Best Rosters: Patriots 1st, Packers 2nd

[HarveyWallbangers]

According to Pro Football Focus (via ESPN):

http://espn.go.com/nfl/insider/story/_/id/15772400/nfl-ranking-rosters-all-32-teams-2016-depth-talent

2. Green Bay Packers

If Green Bay hits on its 2016 draft class, it could jump to No. 1. That would mean incoming draft picks replacing weak links sooner rather than later. Rodgers is still one of the best quarterbacks in the league, and with Nelson back he has a legitimate No. 1 receiver to throw to. The Packers' interior offensive line is among the best in the league, and if rookie Jason Spriggs can prove to be an upgrade over Bakhtiari at left tackle it could become one of the best units in the league, period.

On defense, the secondary is young and talented. They have been adding pieces to the front, but that remains a work in progress. The Packers are in danger of ruining Clay Matthews with position switches, and Daniels needs more help than they have given him so far on the line, but the talent is there to play better than they have.

Green Bay will be carried by its offense, and it should look significantly better than it did last season when injuries took a deep bite out of the roster.

[pbmax]

I don't know how that can be when there are only 2 or 3 difference makers on the team.

I mean my eyeballs tell me they are as good as anyone, but internet people obviously know better.

[Zool]

That's a soft #2 roster.

[Bossman641]

TT and MM don't care about winning, just about getting into the playoffs. Time to send off some of our top-line talent before we accidentally win another SB.

[Upnorth]

While we have a great roster, I don't think we are the #2 in depth. Oline, WR, RB, S and CB are solid. DL and LB not so much. Our secondary depth is some what limited in its effectiveness by our only mid quality pass rush.
Don't get me wrong, I think our team can beat anyone else, but it helps having the QB we have.

[Zool]

While we have a great roster, I don't think we are the #2 in depth. Oline, WR, RB, S and CB are solid. DL and LB not so much. Our secondary depth is some what limited in its effectiveness by our only mid quality pass rush.
Don't get me wrong, I think our team can beat anyone else, but it helps having the QB we have.

We're pretty okay at QB, WR, Oline, OLB, S, and CB. ILB and DL could use some help, and maybe the rookies will show something, but that's a pretty significant portion of the roster to have in good shape at least from a 1's perspective.

[Striker]

I don't know how that can be when there are only 2 or 3 difference makers on the team.

I mean my eyeballs tell me they are as good as anyone, but internet people obviously know better.

This is just a sympathy ranking. The Packers could never compete with those powerhouse dynasties such as Seattle, Arizona, and Carolina. And the Vikings. They are the obvious new #1 dog in the NFC with their average QB and aging RB.

[Pugger]

I'm not an Insider subscriber. Can someone list the others just to satisfy my curiosity? If you listen to most folks there must be some mistake here...

[HarveyWallbangers]

Carolina is #3, Pittsburgh is #4, Minnesota is #10, Detroit is #24, Chicago is #30.

[Patler]

We have also included a list of the top five players on each roster, plus a look at starters who aren't up to par.

Who did they list for the Packers' top 5 players, and which starters not up to par?

[HarveyWallbangers]

Top five players: QB Aaron Rodgers, OG T.J. Lang, OG Josh Sitton, DT Mike Daniels, WR Jordy Nelson

Starters who should be upgraded: LB Sam Barrington, OT David Bakhtiari, LB Jake Ryan, DE Letroy Guion, TE Jared Cook

[Patler]

Top five players: QB Aaron Rodgers, OG T.J. Lang, OG Josh Sitton, DT Mike Daniels, WR Jordy Nelson

Starters who should be upgraded: LB Sam Barrington, OT David Bakhtiari, LB Jake Ryan, DE Letroy Guion, TE Jared Cook

Interesting that Cook is listed as a need for upgrade even though he has never played a down for the Packers. I'm hoping he will be an upgrade over what he has been so far in his career, playing with a decent QB for the first time in his career.

[pbmax]

Top five players: QB Aaron Rodgers, OG T.J. Lang, OG Josh Sitton, DT Mike Daniels, WR Jordy Nelson

Starters who should be upgraded: LB Sam Barrington, OT David Bakhtiari, LB Jake Ryan, DE Letroy Guion, TE Jared Cook

I am pretty sure this means either wist or red work at PFF!

I don't agree with Guion, though I am not sure he is the same kind of nose that Pickett and Raji were. Its kinda early for Cook as Patler said, but I can see being unimpressed if you look at his Rams production only.

Hard to not agree with the other three. If Bach is healthy, he doesn't scare me out there though.

[Zool]

Every team has starters that could be upgraded. Unfortunately there are 31 other teams in the league pulling from the same pool of players.

[Patler]

We're pretty okay at QB, WR, Oline, OLB, S, and CB.

That's 15 of 22 starting positions that look to have solid starters and reliable backups. I would throw RB in there too, with a rejuvenated Lacy and Starks. I am hopeful TE might be just a notch below that, with Cook being a pleasant surprise as the starter, but backups being rather pedestrian. It has the potential of an offense without apparent weakness.

Defense being solid at CB, S and OLB is a very good start in the pass-happy NFL. Now it will be up to the three rookies and maybe Ringo to come in and make them better at DL and ILB, with hopeful upticks from Ryan and Barrington.

I think you also have to consider Crosby and the take-your-pick return men to be solid components of the roster. Masthay seemed to have a down year, yet demolished the Packer record for net punting average by a full yard (40.2/39.2), a record that was set in 1963 and never seriously challenged since then by anyone other than Masthay. (I hope Masthay bought nice gifts for Janis, Goodsen and the other members of the punt coverage team.)

Darn, this kool-aide is good!