Packers Have an Open Roster Spot Ahead of Training Camp

The Green Bay Packers announced on Friday afternoon that they had released beloved backup quarterback Kurt Benkert, which then opened up a roster spot on the 90-man heading into training camp.

The Packers will undoubtedly fill that roster spot in the next five weeks before training camp begins, but the big question is, how?

A few positions that the Packers could look to bolster their depth at are safety, cornerback, edge rusher, and receiver.

As good as the Packers look at safety and cornerback on the front-end, there is a question about depth, with little experience on the roster at each position. Early on this summer, Shawn Davis has emerged as a possible front-runner for the third safety role and Keisean Nixon as the fourth cornerback–spending most of his time in the slot. Both could be core special teams players as well.

Edge rusher depth is arguably the biggest need on the roster. While Rashan Gary and Preston Smith finished third and 10th, respectively, in pressures last season, according to PFF ($$), there was a serious lack of impact plays when they were on the sidelines–which was about one-third of the time.

This offseason, Kingsley Enagbare, who was selected in the fifth-round, was the biggest addition, but relying heavily on a Day 3 pick comes with some risks. The Packers will also be getting Randy Ramsey back, and hopefully, returning players, Jonathan Garvin and Tipa Galeai, can continue to develop–but again, all of that remains an unknown.

Then there is receiver, which I imagine is front of mind for everyone. However, as I’ve discussed before, despite the question marks at the position, this is a crowded room.

Under Matt LaFleur, Green Bay has never rostered more than six receivers on the initial roster, and right now, I would consider there to be six locks with Allen Lazard, Randall Cobb, Amari Rodgers, Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, and Sammy Watkins. This also doesn’t include Samori Toure or Juwann Winfree, who will be fighting for a roster spot as well.

Now, this doesn’t mean the Packers won’t make an addition and keep a seventh receiver, but for the reasons mentioned, I see it as unlikely. Although, if the Packers do explore free agency, the two receivers that would be immediate upgrades are Julio Jones and Odell Beckham Jr, but how much each player will want to earn is a question we don’t have the answer to at this time.

Also, I’m sure many fans are watching what is taking place with Terry McLaurin in Washington, but as I discuss in greater detail here, with how top-heavy the Packers salary cap situation is in 2023 and beyond, adding another major contract to the books would be a challenge, to say the least–especially with Rashan Gary and Elgton Jenkins still in-store for big paydays of their own.

From a salary cap perspective, the Packers do have enough cap space to make a signing–although I wouldn’t expect anything major.

According to Over the Cap, the Packers have just shy of $17 million in cap space, but as we discussed in a recent article about potentially reworking Lazard’s deal, when other expenses are factored in, Green Bay’s effective cap space is closer to $3 million.

Again, they have the ability to sign any number of free agents, but they aren’t truly working with $17 million in available space either.

If I had to guess, in typical Packers fashion, this will be a low-key signing that doesn’t draw a ton of attention—or perhaps it’s even another quarterback because going into training camp and the preseason with only three on the roster is a bit on the light side

However, with that said, Brian Gutekunst has oftentimes surprised us in the past.