some reasonable candidates for all of the last positions on the team, other than maybe RB and safety where at least as of now it seems easy to draw the line between those who will make it and those who won't. Even QB is a bit of a question as far as how many they will keep, just the two obvious, or will they use a roster spot for a third?

[HarveyWallbangers]

After reading the UDFA bios, here's what I'd go with:

QB AARON RODGERS, Brett Hundley, Joe Callahan, Ryan Williams

Callahan sounds a little intriguing, but not enough that I'd project they'd keep 3 QBs. Hundley seems like a pretty sturdy QB. If they had to go with one of the young guys, they'd have no chance anyways. Callahan sounds like an interesting candidate for the practice squad.

RB EDDIE LACY, James Starks, John Crockett, Don Jackson, Brandon Burks

It seems like Jackson is a threat to Crockett's roster spot, but I still project Crockett to win the third RB spot. Crockett will have to show something or the Packers could outside the organization to find their third RB.

FB Aaron Ripkowski

The only FB on the roster, as of now.

WR JORDY NELSON, RANDALL COBB, Davante Adams, Ty Montgomery, Jeff Janis, Jared Abbrederis, Trevor Davis, Jamel Johnson, Ed Williams, Geronimo Allison, Herb Waters, Devonte Robinson, Dennis Parks

Davis could beat out Abbrederis. Provided everybody is healthy, I think the Packers need a WR more like Davis than Abbrederis (a third slot guy is a luxury). If Montgomery is not fully healthy, than Abbrederis has the upper hand over Davis. I don't remember which returning practice squad guy, Williams or Jones, sounds more intriguing. Of the UDFA players, Allison (good size, seems to lack smarts, so maybe a year on the PS), Waters (most polished), and Robinson (best measurables) all sound intriguing.

TE JARED COOK, Richard Rodgers, Kennard Backman, Justin Perillo, Mitchell Henry, David Grinnage

Because the Packers will likely go light at QB and RB, there could be room for four TEs, but the young guys will need to show improvement. I liked Perillo in camp two years ago, but he didn't show a lot of improvement last year. My guess is they'll keep the upside of Backman, but the Packers seem to like Henry as well.

OT BRYAN BULAGA, DAVID BAKHTIARI, Jason Spriggs, Kyle Murphy, Don Barclay, Jeremy Vujnovich, Josh James

I can't see them cutting Murphy, if he shows anything, over Barclay--especially if Spriggs looks ready to be the top swing OT.

OG JOSH SITTON, T.J. LANG, Lane Taylor, Josh Walker, Matt Rotheram, Vince Kowalski

Rotheram could win a roster spot. I don't think Taylor is at risk of losing a spot, but Walker certainly is.

OC COREY LINSLEY, J.C. Tretter

This should be set in stone.

DEFENSE

DE MIKE DANIELS, LETROY GUION, Datone Jones, Dean Lowry, Josh Boyd, Christian Ringo, B.J. McBryde, Tyler Kuder

Should be good battle for the last spot or two. I wouldn't write off McBryde either. The guy has ideal size for 3-4 DE and he tested well coming out last year.

NT KENNY CLARK, Mike Pennel, William Campbell, Brian Price

It wouldn't be a shock if Campbell or Price made the roster while Pennel is out, but they'll likely rotate Guion with Clark at NT for the first four games.

OLB CLAY MATTHEWS, JULIUS PEPPERS, Nick Perry, Jayrone Elliott, Kyler Fackrell, Lerentee McCray, Reggie Gilbert

The first five seem set. I project McCray, at least initially with the suspensions. He got some run for a great Denver defense.

ILB SAM BARRINGTON, JAKE RYAN, Blake Martinez, Joe Thomas, Carl Bradford, Beniquez Brown, Manoa Pikula

A lot of possibilities here. They could go with three and have Matthews or even Fackrell as the fallback. They could keep any of the last four. I had Brown with a draftable grade. I didn't look at Pikula at all. He is more athletic than Brown. I lean towards Thomas because they don't have anybody else who we know is at least serviceable as the coverage ILB.

