Current State of Packers Roster Following 2023 NFL Draft
By Paul Bretl
The Green Bay Packers added 25 players to their team between their 13 NFL Draft picks and the 12 undrafted rookies they signed afterward. This puts them at 88 players, two short of the 90-player maximum for the summer.
So where does this roster now stand with the free agency at a standstill and the draft complete?
From a salary cap perspective, the Packers have just $17.38 million available following the dead cap hit they incurred from trading Aaron Rodgers. However, that figure does not yet include the Jordan Love extension that recently took place, which will likely raise his 2023 cap hit. It also hasn’t accounted for signing the incoming draft class or practice squad either. In short, the Packers don’t have much spending power and their last somewhat significant cap saving move is an extension for Rashan Gary.
As I wrote recently, primarily for the reason just mentioned – the salary cap – the Packers are going to round out their roster with tryout candidates who take part in rookie minicamp. Perhaps unique to Green Bay is that even though it remains an unknown how this season will play out with Jordan Love at quarterback, there really aren’t many roster spots on the 53-man that will be up for grabs. With so many rookies added over the last two seasons, this roster feels pretty well set.
With all of that in mind, here is a position-by-position look at where things now stand for Green Bay.
Quarterback
Jordan Love, Danny Etling, and Sean Clifford
Although many consider taking Sean Clifford in Round 5 was a reach, the Packers had to add at least one quarterback to their roster following the Aaron Rodgers trade. After listening to Brian Gutekunst, Milt Hendrickson, and Matt LaFleur during draft weekend, it was clear that they loved Clifford’s collegiate experience, having appeared in 51 games, his athleticism, and his general fit in the locker room.
Gutekunst didn’t shut the door on adding another quarterback to this room to compete for the backup job, specifically a veteran, but from the sounds of it, the Packers are going to see how Etling and Clifford perform first. There is a lot of value that a veteran could add with their experience on the sideline, on the practice field, and in the film room as Love navigates his first year as a starter.
Running back
Aaron Jones, AJ Dillon, Tyler Goodson, Patrick Taylor, and Lew Nichols
Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon will, of course, shoulder the workload at the running back position. But the two questions are, who will be the third option, and will that player take on a larger role in 2023?
LaFleur has previously talked about the value in having a third running back to lean on at times, as it could provide some reprieve here and there for Jones and Dillon over the course of a long season. Goodson is the most dynamic option of the three. Taylor is the best pass-blocker and special teams player, which is why he was often the third running back option in 2022. Nichols, meanwhile, brings more physicality to the position and was a solid pass catcher out of the backfield in college.
Wide Receiver
Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, Bo Melton, Samori Toure, Jayden Reed, Dontayvion Wicks, Jeff Cotton, Grant DuBose, Malik Heath, and Duece Watts
The most experienced player at the receiver position in terms of snaps is Romeo Doubs with 529. There will be a lot of ups and downs at this position this season with all of the inexperience, but there will also be a lot of playmaking ability.
This is another position where a veteran addition could make sense, just to add some experience to the room. As of now, my guess is that the six draft picks over the last two seasons are who make up this position group on the 53-man, but keep your eyes on Melton this summer, who could carve out a role as a gadget player with that speed of his.
Tight End
Luke Musgrave, Tucker Kraft, Josiah Deguara, Austin Allen, Nick Guggemos, Tyler Davis, Camren McDonald, and Henry Pearson
As currently constructed, the tight end room seems pretty well set as far as the eventual 53-man roster goes. These tight ends will be asked to fill a variety of roles, but in short, Musgrave will be the F-tight end, Kraft the Y-tight end, Deguara the H-back, and Davis will continue to primarily be a special teams player.
It’s also worth noting that most rookie tight ends do not contribute significantly right away due to the difficulty of the position and all of the responsibilities that come with it. This is why a veteran presence to provide some stability would make so much sense. My guess is that the Packers take a similar approach at tight end as they are at quarterback and see how things play out first. A reunion with Marcedes Lewis should absolutely be on their radar.
