As we do every year, we’re going to mark preseason with a series of fan-sourced roster projections. The idea is that as players make their case in each preseason game this will be reflected in the next leg of the relay, along with other developments such as injuries.
Coming around the bend to set up the anchor leg is the guy who once memorably broke a big Daniel Brown story: TSJC68, The Black King of Ffrance …
QB (2)
Aaron Rodgers, Tyrod Taylor
Rodgers and Tyrod is all we need. Jordan Travis slides from preseason-PUP to six-week-regular-season PUP (probably to seasonlong IR after that). Both Pressley and Martinez should go through waivers just fine, sign one of them to the PS and keep the other’s phone number handy (or lose Adrian Martinez’s number, that’s fine too. If disaster strikes again the new QB will be someone from outside of the org altogether and not one of these camp arms.
RB (3)
Breece Hall, Braelon Allen, Isaiah Davis
Breece, Braelon and Davis: BBD “I thought it was me” is the new monster. Davis being an option for punts and kicks makes this easier. The non-retiredTarik Cohen should have been RB#4 for specials; if any team waives a Cohen-like guy maybe we claim him. If not, we roll with just three. Izzy Abanikanda might make it through waivers to the PS; if he doesn’t, oh well.
(Editor’s note: Changes since last leg – Perine out)
FB (0)
I’d rather not talk about it.
WR (7)
Garrett Wilson, Mike Williams, Xavier Gipson, Malachi Corley, Allen Lazard, Jason Brownlee, Irv Charles
Garrett, Mike, Gipson and Corley obvious locks + Lazard a contractual lock and Mike Williams injury caddy + I don’t think we’re ready to quit Jason Brownlee + I don’t think anyone’s better enough over Irv Charles that we give his job away either. None of the other four guys really deserve a 53 man spot yet.
(Editor’s note: Changes since last leg – All these seven guys in because Gregg forget to roster any wideouts)
TE (3)
Tyler Conklin, Jeremy Ruckert, Kenny Yeboah
I think we want a better TE#3 than Kenny Yeboah but where we find one is a mystery. Considered keeping Anthony Firkser for TE#4/FB#1 but just didn’t have room, he should be PS-able.
(Editor’s note: Changes since last leg – Firkser out)
OL (10)
Tyron Smith, John Simpson, Joe Tippmann, Alijah Vera-Tucker, Morgan Moses, Olu Fashanu, Wes Schweitzer, Chris Glaser, Max Mitchell, Carter Warren
Starting five is obvious; Olu and Wes are the top backups and probably the only two we hope to ever use; Glaser’s here to be another backup center because you always need at least two and I think he’s in front of Xavier Newman. Mitchell and Warren are fungible OT depth.
(Editor’s note: Changes since last leg – Glaser in, Royce Newman out)
DL (10)
Jermaine Johnson II, Quinnen Williams, Javon Kinlaw, Will McDonald IV, Micheal Clemons, Solomon Thomas, Leki Fotu, Takk McKinley, Leonard Taylor, Braiden McGregor
With Haason Reddick’s holdout lasting into the regular season we have room for more depth here to roster and I think we do that. Top ones are obvious; McKinley makes it on the strength of what looks like a legitimate good camp he’s having overall with possible rejuvenation; both Leonard Taylor and Braiden McGregor are guys I think we roster to avoid possibly losing them as they’ve also shown flashes and have good athletic upsides. Not rostering Jalyn Holmes was my toughest choice; he may get the nod over one of or both of those UDFAs.
(Editor’s note: Changes since last leg – McGregor in, Watts out)
LB (5)
CJ Mosley, Quincy Williams, Jamien Sherwood, Chazz Surratt, Sam Eguavoen
Sorry Zaire Barnes but you never stepped up. Only have room for two backup linebackers and Surratt and Eguavoen are both the best special teamers and the most reliable backups on base defense anyway. That being said, if we did have to pull some cutdown day hijinks and waive a vet to bring him back later it could totally be Eguavoen.
CB (6)
Sauce Gardner, DJ Reed, Deuce Carter, Qwan’tez Stiggers, Jarrick Bernard-Converse, Brandon Codrington
Codrington! The little kid won us all over and has shown he has enough value on specials alone to warrant a spot, plus he might even be useful as a nickel cover corner. Both Codrington and the other backups in Stiggers and JBC look more dynamic and interesting than Brandon Echols, the highest profile cut here; someone will roster him but probably not us anymore. Godspeed.
(Editor’s note: Changes since last leg – Codrington in)
S (4)
Tony Adams, Chuck Clark, Ashtyn Davis, Isaiah Oliver
A room full of pretty trustworthy vets. Looks like a good group. Yes, this means Mr. Irrelevant is a cut; Joe Douglas never cuts his draft picks unless they’re R7 guys he probably didn’t have draftable grades on in the first place. He should make it through to the PS though I think. If we do end up carrying a 5th safety it might be Jarius Monroe anyway.
ST (3)
Greg Zuerlein, Thomas Morstead, Thomas Hennessy
Hey guys. Oh, Big Gulps, eh? Alright. Welp, see ya later.
Reserve Lists
PUP – QB Jordan Travis
Exempt – EDGE Haason Reddick
Waived and resigned to our 16-man PS
QB Andrew Peasley
RB Israel Abanikanda
WR/ST Lance McCutcheon
TE Zack Kuntz
TE/FB Anthony Firkser
T Obinna Eze
G Kohl Levao
G/C Brady Latham
G/C Xavier Newman
EDGE Eric Watts
EDGE/IDL Jalyn Holmes
IDL Jaylen Twyman
LB Zaire Barnes
CB Shermar Bartholomew
S Jaylen Key
S Jarius Monroe
Waived, claimed by other teams
CB Brandin Echols
OL Jake Hanson
Waived/released
QB Adrian Martinez
RB Xazavian Valladay
RB Deon Jackson
WR Isaiah Winstead
WR Brandon Smith
WR Tyler Harrell
TE Lincoln Sefcik
T Austin Deculus
G Willie Tyler
IDL Bruce Hector
IDL Tanzel Smart
LB Anthony Hines
LB Jackson Sirmon
LB Marcelino McCrary-Ball
CB Kendall Sheffield
CB Tre Swilling
CB Nehemiah Shelton
S Al Blades
K Austin Seibert
And here’s the 53 in a handy chart format! (Right click to open in new tab for a slightly bigger version).
(Editor’s Note: The next leg will follow after the Giants game)
Would you like to take the baton for the a lap of the track? We just need your 53-man projection and we’ll make note of what’s changed – and you’re free to add insights if you wish. Volunteer in the comments section below…