Green Bay Packers: Way Too Early Final Roster Prediction

The Green Bay Packers roster is at the 90-man limit after free agency and the draft, so here is a way too early 53-man roster prediction for the 2020 season.

NFL free agency has come to a slow creep and the draft is now a few weeks old. That means that the Green Bay Packers have their 90-man roster for training camp and the preseason set and ready to go.

Now, they could still make an addition or two from the remaining free agent pool – that is as long as they make a corresponding cut as well – but for the most part, we know who will be competing for a spot on the 53-man roster.

Undoubtedly a lot is going to change between now and when the final roster cuts are made, but with the 90-man roster set at the moment, there’s no better time to make my way too early 53-man roster predictions.

Truthfully most of these spots are already accounted for by established players and it’s really just trying to figure out which fringe roster players will make the team. But nonetheless, it is still a fun exercise and something to look back on in a few months to see how right, or wrong, I was.

Quarterback (2): Aaron Rodgers, Jordan Love

This is pretty straight forward, the only thing that could change is if Matt LaFleur decided to keep Tim Boyle as a third quarterback as he could help with Love’s development. With that said, there is way more value in using that roster spot on a different position.

Running back/H-back (5): Aaron Jones, Jamaal Williams, A.J. Dillon, Tyler Ervin, Josiah Deguara

Like the quarterback, this is another area that is pretty well set. Dillon will give the Green Bay Packers a three-headed monster out of the backfield, while Ervin gives LaFleur a gadget player to move around, and Deguara will assume the role of H-back.

Tight end (3): Jace Sternberger, Marcedes Lewis, Robert Tonyan

In recent seasons the Green Bay Packers have carried four tight ends on the roster and in a way they still are as Deguara can provide them with that same skill-set. We know what Lewis brings to the table, but now it is time for Tonyan and especially Sternberger to take on larger roles and give Aaron Rodgers some additional weapons in the passing game.

Wide receiver (6): Davante Adams, Devin Funchess, Allen Lazard, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Equanimeous St. Brown, Reggie Begelton

Although many fans are concerned about this position when it comes to the 53-man roster, it seems fairly set, or at least the first five are. Davante Adams is Davante Adams. While Funchess and Lazard appear to be the top candidates for WR2, and St. Brown will hopefully provide a much-needed boost.

Meanwhile, Valdes-Scantling is coming off a down season but with his 4.37 speed, he gives the Packers that home run ability downfield that we’ve seen him and Rodgers connect on in the past. So he will get another shot in 2020. Then there is former CFL standout, Reggie Begelton who is coming off a 100 catch, 1,400-yard season in 2019. Regardless of where you’re playing, those are impressive numbers and I believe he will see some meaningful snaps in 2020.

One name that has been left off is fan-favorite Jake Kumerow. While he’s a willing run-blocker and has flashed here and there, he is the oldest receiver on the roster and he’s a limited player. Last season beyond Adams and Lazard this Packers’ offense couldn’t find a reliable receiving option, and Kumerow still didn’t see regular playing time.

Offensive Line (9): David Bakhtiari, Elgton Jenkins, Corey Linsley, Billy Turner, Rick Wagner, Lane Taylor, Jon Runyan, Jake Hanson, Lucas Patrick

We know who the likely starting five is, so I’ll skip ahead to the backups. Rookie Jon Runyan has the potential to be a starting guard for the Packers and the same goes for Jake Hanson at the center position.

Lucas Patrick gives them a versatile interior option with experience and while many thought that the Packers would have moved on from Lane Taylor to save some cap space, at this point I believe they hold on to him for added depth at guard but he’s also started a few games at tackle as well. And considering that there really aren’t any other tackle options besides Bakhtiari, Wagner, and Turner, keeping Taylor as insurance makes sense.

Defensive Line (5): Kenny Clark, Dean Lowry, Kingsley Keke, Montravius Adams, Tyler Lancaster

The Green Bay Packers added a Treyvon Hester recently and they claimed Gerald Willis off waivers, but ultimately the same five from last season will be back. But this time we will see Keke playing a much larger role.

Edge (4): Za’Darius Smith, Preston Smith, Rashan Gary, Jon Garvin

Pretty straight forward here, however, they do need to find someone to take Kyler Fackrell’s place and it will be seventh-round pick, Jonathan Garvin. In terms of value, landing Garvin at pick 242 may have been Green Bay’s best pick of the draft. He was a productive player during his time at Miami and he is still just 20-years-old.

Linebacker (5): Christian Kirksey, Oren Burks, Curtis Bolton, Kamal Martin, Ty Summers

When I did this exercise last year, I only had four linebackers on the roster and that is what the Green Bay Packers ended up doing as well. But this time around with the uncertainty surrounding the position – injury history and performance – as well as what each player brings to the table, I’m sticking with five.

Cornerback (7): Jaire Alexander, Kevin King, Chandon Sullivan, Ka’dar Hollman, Josh Jackson, Stanford Samuels, Dashaun Amos

Seven cornerbacks may seem like a lot but there are unknowns within this group, so for that reason alone, I’m a fan of more options. But also for whatever reason, the Packers’ secondary almost always seems to be bitten by the injury bug.

Looking ahead to this season, Alexander and King will hold things down on the outside, while Sullivan and Jackson will compete for snaps as the team’s nickel corner, and Hollman flashed in the preseason.

Then there is Samuels who is a UDFA, however, in a recent Bob McGinn article on The Athletic, two separate scouts had a third and fourth round grade on him before the combine. He’s a physical corner that will fit well in Mike Pettine’s pressman defensive scheme.

Lastly is DaShaun Amos another player that Green Bay picked up from the CFL. In 2019 he finished with 43 tackles along with five interceptions and he will do enough in camp to find his way on to the roster.

Safety (4): Adrian Amos, Darnell Savage, Raven Greene, Will Redmond

Mike Pettine loves to play with three safeties on the field and fortunately, Green Bay will be getting Raven Greene back who they really missed as he spent most of the season on IR. The only spot up for debate is the fourth safety and I went with Redmond over seventh-round pick Vernon Scott because of his experience, he’s not a total coverage liability – although he needs to improve – and he was excellent on special teams in 2019. Which is an important factor.

Special Teams (3): Mason Crosby, Hunter Bradley, J.K. Scott

I mean, these are the only three guys on the roster at these positions and I don’t even know who the Green Bay Packers would bring in to actually compete with any of these players. This is your 2020 special teams group.