My Stab At 53 Man Roster (Pre-Training Camp)

[HarveyWallbangers]

Locks (44 players)

QB (2) - Aaron Rodgers, Jordan Love
RB (3) - Aaron Jones, A.J. Dillon, Kylin Hill
WR (5) - Davante Adams, MVS, Randall Cobb, Allen Lazard, Amari Rodgers
TE (4) - Robert Tonyan, Marcedes Lewis, Josiah Deguara, Dominique Dafney, (SUSP Jace Sternberger)
OL (6) - David Bakhtiari, Elgton Jenkins, Josh Myers, Royce Newman, Billy Turner, Jon Runyan
DL (4) - Kenny Clark, Dean Lowry, Kingsley Keke, T.J. Slaton
OLB (4) - Za'Darius Smith, Rashan Gary, Preston Smith, Jonathan Garvin
ILB (4) - Krys Barnes, De'Vondre Campbell, Ty Summers, Oren Burks
CB (5) - Jaire Alexander, Eric Stokes, Kevin King, Chandon Sullivan, Shemar Jean-Charles
S (4) - Darnell Savage, Arian Amos, Vernon Scott, Henry Black
ST (3) - Mason Crosby, J.K. Scott, Hunter Bradley

I think 21 players have a chance at the other 9 spots. I think there will be an even bigger emphasis on special teams for these 9 spots.

QB (1, 0-1) - Kurt Benkert
RB (2, 0-1) - Patrick Taylor, Dexter Williams
WR (3, 1-2) - Malik Taylor, Devin Funchess, Juwann Winfree
OL (5, 3-4) - Ben Braden, Lucas Patrick, Yosh Nijman, Cole Van Lanen, Dennis Kelly
DL (2, 1) - Jack Heflin, Tyler Lancaster
OLB (2, 0-1) - Chauncey Rivers, Tipa Galeai
ILB (1, 0-1) - Isaiah McDuffie
CB (3, 1-2) - Kabian Ento, Isaac Yiadom
S (2, 0-1) - Christian Uphoff, Innis Gaines

I think either Malik Taylor or Devin Funchess will make the roster as the #6 WR. Winfree's injury probably rules him out. I lean towards Taylor for special teams--with Funchess being a candidate for trade.

I think either Jack Heflin or Tyler Lancaster will make the roster as the #5 DL. I think it's 50/50 right now. Heflin has a chance to win a roster spot with another good preseason game.

I think either Kabian Ento or Isaac Yiadom will make the roster as the #6 CB. Ento is better in coverage, but he can't tackle. This will come down to special teams, and I'm not sure who is the better special teams player.

I think either Yosh Nijman or Dennis Kelly will make the roster as the #4 OT. I think Nijman has the edge right now. Kelly needs to get healthy and show something.

I think Ben Braden is a near lock as the #4 IOL and either Lucas Patrick or Cole Van Lanen will make the roster as the #9 OL. I lean towards Patrick right now, but he needs to outperform Van Lanen in the final preseason game.

I don't think either RB will make the roster.

I think both OLBs would clear waivers, so I think they'll be put on PS and won't make the roster spot initially.

Locks (50 players)

QB (2) - Aaron Rodgers, Jordan Love
RB (3) - Aaron Jones, A.J. Dillon, Kylin Hill
WR (6) - Davante Adams, MVS, Randall Cobb, Allen Lazard, Amari Rodgers, Malik Taylor OR Devin Funchess
TE (4) - Robert Tonyan, Marcedes Lewis, Josiah Deguara, Dominique Dafney, (SUSP Jace Sternberger)
OL (9) - David Bakhtiari, Elgton Jenkins, Josh Myers, Royce Newman, Billy Turner, Jon Runyan, Ben Braden, Yosh Njiman OR Dennis Kelly, Lucas Patrick OR Cole Van Lanen
DL (5) - Kenny Clark, Dean Lowry, Kingsley Keke, T.J. Slaton, Jack Heflin OR Tyler Lancaster
OLB (4) - Za'Darius Smith, Rashan Gary, Preston Smith, Jonathan Garvin
ILB (4) - Krys Barnes, De'Vondre Campbell, Ty Summers, Oren Burks
CB (6) - Jaire Alexander, Eric Stokes, Kevin King, Chandon Sullivan, Shemar Jean-Charles, Kabian Ento OR Isaac Yiadom
S (4) - Darnell Savage, Arian Amos, Vernon Scott, Henry Black
ST (3) - Mason Crosby, J.K. Scott, Hunter Bradley