CB SAM SHIELDS, DAMARIOUS RANDALL, Quentin Rollins, Micah Hyde (S), Ladarius Gunter, Robertson Daniel, Demetri Goodson, Josh Hawkins, Makinton Dorleant, Warren Gatewood, Randall Jette

There was some buzz about how Daniel played on the PS last year. I think Goodson may have cost himself a roster spot--although his special teams ability might get him back in favor. Daniel is a great athlete. Combine that with Whitt's coaching, and you may have something. Dorleant and Hawkins are intriguing. A lot of the UDFAs were on the shorter side and project to the slot, so it appears they are looking for a replacement for Hayward (to back Rollins up).

S MORGAN BURNETT, HA HA CLINTON-DIX, Chris Banjo, Kentrell Brice, Desmond Smith

Hyde is the fourth safety, but if one of the young corners doesn't step up, that may open up a spot for one of the intriguing UDFAs.

SPECIAL TEAMS

K Mason Crosby
P Tim Masthay, Peter Mortell
LS Rick Lovato

Whether Mortell has a shot depends entirely on Masthay rebounding from a bad 2015 season. Masthay's troubles actually go back to the second half of 2014 (if I remember correctly), so he may have less leeway than Crosby did when he was struggling.

There were a lot of names that I didn't recognize with the UDFAs, but there's a lot of good athletes in the group. Knowing the Packers, a couple of these guys will probably make the team, and it will probably ones that we least expect to.

[Fritz]

How can you not root for a guy with a name like Geronimo Allison?

[Patler]

Re: CB Robertson Daniel. It was more than just buzz about his practice squad performance, the Packers signed him to their regular roster before the end of the season, taking Quarless' spot when Quarless was put on IR. They even said at the time, it was a way to reward him for stellar work on the practice squad.

He is a converted safety and is about the size of Gunther at 6'1" 205. He ran the 40 in 4.46 when he was at 215 lbs. The Packers had him work with their nutritionist thinking he should be lighter as a CB and he lost 10 pounds. He (and Whitt) said everything started to click for him at about the middle of the season, and his weight loss made him quicker in the little things a CB has to do. His strength is tight press coverage. I say all this because it could make him an ideal replacement for Goodson on special teams, he tested better than Goodson in almost everything and is bigger. After now losing weight, he might test even better yet.

I agree with Harvey, Goodson may have cost himself a job with his suspension. Daniel might have a month to prove that even Goodson's special teams work might not be missed.

[Patler]

I saw an article about Brett Goode a few weeks ago. The article stated doctors who they consulted said he could be cleared to play by the start of the season, especially because of his position. The article asked opinions of a couple scouts who said that Lovato did an OK job for the Packers, and that a lot of teams had him on their emergency lists, but Goode was clearly a better snapper. They said all he needs to do is show that he is ready to play again, and the Packers will probably re-sign him. If not, a couple other teams might, but familiarity is important so if GB doesn't sign him, he might have to wait for an incumbent to screw up somewhere.

[mraynrand]

How can you not root for a guy with a name like Geronimo Allison?

He has a better future than Joe Custer.

[vince]

It seems like Jackson is a threat to Crockett's roster spot, but I still project Crockett to win the third RB spot. Crockett will have to show something or the Packers could outside the organization to find their third RB.

Watching a couple videos, Jackson can pass protect too. He's intriguing but he also has an interesting past that I hope he's not still living and just covering up.

http://www.rgj.com/story/sports/college/nevada/2015/08/14/life-saved-don-jackson-story/31749275/

Davis could beat out Abbrederis. Provided everybody is healthy, I think the Packers need a WR more like Davis than Abbrederis (a third slot guy is a luxury). If Montgomery is not fully healthy, than Abbrederis has the upper hand over Davis.

I agree. If you subscribe to the theory that each player should bring unique dimension to the team, I'd say that Monty and Adams are the most redundant. I hope Monty is healthy because I really liked what he brought last year. But if he's not even running yet he's gonna require time to get back in playing shape.

Adams is a competitor and I think he'll come into camp with a chip on his shoulder from all the criticism coming his way. He should anyway.

I can't see them cutting Murphy, if he shows anything, over Barclay--especially if Spriggs looks ready to be the top swing OT.

My thing with Murphy is, unless he leapfrogs 3 or 4 guys, he'll never dress. He likely has value for the future but probably no value this year.

