Green Bay Packers: Newest RB Corey Grant could make final 53

The newest addition at running back Corey Grant, could be a darkhorse to make the Green Bay Packers final 53-man roster.

After releasing Mike Daniels the day before Training Camp was set to begin, the Green Bay Packers signed former Jacksonville Jaguar Corey Grant to fill out their 90-man roster.

While moves like this made during Training Camp typically don’t amount to much other than another body on the practice field, given Grant’s skill set as well as how Matt LaFleur likes to utilize running backs in his offense, he could be a darkhorse to make the final roster.

Typically under former head coach Mike McCarthy the Green Bay Packers have kept three running backs on the roster. However, in both the running game and passing game, running backs will play a much more significant role in LaFleur’s offense, so keeping four isn’t out of the question.

In fact, as offensive coordinator of the Tennessee Titans last season, they actually ran the ball more than they passed it. Now, part of that is due to the makeup of their roster and with Aaron Rodgers we won’t be seeing a 50/50 split of run and pass, but there will be more involvement than in years past.

Grant was an undrafted rookie out of Auburn in 2015 and has spent his first four seasons in the league with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

He is a tremendous athlete running a 4.28 – 40 yard dash and finishing with a Relative Athletic Score of 9.32. Grant is also very versatile and can make an impact in both the running and passing games, as well as by returning kicks.

Athletic and versatile, this sounds familiar, doesn’t it? Well, Grant is the exact type of player that GM Brian Gutekunst has tried to fill this roster with over the last two years.

Although he never was the focal point of the Jacksonville offense, Grant has shown how explosive he can be with the ball in his hands by averaging 5.6 yards per rush over his career as well as hauling in nearly 70 percent of the passes thrown his way for an 8.7 yard average.

And it was during the AFC Championship game against the New England Patriots that Grant would make three catches for 59 yards.

We also have to take into consideration that during the final two years of his time in Jacksonville, Grant’s offensive coordinator was Nathaniel Hackett, who of course now holds that same title here in Green Bay.

Even though it will be a different offense than in Jacksonville, that familiarity between the two should make Grant’s transition a bit smoother and Hackett will know how to put Grant in positions to succeed by playing to his strengths.

In addition to what he can do on offense, Grant will also add some competition in the return game. Currently, that job belongs to Trevor Davis and as of now there doesn’t appear to be anyone pushing him for that role, but Grant could be the player to do so.

Over his career, Grant has 41 kick return attempts and has totaled 967 yards, which is a solid average of 23.6 yards per return. Grant’s lightning speed could really make him a dynamic player in the Packers’ return game, which is something that has been lacking in recent years.

For fringe roster players you want to be able to impact the game in as many ways possible, and Grant is a player that can do that with his abilities in the run game, as a pass-catcher, and as a return man.

By no means do I expect Grant to take the place of any of the aforementioned backs ahead of him, but given the big role that running backs play in this new offense, I wouldn’t rule out the Packers keeping four on the roster and as a result, Grant getting some opportunities this season.

That coupled with Grant’s athleticism, versatility, and familiarity with Hackett could be what sets him apart in Training Camp and leads to a final roster spot with the Green Bay Packers.