Green Bay Packers: 5 Players Whose Stock is Tumbling
By Paul Bretl
Dexter Williams
While meeting with reporters earlier in the week, Matt LaFleur did mention how much Dexter Williams has improved since his rookie season–and I believe we’ve seen that. He’s been more consistent as a pass-catcher and where he needs to be as a blocker.
With that said, when it comes to the RB3 battle and making this roster, it looks like Kylin Hill and Patrick Taylor are still leaving him behind.
Hill has been the best of the three, showcasing his ability with the ball in his hands. While Taylor has shaken off the rust pretty quickly after missing last season with a foot injury. Both are ideal fits for the LaFleur offense, reliable pass-catchers, and blockers, as well as special teams contributors, which Williams is not.
Despite the noticeable improvement from Williams, those same blocking and pass-catching issues that have plagued him since his rookie season still pop up.
If the Green Bay Packers keep three running backs, at this time, that RB3 role belongs to Hill. If they keep four, then Taylor will likely be RB4–leaving Williams off the roster once again.
Will Redmond
Prior to training camp beginning, I did have Will Redmond on my initial 53-man roster prediction–and he certainly could still make it. I know he took his lumps last season, but he’s a young, versatile defender, who can provide special teams help–in fact, he’s been one of the Packers’ better special teams players. And maybe all of that will be enough to keep him on the roster in 2021, despite spending the first part of training camp on the NFI list.
However, in his absence, we’ve seen Henry Black primarily line up as the third safety with Darnell Savage and Adrian Amos. Vernon Scott has taken some reps in that role as well, and I just really like his fit in this defensive scheme. Not to mention that an under-the-radar name to watch moving forward is Innis Gaines, and we’ve seen Christian Uphoff make a play or two as well.
The sooner that Redmond can return, the better because despite the lack of experience on the roster after Amos and Savage, this safety group does look pretty good.