Early Signs Point to LB Ray Wilborn as Candidate for Packers Roster Spot
By Paul Bretl
When it comes to the Green Bay Packers linebacker position, we know that De’Vondre Campbell and Quay Walker will take the bulk of the snaps this season and that Krys Barnes will provide them with an experienced third option who could fill a specific role against the run and be a key special teams player.
But after those three players on the depth chart is where the questions arise for the Packers.
The first question is, will Green Bay keep four or five inside linebackers? For what it’s worth, the Packers kept four inside linebackers on the initial 53-man roster in 2019 and 2020 while keeping five last season.
With Campbell and Walker taking a very large portion of the defensive snaps, special teams play is going to be quite important when it comes to determining which other linebacker(s) make the roster.
If there are five linebackers who show that they are worthy of a roster spot, then Matt LaFleur will roster five. However, if only four stand out, then the Packers will roster four and look for special teams help at another position.
Competing for that final spot or two on the roster will be Ty Summers, who has been a core special teams contributor since his rookie season in 2019, along with Isaiah McDuffie, who finished seventh on the Packers in special teams snaps a season ago.
While experience is often important, with this special teams group coming off an abysmal season and a new coordinator calling the shots, it means less for Green Bay this season.
Also at the linebacker position is undrafted rookies Caliph Brice and Ellis Brooks, as well as Ray Wilborn, who could be one of the favorites for a roster spot based on what we saw at OTAs and minicamp.
If you’re not as familiar with Wilborn, he spent all of last season on the Green Bay Packers practice squad after going undrafted out of Ball State in 2020. During his first NFL season, he spent time with Atlanta in training camp and the Pittsburgh practice squad in-season.
A junior college transfer, the 6’4″ – 224-pound Wilborn spent time at linebacker in 2018 with Ball State and then safety in 2019. At linebacker, he logged nine pressures, including four sacks, and had a passer rating of 71.0, with a pair of interceptions and pass breakups, according to PFF ($$). He was also a sound tackler and effective against the run.
The move to safety, however, came with a transition–which to some degree should have been expected. While Wilborn allowed a completion rate of only 51%, he gave up over 21 yards per catch with two interceptions and five pass breakups. His missed tackle rate would increase, and his run defense grade from PFF plummeted.
Below is a look at what NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein had to say about Wilbron prior to the 2020 NFL Draft:
"“While Wilborn’s size and length will be appealing as a box safety, his 2019 safety tape was filled with inconsistent play as he transitioned from linebacker to safety. Wilborn was a much steadier tackler as a linebacker in 2018 and seemed to struggle with downhill angles inside the box in 2019. He exhibits questionable feel for space when tasked with zone coverage, but has some talent dogging routes and playing the football when allowed to play man. The lack of instincts and tackle consistency are hurdles, but he could garner nickel linebacker consideration.”"
So with no regular season NFL experience, why is Wilborn someone who could push for a roster spot? Well, based on the offseason programs, he appears to be the fourth linebacker at this time.
According to Bill Huber of Sports Illustrated, during OTAs and minicamp, Campbell and Walker were the first linebacker tandem–as expected. The second? That rotation belonged to Barnes and Wilborn–over Summers and McDuffie.
With Wilborn’s experience at both linebacker and safety, as Zierlein mentions, he could provide the Packers with a backup option at the nickel linebacker position–someone who can hold their own against both the run and the pass.
We saw just this offseason how important that ability is with the Packers as they paid Campbell and then drafting Walker in the first round. With two true nickel linebackers, Green Bay will have the ability to stay in their base defense more frequently, which will make things more challenging for offenses to decipher what is taking place—something that didn’t always happen in 2021.
With that said, while that skill-set is important, as already mentioned, standing out on special teams will be a must for Wilborn as well.
Training camp and the preseason will be the true litmus test but with a roster spot — or maybe two — open at the linebacker position, keep your eyes on Ray Wilborn because based on what we’ve seen, he does appear to have a leg up over those not named Campbell, Walker, and Barnes.