The last Preseason game for the Packers has come and gone. With that being said, I take my last shot at predicting the Packers' 53 Man Roster.
**Offense (24)**
**Quarterbacks (2) Jordan Love, Malik Willis**
This seems self explanatory, but the Packers' leader and young star, Jordan Love will take another year as the starting Quarterback of the Green Bay Packers. Right behind him, his backup, Malik Willis, who shined in a few games last year that the Packers would win with Willis starting, will take over the Quarterback two role once again.
**As far as the other two in the room, Sean Clifford, and Taylor Elgersma fought it out in Training Camp, as well as the Preseason. That being said, I believe that both will be released, but Elgersma has done enough to take the Practice Squad Spot at Quarterback number three.**
**Running Backs (3) Josh Jacobs, Chris Brooks, Emanuel Wilson**
**\*MarShawn Lloyd (IR-DFR)\***
When you look into the Running Back room, the talent is endless. While Josh Jacobs takes the starting role, Lloyd and Wilson to give Jacobs a breather is among the best Running Back rooms in the NFL once again. The Lloyd injury will keep both Wilson and Brooks on this team. In both of them, you have a very talented back in Chris Brooks, who contributed a lot to this team last season, as well as a natural explosive runner in Emanuel Wilson.
**As far as the Practice Squad, one name to watch for there is UDFA out of South Dakota State, Amar Johnson. Johnson had one of the best camps you could ask for out of him, and I believe that he has earn a Practice Squad Spot.**
**Wide Receiver (7) Matthew Golden, Jayden Reed, Dontayvion Wicks, Romeo Doubs, Savion Williams, Malik Heath,** **Mecole Hardman**
**\*Christian Watson (PUP)\***
The Packers' Wide Receiver Room was one of the most jammed rooms in the league during this Training Camp, with playmaking rookies, talented veterans, and Christian Watson recovering from an injury, this room is going to be one that cuts quite a bit of potential. Starting out with the playmaking rookie, Matthew Golden, who not only has stood out at camp no matter what team he's working in with, but also has become a reliable target for both Jordan Love, and Malik Willis. Joining Golden in the Wide Receiver Room, talented veterans in Jayden Reed, Dontayvion Wicks, and Romeo Doubs look to take majority of the targets this upcoming season. Throw in Malik Heath, Savion Williams, Mecole Hardman, as well as a recovering Christian Watson, who will join the team later in the season, and you have a room full of talent. Heath had a tough start to Preseason, but he seemed to clean it up as time went on. During the last game of Preseason, Heath would have multiple plays that in my opinion, secured his spot back on the 53 Man Roster.
**I was back and forth on this all of camp with Hardman or Heath.** **This will be a very tough decision within the next few days for the Packers. Malik Heath and Mecole Hardman have both shown their own values for this roster, so I could see them keeping both, but if only one, Heath has that upper hand in my opinion. If Hardman makes the team, it will be for his return ability, so that Keisean Nixon doesn't have to be at starting Cornerback, as well as returning. Three names to watch for on the Practice Squad include, Julian Hicks, Will Sheppard, and Cornelius Johnson.**
**Tight End (3) Tucker Kraft, Luke Musgrave, John FitzPatrick**
This Tight End Room is primed to have another great season coming up. With Tucker Kraft, one of the best Tight Ends in the NFL returning this season, alongside Luke Musgrave, an emerging John FitzPatrick, and Ben Sims, this room will return a bunch of experience for Jordan Love to lean on. The decision between Ben Sims and John FitzPatrick was going to be a big thing to watch, as FitzPatrick has been making plays, especially recently, while Sims always matched them. I decided to keep both after all of it. Others in the room include, Johnny Lumpkin, and Messiah Swinson, who bring a lot of talent to the table.
**This one has been one of the most watched battles on the team between Ben Sims and John FitzPatrick. I originally had Sims over FitzPatrick, but the plays that FitzPatrick makes are a key word that I like to describe his play as and that is consistent. The consistency when making a roster goes a long way, as FitzPatrick always seems to be in the right place at the right time and that will ultimately be the factor deciding to cut Sims, or keep both of them on the roster.**
**Offensive Line (9) Rasheed Walker, Aaron Banks, Elgton Jenkins, Sean Rhyan, Zach Tom, Jordan Morgan, Anthony Belton, Darian Kinnard, Jacob Monk**
**\*(PUP) John Williams\***
There have been a few different combinations throughout camp of the starters, but there is a group that seems to be locked in. Across the line, Walker, Banks, Jenkins, Rhyan, and Tom seem to be a great starting five. Throwing in Morgan, Belton, Monk, and newly acquired Darian Kinnard gives this offensive line the depth that it needs behind a great starting five to be one of the best rooms in the whole NFL.
**The room has just recently gone and gained more depth in a trade with the Eagles to get Darian Kinnard. Kinnard, who is only 25, brings both tackle and guard experience into the room as he has been playing both all Preseason. As far as John Williams, they start on a tough spot this season, as both are unable to play. I could see this team bringing back Donovan Jennings, or Lecitus Smith on the Practice Squad, as both became a tough release for me.**
**Defense (26)**
**Defensive Ends (5) Rashan Gary, Lukas Van Ness, Brenton Cox Jr., Barryn Sorrell, Kingsley Enagbare**
**\*(PUP) Collin Oliver\***
The Defensive End room is a room that is looking to build on their season last year, but with veteran leaders in the room such as Rashan Gary, and Lukas Van Ness, they're primed to breakout. Barryn Sorrell, a rookie who already took a leap forward in camp, is currently injured, but nothing long term. Colin Oliver is the other new guy in the room, but he hasn't touched the field yet as a draft pick this past year. Throw all of that in with Kingsley Enagbare, a key in the Packers' pass rush from last season, and you have a complete room, that also got younger, as well as quicker.
