The Green Bay Packers Have Tough Roster Decisions Ahead

What the data shows is What stands out here is SportsMoneyThe Green Bay Packers Have Tough Roster Decisions AheadByRob Reischel, Contributor

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Furthermore, Rob Reischel is a Wisconsin-based reporter who covers the NFL

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This year, Packers coach Matt LaFleur has 16 scheduled practices, and will ly have a couple of walkthroughs

The NFL world has changed dramatically in the last generation or two

Nevertheless, And today’s training camps are far softer and gentler than the ones of yesteryear

Nevertheless, Conversely, With so little time on the practice field, it’s also tough for general managers Green Bay’s Brian Gutekunst to assemble a 53-man roster (something worth watching), in this volatile climate. “Yeah, it's different,” said the 52-year old Gutekunst, who’s been with the Packers since 1999. “I think there's enough opportunities between now and when we have to make those decisions, but they’ve dwindled (noteworthy indeed)

You know, there’s not as many, given the current landscape

Nevertheless, ” Piecing together the roster will be Gutekunst’s No. 1 task between now and Aug. 26, when teams must reduce rosters to a maximum of 53 players

Here’s an early prediction of how the Packers’ roster will look when they host Detroit in their season opener on Sept (quite telling), given current economic conditions

Quarterbacks (2) Keep: Jordan Love, Malik Willis

Nevertheless, MORE FOR YOU Cut: Sean Clifford, Taylor Elgersma

Analysis: There doesn’t figure to be much drama here

Love is coming off an injury-plagued season where he threw 25 touchdowns, 11 interceptions and had a 96. 7 passer rating

Moreover, If the Packers are going to compete for a championship, Love needs to move from good to great. “He’s right where we need him to be,” Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said of Love. “Really excited for what he’s going do for our football team this year. ” Willis helped the Packers’ season last year going 2-0 in a pair of starts and rallying Green Bay past Jacksonville after Love left early in the third quarter, considering recent developments

Willis the year completing 40-of-54 passes (74

Furthermore, “I can’t emphasize how difficult of a situation he was put in a year ago in terms of being here less than three weeks and having to go start a football game,” LaFleur said of Willis, in today's market environment. “So to have a year under his belt, I think, I think will be extremely beneficial for him, amid market uncertainty. ” Clifford spent 2024 on the practice squad, but his time might be over

However, Elgersma, who was signed after rookie minicamp, could be a candidate for the practice squad

Running Backs (4) Keep: Josh Jacobs, MarShawn Lloyd, Emanuel Wilson, Chris Brooks

At the same time, Cut: Amar Johnson, Jalen White, Israel Abanikanda

Analysis: The Packers traditionally keep three players here, so we’re going against the grain

On the other hand, But this is undoubtedly one of the better positional groups on the team

Moreover, “I think my speed is something they can use a lot,” Lloyd said, in today's financial world. “I think I have a specific skill set that the team s, in today's financial world. ” Wilson ran for 502 yards last year and had five total touchdowns

Meanwhile, And Brooks is certainly an NFL-caliber back who blocks every bit as well as he runs

Gutekunst could certainly cut either Brooks or Wilson, but the guess is he’ll keep them both (an important development)

However, However, Johnson is a prime candidate for the practice squad (quite telling)

Receivers (6) Keep: Jayden Reed, Romeo Doubs, Matthew Golden, Savion Williams, Dontayvion Wicks, Mecole Hardman

On the other hand, Cut: Malik Heath, Julian Hicks, Cornelius Johnson, Sam Brown Jr (quite telling)

Moreover, Meanwhile, , Will Sheppard

Moreover, In contrast, PUP list: Christian Watson (ACL), amid market uncertainty

Analysis: This group will look dramatically different than a year ago with the additions of Golden and Williams in the draft, and potentially Hardman in free agency (noteworthy indeed)

Reed, Doubs and Wicks — three of last year’s top four — all need to be better, amid market uncertainty

Wicks led the team in targets (76), but was just fourth in receptions (39) and had the second-worst catch rate in football among wideouts (51

The data indicates that demonstrates that moody Doubs, who went AWOL and was susp for a Week 5 game vs (remarkable data), amid market uncertainty