That leaves QB Kurt Benkert, LB Isaiah McDuffie, possibly one more OL, and S Christian Uphoff or S Innis Gaines fighting for 3 roster spots. I lean towards McDuffie and Uphoff because of special teams. The last spot will come down to Benkert or another OL as insurance for Bakh.

[HarveyWallbangers]

My Projections after Preason Game #2

QB (2) - Aaron Rodgers, Jordan Love
RB (3) - Aaron Jones, A.J. Dillon, Kylin Hill
WR (6) - Davante Adams, MVS, Randall Cobb, Allen Lazard, Amari Rodgers, Malik Taylor
TE (4) - Robert Tonyan, Marcedes Lewis, Josiah Deguara, Dominique Dafney
OL (10) - David Bakhtiari, Elgton Jenkins, Josh Myers, Royce Newman, Billy Turner, Jon Runyan, Ben Braden, Lucas Patrick, Yosh Njiman, Cole Van Lanen
DL (5) - Kenny Clark, Dean Lowry, Kingsley Keke, T.J. Slaton, Jack Heflin
OLB (4) - Za'Darius Smith, Rashan Gary, Preston Smith, Jonathan Garvin
ILB (5) - Krys Barnes, De'Vondre Campbell, Ty Summers, Oren Burks, Isaiah McDuffie
CB (6) - Jaire Alexander, Eric Stokes, Kevin King, Chandon Sullivan, Shemar Jean-Charles, Kabian Ento
S (5) - Darnell Savage, Arian Amos, Vernon Scott, Henry Black, Christian Uphoff
ST (3) - Mason Crosby, J.K. Scott, Hunter Bradley

SUSP Jace Sternberger
IR Will Redman, Randy Ramsey
TRADE Devin Funchess

There are actually quite a few spots still up for grabs.

[HarveyWallbangers]

Devin Funchess placed on IR--which doesn't affect my projection.

[Fritz]

Does anyone think they can and will try to sneak Encyclopedia St. Brown onto the taxi squad?

[texaspackerbacker]

St. Brown should make the team or at very least, the P.S. Horrible if we lose him.

No shit, Funchess is on IR? Season ending IR? I haven't seen the news. If that's true, it absolutely makes my day!

I guess it's time to get off my lazy ass and post my stab at the 53 plus P.S. before next Tuesday when it actually is fairly final. Maybe tomorrow.

[smuggler]

They'll probably work an injury settlement with Funchess.

[Spaulding]

Looks good Harv and likely spot on. One variable is Z's health to start the season. If his back is still an issue I think they keep Rivers (they might anyways) and then will likely keep only (4) ILB's, especially since they seem to play traditional 3-4 scheme roughly 20% of the time. That might change under Barry, especially with a good coverage ILB in Campbell but from a numbers standpoint I don't know that they can afford the luxury of 5 ILB's. I also wouldn't be surprised to see an OL traded if they feel Njiman finally deserves a spot on the 53.

[texaspackerbacker]

It's obviously not pre-training camp now, but I want to get my version on record before the final cutdown.

3 special teamers: Bradley LS, Crosby K both just about locks. J.K. Scott could be replaced if somebody half decent is a late cut elsewhere.

2 QBs with 1 PS: Obviously Rodgers and Love on the 53 unless lightning strikes and Love gets traded - which I'd like, but I doubt very much. Benkert PS unless he is traded or they absolutely need to keep him on the 53 not to lose him.

3 RBs plus probably 2 PS: The obvious here too - Jones, Dylan, and Hill on the 53 with D. Williams and P. Taylor on the PS.

4 TEs on the 53: Lewis, Tonyan, Deguara, and Dafney with Sternberger suspended and IMO not replacing one of the others when he come back - cut or maybe PSed. Maybe Kafausi PS but I doubt it.

