With free agency and the NFL Draft well behind us, it certainly seems like the Green Bay Packers roster is pretty much set for the upcoming season–even if they do have a roster spot still open.
And this very well could be the case.
However, as we saw just last summer and as I discussed in an article, key additions can still be made at this point in the offseason. Both De’Vondre Campbell and Dennis Kelly were signed after June 1st, while Randall Cobb and Corey Bojorquez were acquired via trade after that date as well.
To take that a few steps further, even when the regular season starts for the Packers and even when we get beyond the trade deadline, contributors can still be found by GM Brian Gutekunst.
Last season, once again, is the best example of this, with the Packers plucking Rasul Douglas off of the Arizona Cardinals practice squad. Douglas would come away with five interceptions, including two pick-sixes, and allowed a completion rate of just 51 percent.
In addition to Douglas, Gutekunst would try to bolster the linebacker position by signing Jaylon Smith — which did not work out — and he also brought in Whitney Mercilus, who found success in passing situations prior to his injury. From Weeks 7 through 9, Mercilus ranked 32 out of all edge rushers in PFF’s pass-rush productivity measurement.
If we rewind to the 2020 season, we saw Gutekunst bring in Damon “Snacks” Harrison and Tavon Austin during the season. Although Harrison would play only 30 snaps during his three games with the team while Austin played a small role on offense along with having a few punt return attempts, these additions very much show a willingness by Gutey to try and find upgrades.
During 2019, Gutekunst would sign Tyler Ervin, who averaged 9.6 yards per punt return and saved a Packers punt return unit that was on a historically bad pace–having negative punt return yards at around the halfway mark of the season.
That same season, Green Bay would also bring in Jared Veldheer for added depth along the offensive line, and he ended up playing 29 snaps at right tackle during the Packers’ NFC Divisional Round matchup with Seattle.
So as you can see, not only at this point on the calendar but even potentially several months from now, the Packers could still manage to find a key contributor for the 2022 season.
This is a big reason why salary cap analyst Ken Ingalls always sets aside $5 million — at a minimum — in his salary cap projections, taking into account that Green Bay is going to need cap space for any in-season spending, which will take place.
This is one of several often unaccounted for expenses when looking at a team’s salary cap situation. Over the Cap may have the Packers with $16.95 million in cap space currently, but their effective number is lower. According to Ingalls, that figure is actually $2.7 million.
As Gutekunst often says, roster building is a year-round job, so although the Packers roster appears to be set for the time being, based on what we’ve seen in recent years, there is a contributor or two who is not yet on this 2022 Green Bay team.