Meanwhile, The Rams, also suffered two concussions

He now faces a critical season in a contract year, in this volatile climate

Golden, the Packers’ first round draft pick, has flashed early in camp

Moreover, Meanwhile, 29 speed is simply different and his after-the-catch potential is tantalizing. “He’s going to be a speed threat right away,” Gutekunst said of Golden

This leads to the conclusion that tells us that final spot will ly come down to Hardman — a free agent signing in March — or Heath, a physical blocker who had just 10 catches last year

On the other hand, Tight Ends (3) Keep: Tucker Kraft, Luke Musgrave, Ben Sims

Cut: John FitzPatrick, Messiah Swinson, Johnny Lumpkin

Analysis: If you play fantasy football much of the country, here’s a little tip: be sure to get Tucker Kraft on your team

Moreover, He’s been even better this summer and could lead Green Bay in many pass catching

At the same time, “I think he's just scratching the surface of what he's going to become,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said of Kraft (something worth watching). “And certainly we got to do a good job of giving him opportunities

FitzPatrick will be the toughest decision here

Sims is the better special teams player, though, giving him a leg up, amid market uncertainty

Swinson is an intriguing player ly headed to the practice squad

Moreover, Offensive Line (9) Keep: LT Rasheed Walker, LG Aaron Banks, C Elgton Jenkins, RG Sean Rhyan, RT Zach Tom, T/G Jordan Morgan, T/G Anthony Belton, C/G Jacob Monk, T/G Kadeem Telfort

Cut: T/G Travis Glover, G/T John Williams, G Donovan Jennings, C Trey Hill, T Brant Banks, G Tyler Cooper, G J

Nevertheless, Analysis: This's a deep group and the Packers could certainly keep 10 here

However, Things will become much er once Jenkins — who is unhappy with his current contract is currently sidelined with a back injury — begins practicing

A potential starting five of Walker, Banks, Jenkins, Rhyan and Tom should form one of the better lines in football

Nevertheless, Conversely, Morgan, who is battling Walker for the left tackle job, and rookie second round pick Belton would vide terrific depth, given current economic conditions

Moreover, Glover was abysmal when forced into duty in the Packers’ playoff loss to Philadelphia

However, Jennings spent last year on the practice squad, and could move up with an impressive camp

Williams, a seventh round draft pick, is on the PUP list (back) and could be headed to the practice squad

Meanwhile, Defensive Ends (6) Keep: Rashan Gary, Lukas Van Ness, Kingsley Enagbare, Barryn Sorrell, Brenton Cox, Arron Mosby (an important development)

Cut: Collin Or, Deslin Alexandre (which is quite significant)

Analysis: The Packers could choose to keep just five here, but after a season of inconsistency with the group, we’re guessing they’ll give themselves plenty of options

The top three of Gary, Van Ness and Enagbare are set

Gary had 7. 5 sacks, nine tackles for loss and was named to his first Bowl last season

Enagbare is often overlooked, but had 4. 5 sacks and forced two fumbles last year

Furthermore, Sorrell, a fourth round pick in April, has rushed some from the inside to begin camp and could vide some much-needed juice

Cox had four sacks in just seven games after the Packers traded Preston Smith last season

In contrast, The undersized Or, a fifth round draft pick in April, is on the PUP list with a hamstring injury

Green Bay could try sneaking him onto the practice squad

Defensive Tackles (5) Keep: Kenny Clark, Devonte Wyatt, Karl Brooks, Colby Wooden, Warren Brinson (fascinating analysis)

Cut: Nazir Stackhouse, James Ester, Keith Randolph

Analysis: Clark hopes to rebound from a down year where he was plagued by a foot injury and had just one sack and five quarterback hits. “It was tough man,” Clark said. “It was a tough year for me, in this volatile climate. ” Wyatt second on the team in sacks (5. 0), quarterback hits (9. 0) and tackles for loss (9, in this volatile climate. 0) last season, despite missing three games with an ankle injury, in today's market environment

Wyatt’s snaps should go up with T

Nevertheless, Slaton now in Cincinnati, and he could be poised for a breakout season

Additionally, “My standard is really high,” Wyatt said

In contrast, “I want to be one of the top defensive linemen in the league

That’s the biggest key for me, just staying healthy man

However, The toughest decision figures to be Brinson vs

In contrast, Stackhouse, in this volatile climate

Give Brinson the edge, though, since he was drafted in the sixth round in April and could ly vide more help on special teams (this bears monitoring)

