3 Green Bay Packers UDFAs Who Could Make Roster Push

Making the 53-man roster for any undrafted rookie is no easy task, but that seems to ring especially true on this year’s Green Bay Packers team that has a strong veteran presence and a majority of the roster spots already locked up.

However, if a UDFA is going to make that roster push, while there are many factors in play, two main ones are that they need to be at a position that has an opening or two—and the rookie will have to stand out on special teams.

Following the draft, the Green Bay Packers signed 14 UDFAs, and of that group, there are three in particular that I will have my eyes on during training camp and the preseason.

Green Bay Packers UDFA: S Tre Sterling

The Green Bay Packers may have Darnell Savage and Adrian Amos, but the two to three roster spots behind them are wide open and up for grabs. As of now, competing for those spots will be UDFA Tre Sterling, Vernon Scott, who has only 90 career snaps, along with Shawn Davis and Innis Gaines, both of whom have no regular season snaps.

With the addition of Quay Walker at linebacker, the third safety will likely not play as big of a role in 2022 as it has in past seasons, with the Packers’ newfound ability to stay in their base nickel defense more frequently. But nevertheless, someone will still have to fill that role–even if it is reduced.

Due to injuries, Sterling appeared in only three games last season, or he may have ended up as a draft pick. However, during the 2019 and 2020 seasons, Sterling was used aggressively, logging seven pressures and 56 stops, 29 of which came in 2020 and were the most among all safeties.

Over those same two seasons, Sterling allowed a 74% completion rate on 69 targets but for just 9.1 yards per catch. He also added 10 pass breakups and three interceptions as well. Sterling’s coverage grade from PFF ranked 25th in 2019 and seventh in 2020 out of all safeties. Overall, he was the 33rd ranked safety by grade in 2019 and the 14th in 2020.

As a safety, Sterling spent a majority of his career snaps in the box — 555, to be exact — but also lined up as a free safety on 331 snaps and in the slot on 386 snaps. He also has 327 career special teams snaps.

Sterling stands 5’11” – 205 pounds but didn’t test very well at his pro-day, which included a 4.71-second 40-time. This, too, was also a likely contributor to him going undrafted.

"“A well-put-together safety who shows good play strength when playing in tight spaces,” wrote NFL Draft Bible. “Smart player who excels when he is able to play as an underneath defender that plays near the line of scrimmage. Underwhelming athlete who has limited coverage abilities, struggles in space as a tackler and cover guy. Best fit at the next level will be in the box where a team would have to have a specific plan for how they want to use him.”"