6 WRs plus at least 2 on the PS: Adams, Lazard, MVS, Cobb, Amari Rodgers, St. Brown, Malik Taylor on the 53, Begelton and Winfrey PS unless Winfrey is injured bad enough for IR which I doubt.

9 OLine plus 2 PS: Bakhtiari, Jenkins, Myers, Turner, Newman, Patrick, Runyan, Braden, Nijman on the 53, Hanson and Van Lanen PS.

5 DLine plus 2 or 3 PS: Clark, Keke, Slayton, and two from among Lowery, Lancaster, Heflin, and Previlon on the 53 with the other 2 on PS. My guess is Lowery and Heflin make the 53.

5 ILBs plus 1 PS: Barnes, Campbell, Summers, Burks, McDuffie on the 53 with Wilburn PS.

4 OLBs plus 2 PS: Z. and P. Smith, Gary, and 1 from among Garvin, Gileai, and D. Scott with the other two PS. My guess is Garvin makes the 53.

6 Corners on the 53: Alexander, Stokes, King, Sullivan, Jean-Charles, Ento

6 Safetys on the 53: Amos, Savage, V. Scott, Uphoff, Gaines, and Black.

If I added right, that's 53 total plus 2 PS, leaving room for 4 other pick ups. The only veterans would be Lancaster and Sternberger if either is PSed. I'd put the untouchable designation on Benkert and nobody else obvious.

[HarveyWallbangers]

If I added right, that's 53 total plus 2 PS, leaving room for 4 other pick ups. The only veterans would be Lancaster and Sternberger if either is PSed. I'd put the untouchable designation on Benkert and nobody else obvious.

You didn't. You wrote 6 WRs, but then listed 7. I doubt ESB makes the team. Too injury prone, doesn't play special teams, hasn't really progressed since the end of his rookie year.

[texaspackerbacker]

St. Brown damn well better make the team! With damn Funchess out of the way, there's plenty of room for both him and Malik Taylor. I hear St. Brown is healthy and has been practicing with the first string this week. This week's game is big for him.

I guess modify my roster prediction by putting one of the Safetys on the PS - probably Gaines, although Henry Black would be my preference. I also forgot Dennis Kelly among the O Linemen. PS him if he is healthy enough or maybe replace Nijman on the 53 with him.

[run pMc]

St. Brown is back practicing, but I had not heard it was with first team. If that's true I would guess it's to see if he has any timing with Rodgers, but I doubt they are giving him many snaps with first team with Cobb, MVS and Adams running with the 1's. Plus they need to work Amari in.
I liked ESB as a prospect and was thrilled he fell to GB but he's done very little to justify keeping him on the 53 at this point. It's close, but I'd keep Taylor over ESB from what I've seen, and ESB should make it to the PS if they want to keep developing him.

Henry Black makes the team over Gaines. Gaines is hit and miss for me, but he has a shot. I think Uphoff has long term potential to develop and they either keep him for ST or try to stash him on the PS.

Thanks for the analysis on Nijman; I've wondered about him and his development. By Year 3 he's either a tackle or he's gone.

The rookie center Myers seems to be doing ok.

[RashanGary]

Lazard is underrated too. Rodgers has 4 legitimate WRs, a legit TE and Jones. If the OL can protect, Rodgers will have another great year.

[bobblehead]

I'm pretty sure that everything I hoped for from MVS materialize this season. 1k yards seems likely to me.

[Spaulding]

I'm pretty sure that everything I hoped for from MVS materialize this season. 1k yards seems likely to me.

I'm definitely on the MVS bandwagon. Grabbing him for cheap in all my fantasy leagues. He's going to explode when Adams gets doubled - BOOM.

[RashanGary]

I'm pretty sure that everything I hoped for from MVS materialize this season. 1k yards seems likely to me.

MVS is an extremely valuable piece to this puzzle. We simply don’t have another legitimate deep threat. If the OL can’t hold up, it’s gonna be harder for him to get those big plays though.

Also, he’s sharing catches with

Adams, Tonyan, Cobb, Lazard and Jones



I predict 800 yards, a bunch of huge gainers and his best season yet. But it’s hard to split catches with 5 other guys and still have a 1,000 yard season.