Offensive Line
David Bakhtiari, Elgton Jenkins, Josh Myers, Jon Runyan, Zach Tom, Yosh Nijman, Royce Newman, Jake Hanson, Rasheed Walker, Caleb Jones, Sean Rhyan, Luke Tenuta, Jean Delance, Kadeem Telfort, and Chuck Filiaga
For the most part, the offensive line seems pretty well set. From left to right, it will most likely be Bakhtiari, Jenkins, Myers, and Runyan, with Nijman and Tom competing at right tackle. If the Packers really want to create some competition and put the best five on the field, as Matt LaFleur often talks about, they could have Tom compete at center or right guard. This is a strong position group, both in experience and developmental depth.
Interior Defensive Lineman
Kenny Clark, Devonte Wyatt, TJ Slaton, Chris Slayton, Jonathan Ford, Karl Brooks, Colby Wooden, and Jason Lewan
The Packers added some much-needed depth in the draft by selecting Brooks and Wooden, but this is still a position group with a lot of question marks. Typically four or five players see snaps each week at this often rotated position, which means the Packers will either be leaning heavily on two Day 3 picks or two players in Slayton and Ford, who have no NFL experience.
Edge Rusher
Rashan Gary, Preston Smith, Lukas Van Ness, JJ Enagbare, Justin Hollins, Jonathan Garvin, La’Darius Hamilton, Brenton Cox, and Keshawn Banks
This should be an improved unit from a season ago. Obviously, getting Gary back from injury will help immensely, but Enagbare will also be in his second season, and the Packers added Van Ness. After having to rely on Hollins – who played well in Green Bay – Garvin, and Hamilton, this trio will now be fighting for playing time and a roster spot. Keep your eyes on Brenton Cox this Summer, a former five-star high school recruit. Both on the interior defensive line and at edge rusher, the Packers have to create more consistent quarterback pressure this season.
Linebacker
De’Vondre Campbell, Quay Walker, Isaiah McDuffie, Eric Willson, Tariq Carpenter, and Jimmy Phillips
Campbell and Walker will dominate the defensive snaps, while McDuffie, Wilson, and Carpenter were all core special teams players by the end of the 2022 season. The only question here is if there is a number crunch on the 53-man roster and the Packers choose to keep only four linebackers, then who will be the odd man out?
Cornerback
Jaire Alexander, Eric Stokes, Rasul Douglas, Keisean Nixon, Shemar Jean-Charles, Corey Ballentine, Kiondre Thomas, Benjie Franklin, Carrington Valentine, and Tyrell Ford
We still do not know how long Stokes will still be out, but until he returns, Matt LaFleur mentioned at the NFL Owners’ Meetings that Douglas and Alexander would be on the boundary while Nixon was in the slot. Once Stokes returns, presumably, Nixon’s role would be reduced. Ballentine was a regular member of the special teams unit from Week 10 and on, while many believe that landing Valentine in the seventh round was a steal. He, too, could also become a key special teams contributor.
Safety
Darnell Savage, Rudy Ford, Tarvarius Moore, Dallin Leavitt Innis Gaines, James Wiggins, Benny Sapp, Anthony Johnson, and Christian Morgan
Savage will be one of the starting safeties and will continue to play a big role. Who will be starting next to him is the question, however. That summer battle will likely take place between Ford, Moore, and Johnson.
Although Brian Gutekunst didn’t close the door on bringing back Adrian Amos, my guess is that doesn’t happen, mostly because of the Packers’ salary cap situation. There are a number of special teams contributors at this position as well, with Ford, Moore, Johnson, and Leavitt all having ample experience.
Specialists
Parker White, Anders Carlson, Pat O’Donnell, Jack Coco, and Matt Orzech
Orzech was signed to a three-year deal this offseason. Although it would be relatively easy for the Packers to get out of, handing out that contract tells me he is the clear front-runner for the long-snapper role. Who knows what is going to happen at kicker? White has no NFL experience, and Carlson had a very up-and-down college career. There’s a decent chance that the Packers’ Week 1 kicker isn’t on the roster yet. Perhaps the Packers see how those two fare before giving Crosby a call.