Possible roster moves incoming for Packers in preparation for training camp
By Paul Bretl
As the GM of the Green Bay Packers, Brian Gutekunst has been very willing to continually churn the bottom of the roster, which means we very well could be in store for some movement before training camp begins.
Last July is a prime example of this after the team got a closer look at everyone in action during OTAs and minicamp. In the final week leading up to training camp, we saw the Packers sign Sal Cannella and Dallin Leavitt while releasing Eli Wolf. The next day, Green Bay then signed Ty Clary, Osirus Mitchell, and Donte Vaughn and released Hauati Pututau, Tre Sterling, and Raleigh Texada to ensure they were still at the 90-player maximum. The Packers then released Caliph Brice and signed Ishmael Hyman.
Now, as you can see, just because changes to the roster are being made doesn’t mean that there will be a major addition–odds are that isn’t going to be the case. The only player above who made the 53-man roster last season was Leavitt as a special teams player. Instead, these moves are often made to increase the competition at the back end of the roster, or in hopes of finding a player with some upside that can be developed. It also could be a numbers game, with the Packers trying to ensure they have enough players at each position group for training camp and the preseason.
From a salary cap standpoint, the Packers have $14.29 million in available space, according to Over the Cap. However, when factoring in incoming expenses, such as signing rookies Jayden Reed and Luke Musgrave, along with practice squad contracts and having in-season reserves, among other expenses, Ken Ingalls, who independently tracks the salary cap, projects that the Packers have $1.2 million to spend, leaving them somewhat limited.
Outside of making upgrades to the bottom of the roster, position groups that the Packers could still address in free agency to potentially compete for roster spots include interior defensive lineman, wide receiver, safety, quarterback, and tight end. Although free agency has been at a standstill for some time, Gutekunst has a strong track record of finding contributors at this stage of the offseason, with Leavitt, De’Vondre Campbell, and Dennis Kelly all being recent examples.
While we never want to rule anything out, the Packers seem willing to weather the storm with the young and inexperienced players they have at specific position groups. The thought behind this approach is that while there will inevitably be ups and downs, the learning curve will hopefully be shortened, leading to a greater impact sooner, shrinking the development timeline.
This season’s version of the Green Bay Packers is on a different trajectory than previous years, who were competing for a Super Bowl and primarily wanted veterans taking the bulk of the snaps rather than relying on the inconsistent nature that comes with inexperienced players. Of course, the Packers still want to win games this year, but the primary goal in 2023 is to figure out if Jordan Love can be the long-term answer at quarterback.
July is certainly the quietest time on the NFL calendar, and although offseason programs have taken place and the 90-man roster has been set for some time, Gutekunst’s track record suggests that more roster moves will follow in the coming weeks as the team prepares for training camp and the preseason.