It’s the toughest part of every year for general manager Ted Thompson and head coach Mike McCarthy. Taking a roster that was 90 players and having to tell 37 of them that they won’t be a member of the Green Bay Packers’ active roster.
With the Packers’ preseason schedule concluded and final cutdowns looming Saturday afternoon, here is my final 53-man roster projection for Green Bay’s 2015 season.
NOTE: The Packers have two suspended players: Letroy Guion (three games) and Datone Jones (one game). Andrew Quarless has yet to be punished by the NFL for his offseason arrest, but that could still happen. NFL teams can keep 53 players in addition to their suspended players. Once each suspension is over, the Packers would have to either create a 53-man roster spot for Guion and Jones, or cut them.
Quarterbacks: (3)
In: Aaron Rodgers, Scott Tolzien, Brett Hundley
Out: n/a
Released during cuts to 75: Matt Blanchard
Changes since first projection: None
Analysis: Blanchard joined the Packers on the wrong year. In previous seasons, a quarterback with Blanchard’s skills would have had a very good shot at being the third quarterback on the depth chart. But less than three weeks after Blanchard signed with Green Bay, Hundley fell to the fifth round and the Packers traded up for him. With as impressive as Hundley has been in preseason, he obviously has no chance of clearing waivers. Therefore, Green Bay has to keep three quarterbacks on its 53-man roster.
Running backs: (5)
In: Eddie Lacy, James Starks, Rajion Neal, John Kuhn, Aaron Ripkowski
Out: Alonzo Harris, John Crockett
Changes since first projection: None
Analysis: The No. 3 running back job was Neal’s to lose, and he did just about everything right to win it. Harris wasn’t helped by having to wear a club over his hand in the final stages of training camp. Kuhn is back for likely his final year in Green Bay, while Ripkowski trains under him and contributes on special teams.
Wide receivers: (5)
In: Randall Cobb, Davante Adams, Ty Montgomery, Jeff Janis, Myles White
Out: Jared Abbrederis, Larry Pinkard, Ed Williams
Injured Reserve: Jordy Nelson
Released during cuts to 75: Javess Blue, Jimmie Hunt, James Butler
Changes since first projection: White in, Nelson to IR
Analysis: Nelson’s season-ending injury opened an opportunity for White, Abbrederis and Pinkard to try to claim the No. 5 receiver spot. This is a position in which Thompson could explore free agency once other teams make their cuts, which would put White in danger. If Cobb’s AC joint sprain in his right shoulder is going to limit him at all early in the season, the Packers might consider keeping a sixth wide receiver – at least until Jones or Guion are back.
Tight ends: (3)
In: Richard Rodgers, Andrew Quarless, Kennard Backman
Out: Justin Perillo, Mitchell Henry
Released during cuts to 75: Harold Spears
Changes since first projection: Perillo out
Analysis: Backman, Perillo or neither? That is the question. With Quarless still potentially getting suspended, it could increase the likelihood of more tight ends being kept around. Backman is a project and isn’t ready to contribute yet, but he’s a draft pick. Perillo has a very limited ceiling and wasn’t drafted. Advantage: Backman.
Offensive line: (9)
In: David Bakhtiari, Josh Sitton, Corey Linsley, T.J. Lang, Bryan Bulaga, JC Tretter, Don Barclay, Lane Taylor, Josh Walker
Out: Matt Rotheram, Garth Gerhart, Jeremy Vujnovich
Released during cuts to 75: Fabians Ebbele, Vince Kowalski
Changes since first projection: Walker in
Analysis: Preseason injuries along the offensive line, plus the struggles of Barclay, could lead Green Bay to being more comfortable keeping nine at this spot. Walker’s versatility helps his cause significantly, as he’s been able to bounce between tackle and guard. Would the Packers actually part ways with Barclay one year after he tore his ACL? It seems unlikely, but Barclay hasn’t looked like his old self since.
Defensive line: (6, plus 2)
In: Mike Daniels, B.J. Raji, Mike Pennel, Josh Boyd, Christian Ringo, Bruce Gaston
Out: Khyri Thornton
Suspended to begin season: Letroy Guion, Datone Jones
Released during cuts to 75: Lavon Hooks
Changes since first projection: Thornton out, Gaston in
Analysis: Gaston is absolutely deserving over Thornton. But will Thompson actually keep an undrafted player over a player whom he drafted in the third round last year? Gaston has been used in pass-rushing situations throughout preseason, offering a skill that few other Packers defensive lineman can offer. Thornton is more of a run-stuffer on a defensive line that has several others like him. Ringo, like Backman, is a sixth-round rookie who is worth developing. Erring on the side of Thompson keeping his draft-pick rookies is usually a safe bet.
Linebackers: (9)
In: Clay Matthews, Julius Peppers, Mike Neal, Nick Perry, Sam Barrington, Jake Ryan, Jayrone Elliott, Andy Mulumba, Nate Palmer
Out: Carl Bradford, Joe Thomas, James Vaughters, Jermauria Rasco
Released during cuts to 75: Adrian Hubbard, Josh Francis, Tavarus Dantzler
Changes since first projection: Bradford out
Analysis: It just hasn’t clicked for Bradford. The Packers drafted him as an outside linebacker, and that lasted all of a few months. As an inside linebacker, Bradford hasn’t shown a lot of growth over the past year. Thomas was used surprisingly little in the first three preseason games, likely as a precursor to him heading to the practice squad. Vaughters has had a good preseason and should be a perfect practice-squad candidate. The versatility of Matthews, Mulumba and Palmer allows Green Bay to keep just nine linebackers.
Cornerbacks: (5)
In: Sam Shields, Casey Hayward, Quinten Rollins, Damarious Randall, LaDarius Gunter
Out: Demetri Goodson, Tay Glover-Wright, Ryan White
Released during cuts to 75: Kyle Sebetic
Changes since first projection: None
Analysis: It didn’t take long for undrafted rookie Gunter to surpass 2014 sixth-round pick Goodson. It certainly didn’t help Goodson that he couldn’t get healthy in preseason.
Safeties: (5)
In: Micah Hyde, Morgan Burnett, Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, Sean Richardson, Chris Banjo
Out: Jean Fanor
Changes since first projection: Banjo in
Analysis: Banjo had a nice interception in the exhibition finale, and he’s a third-year player who can contribute on special teams. The 53rd and final roster spot could come down to Banjo, Bradford, Thomas, Thornton and Perillo.
Specialists: (3)
In: Mason Crosby, Tim Masthay, Brett Goode
Out: None
Changes since first projection: None
Analysis: For as much as Masthay has struggled in preseason, he has no competition for the job. Therefore, unless Thompson signs another punter in the coming days, Masthay wins by default.
