Packers Roster: Updated Final 53-Man Projection Before Cuts

Green Bay Packers GM Brian Gutekunst must pick his 53-man roster by 3 p.m. Tuesday. Here is a final projection of who will make it and the toughest decisions.

Green Bay Packers wide reciever Malik Heath (18) does a Lambeau Leap after scoring against the Baltimore Ravens. / Sarah Kloepping/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin / USA TODAY NETWORK

GREEN BAY, Wis. – Brian Gutekunst has assembled the deepest roster in his seven seasons as Green Bay Packers general manager. That means some incredibly difficult decisions are ahead with the 53-man roster cutdown looming at 3 p.m. Tuesday.

In the initial run-through of our final Packers roster projection of training camp, I picked 56 players. There are difficult decisions pending at receiver and in the secondary, where there is an abundance of depth, and quarterback and offensive line, where the depth did not emerge.

Here is our final Packers roster projection. Note: It was updated after the Packers acquired quarterback Malik Willis.

Quarterbacks (2)

On the 53: Jordan Love, Malik Willis (Original version had Love and Michael Pratt)

Toughest decision: Michael Pratt, Sean Clifford or none of the above?

After a promising rookie training camp and preseason, Clifford made too many mistakes this summer. It’s not just the practice-field interceptions. It was the botched shotgun snap on Saturday.

The preponderance of mistakes opened the door for Pratt. Against the Ravens, he threw a superb touchdown pass to Bo Melton, only to throw a horrendous interception.

The lack of progress in the young signal-callers necessitated the trade for Willis, who started three games as a rookie and played well this preseason.

The #Packers have their backup quarterback. After Sean Clifford and Michael Pratt failed to take control of the job, they traded for Malik Willis. ⬇️https://t.co/1xoDs6TyXl

— Bill Huber (@BillHuberNFL) August 26, 2024

Quarterback is the most important position in the game, which is why Gutekunst drafted Clifford in the fifth round in 2023 and Pratt in the seventh round in 2024. He said before the draft he wanted to get back to drafting quarterbacks with regularity.

The arrival of Willis means one or both will be released. You’d think the Packers would have to keep one – either on the 53 or the practice squad – because it’s an almost impossible ask of Willis to learn the offense well enough to be ready for emergency duty against the Eagles on Sept. 6. Clifford knows the offense better than Pratt; Pratt probably has more upside.

Running Backs (3)

On the 53: Josh Jacobs, AJ Dillon/MarShawn Lloyd, Emanuel Wilson

Toughest decision: Only the Packers know the injury outlook for Dillon (stinger) and Lloyd (hamstring). To pick one or the other would be pure guesswork.

For what it’s worth, Lloyd thought he’d be ready for Week 1. “We’ve got almost 2 weeks. That’s more than enough time,” he said on Saturday. Of course, players always are optimistic, so the team might prefer to be extremely conversative, especially given Lloyd’s lack of work in the preseason. Even if he’s ready physically to start the season, will he be ready to contribute?

The uncertainty should open the door for Wilson. Among running backs, Wilson finished second in preseason rushing, second in forced missed tackles and first in yards after contact, according to Pro Football Focus.

Receivers (6)

On the 53: Romeo Doubs, Christian Watson, Dontayvion Wicks, Jayden Reed, Bo Melton, Malik Heath

Toughest decision: Melton vs. Heath vs. Grant DuBose.

If the Packers weren’t so deep at other positions, they could perhaps go seven strong at receiver because all three of the “bubble” receivers can contribute on special teams.

Melton has game-breaking speed and was a dynamic threat down the stretch last year. That he scored a touchdown in the playoff win at San Francisco shows the trust he earned. Other than one bad day in Cleveland, he had an excellent training camp.

Heath brings the physicality to the party but has enough receiver skill to keep defenses honest. He led the team in receptions during the preseason.

DuBose had a productive stretch during training camp and was superb as a receiver and blocker during the preseason win at Cleveland. However, he faded a bit down the stretch. Receiver is sort of a dime-a-dozen position so the guess is the Packers would be able to get him back on the practice squad.

Tight Ends (3)

On the 53: Luke Musgrave, Tucker Kraft, Ben Sims

Toughest decision: Sims or Tyler Davis? Or Sims and Davis?

Sims contributed as a blocker last season and showed his athleticism with a series of big-play catches during the second half of training camp. He should be an asset in a supplementary role.

Davis is a key player on special teams. With Davis spending the year on injured reserve following a torn ACL, the Packers went from 22nd to 29th in Rick Gosselin’s annual special teams rankings. That’s not all because Davis was out of commission, obviously, but special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia said it felt like “we lost our right hand.”

Offensive Line (9)

On the 53: LT Rasheed Walker, LG Elgton Jenkins, C Josh Myers, RG Sean Rhyan, RT Zach Tom, OL Jordan Morgan, OT Andre Dillard, C/G Jacob Monk, OT Kadeem Telfort

Toughest decision: Are there nine NFL-worthy offensive linemen?

