Green Bay Packers: 53-Man Roster Prediction Before Final Preseason Game
By Paul Bretl
Running back (3): Aaron Jones, AJ Dillon, and Kylin Hill
Kylin Hill has had the RB3 role secured for some time now–even if the coaches won’t admit it. As much as I like Patrick Taylor’s fit in this Matt LaFleur offense with his ability as a blocker and pass-catcher, we just haven’t seen enough of him yet. Couple that the fact that Jones and Dillon will be taking a bulk of the running back snaps, and again, this is a roster spot that can be utilized elsewhere.
Wide Receiver (6): Davante Adams, Randall Cobb, Allen Lazard, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Amari Rodgers, Malik Taylor
We know that the first five players listed are locks, and with the receivers that this team has along with the pass-catching options at tight end and running back, I just don’t see Green Bay keeping seven receivers. So ultimately, this was a decision between Malik Taylor and Devin Funchess.
In terms of receiving abilities, Funchess has a higher ceiling than Taylor, but I still wonder with all of those other pass-catching options already on the roster — Adams, Lazard, MVS, Rodgers, Cobb, Tonyan, Lewis, Deguara, Jones, and Dillon — I’m still not sure how much playing time Funchess would carve out in this offense.
It’s also worth noting that Funchess has missed some practices and a preseason game this summer due to an injury. Of course, I don’t believe that will be the big deciding factor in all of this, but again, it’s noteworthy–especially for someone who hasn’t played in nearly two years.
On the flip side, it’s not as if Taylor is going to see a lot of playing time on offense with all of those pass-catching options ahead of him, but he has impressed as a receiver in the Packers’ two preseason games, and he will contribute on special teams as a gunner–something that I don’t think we’d see much of from Funchess.
Tight end (4): Robert Tonyan, Josiah Deguara, Marcedes Lewis, and Dominique Dafney
Considering that Jace Sternberger is suspended for the first two games of the season, this is a much easier decision than what it could have been. Five tight ends on the roster is a lot, but since I don’t have to make that decision at this time, this was an easy position group to put together. However, when Sternberger returns, some difficult decisions will have to be made.