Final Green Bay Packers Packers Roster Prediction before Cutdowns
By Paul Bretl
Green Bay Packers 53-man roster prediction: IDL, Edge, and LB
Interior defensive line (5): Kenny Clark, Jarran Reed, Dean Lowry, TJ Slaton, and Devonte Wyatt
Previous prediction (5): Kenny Clark, Jarran Reed, Dean Lowry, TJ Slaton, and Devonte Wyatt
I’ve stuck by this prediction all summer, and I’m not changing now–although Jack Heflin is making me think twice about it. As I wrote in my 6 Big Things article, if the Packers plan to utilize Heflin more than on 17 defensive snaps and 13 on special teams as they did in 2021, according to PFF ($$), then rostering him makes more sense.
However, I don’t know if that will be the case with how deep this rotation is. So I’m choosing to use this roster spot elsewhere.
Edge rusher (5): Rashan Gary, Preston Smith, Jonathan Garvin, Kobe Jones, and Kingsley Enagbare
Previous prediction (5): Rashan Gary, Preston Smith, Jonathan Garvin, Kobe Jones, and Kingsley Enagbare
I feel confident that Enagbare and Garvin will be on the roster, given Enagbare’s play and Garvin’s relatively light snap count, which tells me that the Packers are comfortable with what he’s done up to this point.
But who that fifth edge rusher will be remains a major question mark. Kobe Jones, Tipa Gaelai, and La’Darius Hamilton have all had flashes, and they’ve all also disappeared as well. The primary responsibility of this fifth edge rusher role will be on special teams, so I chose Jones, who leads these three in snap counts by a fairly wide margin. He’s also been the healthiest.
Linebacker (5): De’Vondre Campbell, Quay Walker, Isaiah McDuffie, Krys Barnes, and Ray Wilborn
Previous prediction (4): De’Vondre Campbell, Quay Walker, Isaiah McDuffie, and Krys Barnes
Trying to read the tea leaves, earlier this week, LaFleur said he hopes the competition at linebacker works itself out. With Krys Barnes and Isaiah McDuffie being pretty much roster locks, I assume LaFleur was referring to Ray Wilborn and Ty Summers.
Summers is first on the team in special teams snaps this preseason, while Wilborn is second. Wilborn has the higher PFF grade, has more tackles, and defensively, he has more upside.