Tyrod Taylor is trying to hold on to the QB2 job. (Photo: David Kohl, USA TODAY Sports)
By Mark Eckel
In a few days, depending on when you're reading this, the Packers will pare their roster down from 90 to 53.
For the most part most of the decisions have been made. Look at any of the 53-man guesses around the media sites and about 50 of the same names appear. It's those final spots that still need to be addressed. And what GM Brian Gutekunst and Co. will focus on this week and Friday night in the preseason final against the Arizona Cardinals.
So let's take a look at those spots.
Tight End: The No. 3 tight end for now is Drake Dabney, a first-year player out of TCU who saw brief time at the end of 2025. There's a good chance the team will either trade or wait for a veteran to be released to fill this.
Here are three possibilities:
****Cade Stover, Houston: The Texans have starter Dalton Schultz and Foster Moreau as their one and two tight ends and drafted Martin Klein in the second round. Stover, a 2024 fourth-round pick out of Ohio State, could be had. The 6-4, 251-pound former Buckeye is a good blocker and has 27 receptions for 209 yards in his two seasons.
****Grant Calcaterra, Philadelphia: There are six tight ends on the Eagles roster. Starter Dallas Goesert and second-round pick Eli Stowers are locks. Free agent addition Johnny Mundt is probably No. 3. That could lave Calcaterra, a four-year veteran out of SMU available. More of a receiver than a blocker, The 6-1, 240-pound Calcaterra (24 for 298) is Luke Musgrave-like, or Luke Musgrave Lite.
****Davis Allen, Los Angeles: The Rams are also loaded at the position with veterans Colby Parkinson and Ty Higbee plus two second round picks in Terrence Ferguson (2025) and Max Claire (2026). The 6-6, 253-pound Allen, a fifth-round pick out of Clemson in 2023, is known as a good blocker with god hands.
QB2: Tyrod Taylor vs. Kyle McCord — I might be the only one who thinks McCord could beat out Taylor, but I'm also the only one writing this story. If you watched any of the first two preseason games McCord has been much better than the 37-year-old Taylor.
7th WR vs. 10th OL — It might come down to this for the 53rd spot. Do the Packers keep a seventh wide receiver (J. Michael Sturdivant) or a 10th OL (Donovan Jennings). You would think the wide receiver would be of more help on special teams, which is always a factor. It may also come down to who the team is more sure would make it through the waivers to the practice squad. Not that it matters but JMS would make it 22 consecutive years the team kept an undrafted rookie.
vs. 7th DL — Or maybe the team decides to go even lighter on offense and keep an extra defensive linemen as No. 53. That would likely be Anthony Campbell, a street free agent who has been very good in camp and in the preseason.
Final DB: Safety Kitan Oladapo may get the spot simply because he's been here and he's pretty good on special teams. But Mark Perry, a first-year safety out of TCU, has looked better against both Pittsburgh and Denver.