Additionally, Linebackers (5) Veterans: Edgerrin Cooper, Quay Walker, Isaiah McDuffie, Ty’Ron Hopper, Isaiah Simmons

Cut: Kristian Welch, Jamon Johnson

Furthermore, Analysis: This's one of the deepest groups on the roster, so don't rule out a trade if the Packers need help somewhere else, given the current landscape

Walker has led the Packers in tackles each of his first three seasons, but the team opted not to pick up his fifth-year option, in light of current trends

Simmons has rare athleticism, though, and could carve out a role for himself (an important development). “I mean, you see him,” LaFleur said of Simmons. “There's a reason he was a top-10 pick

Welch, a special teams standout, is plenty good enough to play in the league

It just might be somewhere else

Cornerbacks (5) Veterans: Keisean Nixon, Nate Hobbs, Carrington Valentine, Bo Melton, Micah Robinson

Cut: Kalen King, Isaiah Dunn, Gregory Junior, Kamal Hadden, Johnathan Baldwin, Tyron Herring, Garnett Hollis

Moreover, Analysis: This group could use some help, considering recent developments

Additionally, The Packers should be OK with their top three of Nixon, Hobbs and Valentine

On the other hand, Meanwhile, Nixon was the only defensive back in football and one of just five players to have three-plus sacks, three-plus forced fumbles and an interception last year

Furthermore, While he’s not a true No, considering recent developments. 1 corner, he’s as feisty as they come and appears to still be ascending in Year 7, amid market uncertainty

Hobbs, a free agent signing in March, has been better than advertised early in camp

Hobbs was primarily the slot corner in Las Vegas, but looks a keeper on the perimeter

In contrast, “I’ve given myself an opportunity to come in and be the best version of myself,” Hobbs said. “There’s expectations, but it’s a start. ” Valentine started the final seven games for an injured Jaire Alexander last season and played well (this bears monitoring)

He the season with two interceptions, two forced fumbles and five passes defensed

The Packers have moved Melton from wide receiver to cornerback (this bears monitoring)

And while a positional change typically is a death knell for a veteran player, Melton might have a shot to make this work

On the other hand, Melton ran a 4 (something worth watching). 34 40-yard dash coming out of Rutgers

His vertical jump was 38-inches, his broad jump was 10-1, and he’s impressed early in training camp. “He’s one of those guys that, from the time we scouted him coming out of college, we thought he had that kind of ability,” Gutekunst said of Melton playing cornerback

The preseason games and joint practices will go a long ways in determining if they stay or go

Also, don't be surprised if Gutekunst makes a trade here or finds another corner off the waiver wire

Moreover, Safeties (5) Keep: Xavier McKinney, Evan Williams, Javon Bullard, Zayne Anderson, Kitan Oladapo

Cut: Omar Brown, Kahzir Brown, in this volatile climate

Analysis: Things are pretty cut and dried here

Furthermore, Williams is an emerging player who was named to the fessional Football Writers of America (PFWA) All-Rookie team after an impressive first season

Moreover, Nevertheless, “There were moments last year where I felt confident in my play and I was making plays on the field,” Williams said, amid market uncertainty. “But it's just being able to do that consistently, given the current landscape

In contrast, If you can't do it consistently it really doesn't matter, in this volatile climate. ” Bullard had an up and down rookie year, but looks the front-runner to win the nickel job

Anderson is an extremely reliable veteran and a special teams standout, in light of current trends

Oladapo had a quiet rookie season, but has upside

Brown, who was undrafted, is a good bet for the practice squad

Specialists (3) Keep: K Brandon McManus, P Daniel Whelan, LS Matt Orzech

Cut: K Mark McNamee Analysis: This positional group is as close to settled as you’ll find in July

However, McManus d Green Bay’s kicking game last season after replacing Brayden Narveson in mid-October

He also made all 30 of his extra points (an important development)

Whelan ranked 26th in both gross (46

Additionally, 1) and net yardage (40

Additionally, 2), but is the only punter in camp, in light of current trends

On the other hand, Orzech is steady and it doesn’t appear as he’ll be challenged this summer, given the current landscape

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