It wouldn't be a shock if Campbell or Price made the roster while Pennel is out, but they'll likely rotate Guion with Clark at NT for the first four games.

Yeah, it feels to me like Clark and Daniels could be pegged as primary nickel linemen to start, while Guion, Daniels and one of the DE's could be the 3-4 base line to start.

If Daniel has made the jump as has been suggested, I'm loving the DB crew. You only have 9 pegged and there is often 10. That said, I know he has ST value but I'm still hoping Banjo gets beat out.

I'd say safety, ILB and RB are the spots with the greatest opportunity for an undrafted guy to rise up. There's a lot of traffic to get through everywhere else. Some guys at the bottom of the roster may go to the practice squad as much because they're eligible while another guy isn't. (Murphy, Ringo, Rotheram and some UDFA upstarts at deep position areas) Of course injuries dictate a lot that can't be predicted.

[Guiness]

I saw an article about Brett Goode a few weeks ago. The article stated doctors who they consulted said he could be cleared to play by the start of the season, especially because of his position. The article asked opinions of a couple scouts who said that Lovato did an OK job for the Packers, and that a lot of teams had him on their emergency lists, but Goode was clearly a better snapper. They said all he needs to do is show that he is ready to play again, and the Packers will probably re-sign him. If not, a couple other teams might, but familiarity is important so if GB doesn't sign him, he might have to wait for an incumbent to screw up somewhere.

Are you trying to start a long snapper controversy?

[Guiness]

Watching a couple videos, Jackson can pass protect too. He's intriguing but he also has an interesting past that I hope he's not still living and just covering up.

http://www.rgj.com/story/sports/college/nevada/2015/08/14/life-saved-don-jackson-story/31749275/

Quite the write-up even if it is a pretty puffy piece Have to wonder how happy he is to be in GB though, sounds like he really didn't like the cold in Iowa, and when he went to Div I he chose the desert.

[Pugger]

Are you trying to start a long snapper controversy?

I find it curious that Goode hasn't been resigned as of yet...

[vince]

QB Rodgers, Hundley
RB Lacy, Starks, Jackson
HB/TE Rip, Cook, Rodgers, Backman, Henry
WR Nelson, Cobb, Adams, Abby/Monty, Janis, Davis
OT Bulaga, Bakh, Spriggs
OG Sitton, Lang, Taylor, Walker
C Lindsley, Tretter

DL Daniels, Clark, Guion, Lowrey, Boyd/Pennel
OLB Matthews, Peppers, Perry, Jones, Elliott, McCray, Fackrell
ILB Barrington, Ryan, Martinez, Bradford
CB Shields, Randall, Rollins, Gunter, Daniel
S Burnett, Dix, Hyde, Banjo, Brice

ST Crosby, Masthay, Lovato

PS - Callahan, Burks, Williams, Murphy, Rotheram, Ringo, Brown, Dorleant, Price, Williamson

[Fritz]

Tim Masthay - seems like a nice guy, but I hope the dude gets his shit together this year. From what I've read, though, Peter Morrell sounds like he's pretty "meh" and is a mushroom to boot.

[Smidgeon]

Harvey and Vince out with Boyd being released. Has to be a new speed record.

[HarveyWallbangers]

I'm not surprised by Grinnage because I looked him and didn't give him a draftable or even PFA grade.

The Green Bay Packers signed T Jason Spriggs and TE Casey Pierce and rookie free agents DT Demetris Anderson, RB Brandon Burks, FB Alstevis Squirewell and G Cory Tucker and released DT Josh Boyd, DT William Campbell, TE David Grinnage, WR Dennis Parks and T Jeremy Vujnovich.

Roster seems to be at 88 players.

Are they holding a spot for one of these guys?

61	Goode, Brett		LS	6-1	255	31	9	Arkansas
89	Jones, James		WR	6-1	208	32	10	San Jose State
30	Kuhn, John		FB	6-0	250	33	11	Shippensburg
96	Neal, Mike		LB	6-3	262	28	7	Purdue
81	Quarless, Andrew	TE	6-4	252	27	7	Penn State

[HarveyWallbangers]

Not sure why everything is in italics.