Post Family Night Practice Packers 53-Man Roster Prediction
By Paul Bretl
Green Bay Packers Post Family Night Roster Prediction
Interior Defensive Line (5): Kenny Clark, TJ Slaton, Dean Lowry, Devonte Wyatt, and Jarran Reed
Previous Prediction: Kenny Clark, TJ Slaton, Dean Lowry, Devonte Wyatt, and Jarran Reed
We know these five will make up the starting rotation; the question, however, is whether the Packers keep five or six interior defensive linemen. They have kept five in the past, although most recently in 2021, they did keep Jack Heflin as a sixth defender, who saw fewer than 20 snaps and barely played special teams.
This is the big reason I’m choosing to roster five. I think that roster spot can be better utilized elsewhere. With that said, if the Packers do keep six, as of now, I think that roster spot goes to rookie Jonathan Ford, who has shown some flashes.
Edge rusher (5): Rashan Gary, Preston Smith, Tipa Galeai, La’Darius Hamilton, and Kingsley Enagbare
Previous Prediction: Rashan Gary, Preston Smith, Jonathan Garvin, Kingsley Enagbare, and Randy Ramsey
This position very much has roster spots up for grabs behind Smith and Gary–and my original prediction has changed quite a bit. Based on playing time so far with the second-team defense, Hamilton and Galeai are leading the way, although Garvin, Ramsey, and Enagbare have seen reps there as well.
Ramsey was sidelined all of last season with an ankle injury and was added to the injury list on Friday night. Garvin was a main rotational player a season ago, but from a playing time standpoint with the second team defense through the first nine practices, it appears that he has lost some ground. I also give Enagbare the edge as a fifth-round draft pick, and someone who could find success in obvious passing situations.
Linebacker (5): De’Vondre Campbell, Quay Walker, Krys Barnes, Isaiah McDuffie, and Ray Wilborn
Previous Prediction: De’Vondre Campbell, Krys Barnes, Isaiah McDuffie, and Ty Summers
Campbell, Walker, and Barnes, I would consider locks. Barnes has been the play caller with the second team defense and could fill a specific role against the run if needed as well as on special teams. McDuffie looks much improved from a season ago, and he is really flying around the field–not to mention that he will be a core special teams player.
Summers has had a quiet camp, and also working against him is that he is in the final year of his rookie deal. He has been a core special teams player in the past, but that doesn’t exactly carry a ton of weight with a new coordinator and the issues that the Packers have had. Wilborn is better equipped to handle both the run and the passing games, although special teams will be his avenue to making the team.
With that said, if Tonyan was available and the Packers wanted to keep Dafney as a fifth tight end, for example, I think Wilborn would be the player that I’d cut to make room on the roster.