10 Packers Who Could Be Cut Before Training Camp Even Begins

Adam Schefter reported that teams might only bring 80 or so players to training camp. So which Green Bay Packers players could be cut before practice begins?

Typically this time of the year, teams and fans are gearing up for training camp to start followed shortly be some preseason action. This, of course, includes 90-man rosters to begin camp, and the final 53-man roster doesn’t have to be set until after the final preseason game at the end of August.

However, as we all know, this has been far from a normal year.

The entire NFL offseason has been done virtually up to this point; it was recently reported that there would be only two preseason games instead of four, and the latest news to break from Adam Schefter of ESPN is that teams are likely bringing fewer than 90 players to training camp.

This sadly means that some players may not be given a real chance this year to make an NFL roster and who knows what ramifications that will have on their careers.

Now sure, these players probably had a very small chance of making the Green Bay Packers final roster anyways, but without an opportunity in camp and the preseason, we won’t truly know how things could have played out.

I mean, as Packer fans, we’ve seen plenty of undrafted free agents make the team and then end up playing big roles at some point. Tramon Williams and Sam Shields are a few notable players to do just that.

So if this is, in fact, the case and the Green Bay Packers are only bringing 80 players to camp, I make some educated guesses on who could be uninvited before even taking a step on the practice field.

Damarea Crockett – RB

This is a crowded backfield in Green Bay, and at this point, Aaron Jones, A.J. Dillon, Jamaal Williams, and Tyler Ervin are going to make up the running back position on the Packers’ 53-man roster. So there’s no more room there.

Green Bay will also give former sixth-round pick Dexter Williams one more chance, and UDFA Patrick Taylor had shown at Memphis that he could make plays both as a runner and a pass-catcher, which should give him an opportunity to make the practice squad. Crockett is the odd man out.

Zack Johnson – OG

This is another crowded position for the Packers, and after adding Jon Runyan and Simon Stepaniak in the draft to join Elgton Jenkins, Billy Turner, Lane Taylor, Cole Madison, and Lucas Patrick, there just isn’t enough room.

Jordan Jones – FB

Jones is a UDFA fullback from Prarie View A&M, but considering that the Green Bay Packers have Josiah Deguara and Jace Sternberger, who can both play the H-back role and lineup in the backfield if needed, rostering an extra fullback isn’t necessary.

Elijah Wellman – FB

Wellman suffers a similar fate as Jones and for similar reasons.

Delontae Scott – EDGE

Green Bay certainly isn’t lacking talent at the edge-rusher position, and although Kyler Fackrell’s spot is up for grabs, the Packers have plenty of young options, including seventh-round pick Jon Garvin and UDFA Tipa Galeai.

Malik Taylor – WR

As I said in a recent article, the days of the Packers keeping seven or eight receivers are gone and with five of the roster spots already accounted for – Davante Adams, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Equanimeous St. Brow, Allen Lazard, and Devin Funchess – that leaves only one spot available. And that’s if Green Bay decides to carry six receivers.

However, if they do keep six, Jake Kumerow is likely the favorite, but Reggie Begelton, Darrius Shepherd, and Darrell Stewart will all be competing for that final spot.

Henry Black – S

As we saw last season, the Green Bay Packers could use some depth behind Raven Greene for that hybrid linebacker/safety position, and Henry Black could provide that. However, so could seventh-round pick Vernon Scott and another UDFA Frankie Griffin.

With Scott as a draft pick, he will, at the very least, be at training camp, and Griffin has far more experience at the linebacker position and did plenty of the dirty work that’s involved with this hybrid role while at Texas State. Therefore, Black is left out.

Evan Baylis – TE

Like many of the other positions on this list, the tight end position is already set with Jace Sternberger, Josiah Deguara – yes, I know he’s an H-back, but he will fill this role as well – Marcedes Lewis, and Robert Tonyan.

My gut says the Packers keep James Looney around who is transitioning from defensive lineman to tight end as I just find it hard to believe that Green Bay would ask him to do that and then cut him not long after. This leaves Baylis on the outside looking in.

Will Sunderland – CB

This offseason the Packers added DeShaun Amos from the CFL and UDFA’s Stanford Samuels, Marc-Antoine Dequoy, and Will Sunderland, who will be joining Kevin King, Jaire Alexander, Chandon Sullivan, Ka’dar Hollman, and Kabion Ento, who will account for a majority of the roster spots.

Out of the newcomers, Amos has had professional success at the CFL level, Dequoy brings intriguing speed, and Samuels was considered a mid-round pick by many prior to the combine. With a young talented group and few roster spots available at this position, Sunderland, unfortunately, won’t make the cut.

Jamal Davis – Edge

Earlier this offseason, the Green Bay Packers claimed Davis off waivers after he finished his rookie season in Miami, where he spent most of it on the practice squad. But with plenty of options fighting for that final one or possibly two roster spots at edge-rusher, the Packers will choose to keep players like Tim Williams, Greg Roberts, and Randy Ramsey, who are all familiar with Mike Pettine’s defense.