The Packers kept 10 offensive linemen in 2022 and 2023. After releasing David Bakhtiari and losing Yosh Nijman and Jon Runyan, the Packers’ depth has not recovered.

Dillard, who didn’t give up a pressure in two preseason appearances, suffered an injured shoulder at Denver but took part in individual drills before the Baltimore game, so seems to be fine. Morgan, Dillard and Monk will be the top backups, giving the Packers a solid eight-man unit.

That left it to Telfort vs. sixth-round pick Travis Glover for the final spot. Gutekunst tends to keep his draft picks, but Telfort offers more position flexibility and is more ready to contribute if thrust into action.

Veteran guard Royce Newman, who has 23 starts and 1,718 regular-season snaps on his resume, could be a trade candidate.

However the roster shakes out on Tuesday, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see a veteran addition on Wednesday.

Defensive Ends (4)

On the 53: Rashan Gary, Preston Smith, Lukas Van Ness, Kingsley Enagbare

Toughest decision: Releasing Brenton Cox.

Cox made the 53 as an undrafted free agent last year and was much better during training camp and the preseason this year. So, this one was difficult. In fact, this was our most difficult decision.

Cox did his part. Of 102 edge defenders with at least 30 pass-rushing opportunities, Cox ranked sixth in pass-rush productivity, a Pro Football Focus metric that measures sacks, hits and hurries per pass-rushing snap, and 16th in pass-rush win rate.

However, Cox wasn’t a No. 1 on any of the special teams units at practice last week and Colby Wooden can multi-task as the fifth defensive end.

Defensive Tackles (5)

On the 53: Kenny Clark, TJ Slaton, Devonte Wyatt, Karl Brooks, Colby Wooden

Toughest decision: None.

This was the five-man group last season and there’s no reason to deviate.

Linebackers (6)

On the 53: Quay Walker, Isaiah McDuffie, Eric Wilson, Edgerrin Cooper, Ty’Ron Hopper, Kristian Welch

Toughest decision: Keeping Welch as the sixth linebacker instead of Cox as the fifth defensive end.

Actually, keeping Welch was fairly simple because he earned his spot on the roster. He tied for the team lead in tackles and led the team outright in interceptions and passes defensed. Welch’s calling card is special teams – he’s played more than 1,110 snaps in four NFL seasons – so can be a core player and leader on the kicking units.

Meanwhile, Cooper missed most of training camp and the entire preseason with a hip injury. Welch would provide some ready-made depth until Cooper is fully acclimated and ready to go.

Cornerbacks (6)

On the 53: Jaire Alexander, Eric Stokes, Keisean Nixon, Carrington Valentine, Corey Ballentine, Kalen King

Toughest decision: Releasing Robert Rochell.

The Packers are an interesting spot. Do they have a legitimate NFL starter after Jaire Alexander? That remains to be seen. The top-to-bottom depth is strong, though.

A former fourth-round pick, Rochell is a good player who deserves to be on an NFL roster. However, Ballentine was a key player for them last year – and got $600,000 guaranteed in re-signing – and King showed some legit potential in the slot as the third-to-last pick in this year’s draft.

Safeties (6)

On the 53: Xavier McKinney, Javon Bullard, Evan Williams, Anthony Johnson, Kitan Oladapo, Zayne Anderson

Toughest decision: Keeping Anderson as the sixth safety instead of Cox.

Claimed off waivers at the end of training camp last year, Anderson emerged as a core special-teamer in his 10 appearances. Based on who ran with the No. 1s during the final week of camp, Anderson looks to be a key player for Bisaccia again.

Oladapo probably is safe due to his fifth-round draft status and late start to camp following a broken toe sustained at the Scouting Combine.

Specialists (3)

On the 53: K Anders Carlson, P Daniel Whelan, LS Matt Orzech

Toughest decision: None – as far as Tuesday, anyway.

Gutekunst might be interested in the waiver wire at kicker after Carlson capped a so-so summer by missing a chip-shot field goal against the Ravens. However, releasing him now without a replacement in place would be putting the cart before the horse.

Orzech twice dispatched undrafted rookie Peter Bowden but the Packers could look for an upgrade here, too; the Buccaneers on Sunday released Zach Triner, who competed for a roster spot with the Packers in 2018 and was the Bucs’ snapper the last five seasons.

Last Men On and Off

At the start, I said I had 56 players on the first run-through of our final projection.

Last men off the roster: Brenton Cox, Tyler Davis, Sean Clifford.

Last men on the roster: Kristian Welch, Zayne Anderson.

By the numbers: 23 on offense, 27 on defense, three on special teams.

More Green Bay Packers News

While the rest of us wonder who will emerge as the #Packers' backup quarterback(s), Sean Clifford is already getting ready for the Eagles and Colts. ⬇️https://t.co/ncZUIBabAy

— Bill Huber (@BillHuberNFL) August 25, 2024

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