**The tough cut here was Arron Mosby. I could fully see him making this roster, but I chose to keep Stackhouse as an extra Defensive Tackle, instead of an extra Defensive End for this roster. Expect either Mosby or Deslin Alexandre to wind up back on the Practice Squad if unclaimed.**
**Defensive Tackles (_6_) Kenny Clark, Devonte Wyatt, Karl Brooks, Colby Wooden, Warren Brinson, Nazir Stackhouse**
In a room apart of the Defensive Line that is trying to improve its' pass rush this upcoming season, Kenny Clark, Devonte Wyatt, Karl Brooks, and Colby Wooden look to bring a big impact on the defensive interior. Pair them with rookies, Warren Brinson, and Nazir Stackhouse, this room is ready to roll. Nazir Stackhouse, the UDFA that will make this roster, was down to one of my final decisions as far as the numbers go, but I ultimately decided to keep upside at the position versus elsewhere on the roster.
**This is a room that gave me trouble in my decision as far as keeping the extra Defensive Lineman, or evening out the Offensive Line with the spot. Stackhouse proved to be of more value to the team, so I ultimately chose to keep the upside on defense versus the depth on offense. The trade yesterday also factored in, as they paid to upgrade the depth on the Offensive Line, so I feel better about this room as it stands.**
**Linebackers (5) Edgerrin Cooper, Quay Walker, Isaiah McDuffie, Ty'Ron Hopper, Isaiah Simmons**
We're to the room that is the heart of the defense in the Linebacker room. In a room headlined by young star, Edgerrin Cooper, veterans, Quay Walker, and Isaiah McDuffie, as well as a camp breakout player in Isaiah Simmons, this room has plenty of talent to go around. While I have the team keeping these five players, the talent between the five is a top room in the league. Cooper will look to take his talents to the next level in year two, while Walker, and McDuffie look to build on what was a great year for the Linebacker room last season. Throw in special teamer, as well as someone who looks to be figuring it out in camp this year in Ty'Ron Hopper, and you have a room that is fully ready to lead the defense once again this season.
**Welch or Simmons? It seemed to be Welch until the last Preseason game where Simmons seemed to have flipped a switch, showing the Packers what they originally thought they could get out of him. I wouldn't be surprised if Welch makes this roster, but I have Simmons with the upper hand. Watch for Welch to possibly be claimed, but if not, I could see him making a return to the Practice Squad.**
**Cornerbacks (6) Keisean Nixon, Nate Hobbs, Carrington Valentine, Bo Melton, Corey Ballentine, Kalen King**
Now for one of the most intriguing rooms on the roster, the Cornerback room. The room is headlined by veteran, Keisean Nixon, and young standout, Carrington Valentine. With the offseason acquisition of Nate Hobbs, who has been bringing the fire and leadership this offseason, the room looks to be in good hands. One of the biggest stories of camp was the position change for Wide Receiver, Bo Melton, back to the position Rutgers originally recruited him for in Cornerback. Through camp, the change could not be off to a better start for Melton, as he had been running as far up as with the first team defense at times, as well as registering multiple interceptions, as well as pass breakups in coverage. Melton will make this 53 man roster simply due to all of the things that he can do. Former Packer, Corey Ballentine is back once again after being released by the Colts. Ballentine has been showing why the Packers were quick to scoop him up again, making play after play. Each day of camp, Ballentine has had at least one standout play, and I fully expect him to make this roster. I was going back and forth on this spot, but Kalen King will make this roster finally instead of the Practice Squad. With the one less Safety in Zayne Anderson, the team can afford to keep one extra Cornerback instead.
**This room needed depth, and the only decision I see that will be a hard one is if you slot both Ballentine, as well as King in, or leave one of the two out of the initial roster and hope they come back to the Practice Squad.**
**Safeties (4) Xavier McKinney, Evan Williams, Javon Bullard, Kitan Oladapo**
**\*(IR-DFR) Zayne Anderson\***
The Safety room is one of the best rooms in the league. Featuring First Team All-Pro, Xavier McKinney, standout rookie turned second year player this season in Evan Williams, as well as promising second year players in Javon Bullard, and Kitan Oladapo, this room is loaded. Through Preseason, the secondary has looked very solid, McKinney and Williams have been taking most of the first team reps, when healthy, while Bullard has been rotating in at both Safety, as well as Slot Cornerback.
**Anderson lands himself on the IR, but is designated to return after his injury against the Jets. Watch for Omar Brown on the Practice Squad in this room after his breakout camp, got cut short with an injury to his lung during the Colts' game.**
**Special Teams (3)**
**Kicker (1) Brandon McManus**
The Packers finally have a Kicker when they signed Brandon McManus last season. McManus has shown why he got a new contract, and there was not one other Kicker signed besides an international player in Mark McNamee to compete with McManus, and for good reason. This is a solidified spot for McManus.
**Punter (1) Daniel Whelan**
Whelan might have the most secured spot on the team. The Packers have not brought in another Punter to even give Whelan competition thus far.
**Long Snapper (1) Matt Orzech**
Orzech has no competition thus far as well. His spot is just as solidified as Whelan.
Overall, there were many battles throughout this Preseason, but this is what I saw. This is based on the grading of film, as well as the notes that I have taken in person each day throughout Training Camp.