There are fewer than 50 days until the start of the 2023-24 season, and training camp is right around the corner. That means it’s time for the intrigue of positional camp battles and players fighting for roster spots. With their new youth movement and the dawning of the Jordan Love Era, Green Bay’s roster is especially intriguing this year.
Who’s going to make the cut? Let’s take a look.
Quarterback (2)
Starter(s): Jordan Love
Backup(s): Alex McGough
Just Missed the Cut: Sean Clifford
Everyone knows that Jordan Love will be Green Bay’s starter this season. This is his team now. However, the backup spot is trickier to figure out. The Packers recently signed former USFL MVP Alex McGough, and he has been in several NFL training camps before. I think that the Packers release Danny Etling because they see more upside in McGough after his USFL success.
Sean Clifford is most likely going to the practice squad as a developmental quarterback. McGough’s NFL experience and maturity will ultimately give him the spot over Clifford.
Ultimately, whoever balls out in camp should get the spot behind Love.
Running Back (3)
Starter(s): Aaron Jones, A.J. Dillon
Backup(s): Tyler Goodson
Just Missed the Cut: Lew Nichols, Patrick Taylor
The first two here are obvious. A combination of Jones and Dillon will be on the field for most of Green Bay’s offensive snaps. Tyler Goodson offers the most upside as a backup. He’s a spark plug and has the tools to be a productive back in the NFL.
Goodson has the speed, agility, and receiving ability. Nichols is solid and can ultimately find a place on the practice squad. Taylor just doesn’t offer that much as a runner. He’s big and can block, so the Packers may find that valuable, but you can find that almost anywhere. Goodson’s upside outweighs Taylor’s size.
Wide Receiver (6)
Starter(s): Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed (R)
Backup(s): Dontayvion Wicks (R), Samori Toure, Malik Heath (R)
Just Missed the Cut: Grant DuBose, Bo Melton
The top five are pretty easily settled on. Everyone knows that group is a lock to make the roster. The final spot where there is more controversy, but I think it goes to Malik Heath.
Heath balled out during the minicamp and raised his stock with his playmaking ability. He was able to really impress. Bo Melton and his speed could easily make the team, but more likely as a special teams player. Rich Bisaccia has had a meaningful impact on personnel decisions, and Melton could be a great gunner for the punt- and kick-coverage teams.
DuBose has been hurt and has not been able to show what he can do. However, he could slip onto the practice squad pretty easily. Maybe the Packers decide to go with Melton over Heath for special teams reasons, or maybe they keep both. Either way, the top five are no-doubters.
Tight End (4)
Starter(s): Luke Musgrave, Josiah Deguara
Backup(s): Tucker Kraft, Tyler Davis
Just Missed the Cut: None
Luke Musgrave will get a chance to be the Packers’ starting tight end, and they think he can be what Robert Tonyan should have been. There’s not really a surprise with this group. The four guys here are the ones everyone expected.
This year, we get to see how they all have developed and how the Packers will use them with a new quarterback under center. Deguara had a good connection with Love last year, so perhaps he can build on it. Kraft and Davis will get some time mostly as blocking tight ends, but they could work their way into some passing concepts as the season progresses.
Offensive Line (9)
Starter(s): David Bakhtiari, Elgton Jenkins, Josh Myers, Jon Runyan Jr., Zach Tom
Backup(s): Yosh Nijman, Royce Newman, Sean Rhyan, Rasheed Walker
Just Missed the Cut: Luke Tenuta, Jake Hanson
The top seven are pretty locked in. No surprises there. The Packers value their O-linemen, and I think they like the group they have and could even keep 10. But there is some uncertainty about the team’s depth.
It’s a toss-up between Caleb Jones and Rasheed Walker. I was high on both tackles last year, and hopefully they’ve developed enough to secure a spot on the team. Walker is the kid they spent a draft pick on, so they will lean toward him. I don’t think all hope is lost for Sean Rhyan. I’m hoping he can bounce back and be effective.
Luke Tenuta is intriguing to me, but I think he’d have to show a lot at camp to make the roster. Jake Hanson struggled in his time last year, and I think the Packers will lean toward the potential of the younger guys this year rather than Hanson’s experience.
Interior Defensive Line (5)
Starter(s): Kenny Clark, Devonte Wyatt, TJ Slaton
Backup(s): Karl Brooks (R), Colby Wooden (R)
Just Missed the Cut: Jonathan Ford
I could see the Packers keeping Ford as an extra body in the trenches, but I know they like what they have with Slaton. Once again, Clark will have to do a lot of the heavy lifting on the interior for Green Bay.
The Packers are counting on big steps from Wyatt and Slaton this year. Expect Green Bay’s scheme to work these guys all over the defensive front.
Edge Rusher (6)
Starter(s): Rashan Gary, Preston Smith
Backup(s): Lukas Van Ness (R), Justin Hollins, Kingsley Enagbare, Brenton Cox Jr.
Just Missed the Cut: Jonathan Garvin
Edge rusher is one of the Green and Gold’s best groups. I think Gary will be ready by Week 1, so the only real shocker I have is UDFA Brenton Cox Jr. making the team. He was a stud in college but has character concerns.
However, those don’t seem to be an issue at the moment. The Packers will move Van Ness around, and he could spend some time in the interior. Hollins is good depth, and Enagbare is looking to show he’s got more to offer in Year 2.
Linebacker (4)
Starter(s): De’Vondre Campbell, Quay Walker
Backup(s): Isaiah McDuffie, Eric Wilson
Just Missed the Cut: None
There is not really a camp battle here. Walker and Campbell are the starters, and McDuffie is the backup. Wilson will chip in on special teams, and that’s about it. Maybe someone comes out of nowhere, but don’t hold your breath for this group.
Cornerback (5)
Starter(s): Jaire Alexander, Eric Stokes, Rasul Douglas
Backup(s): Keisean Nixon, Carrington Valentine (R)
Just Missed the Cut: Shemar-Jean Charles, Corey Ballentine
The starters are no surprise here. Nixon will contribute in the slot, and Valentine is much better than his seventh-round selection suggests. However, Charles did not do enough to warrant a roster spot. He’s been very stagnant in his development.
Balentine could be a very good special teams player. However, there’s only room in the cornerback room for one “-alentine.” Alexander is the headliner, and he’s one of the best corners in the game. Stokes will have to rebound in Year 3.
Safety (6)
Starter(s): Darnell Savage, Rudy Ford
Backup(s): Jonathan Owens, Tarvarius Moore, Anthony Johnson Jr. (R), Dallin Leavitt
Just Missed the Cut: Innis Gaines
Safety might be the weakest group in Green Bay. Neither Savage nor Ford inspires much confidence as a starter, and the depth behind them is similarly middling. Owens and Moore were both replacement-level or worse last year. Johnson may provide a spark as a seventh-round gem, but don’t count on it right away.
Leavitt is a Bisaccia legend and has his place on the roster as a special teams ace. Innis Gaines has been just on the outside before. I think he’d have to blow away Packers management and staff to stay on the roster, but it’s not completely outside the realm of possibility. Either way, this group is hurtin’.
Specialists (3)
Starter(s): Pat O’Donnell (P), Anders Carlson (K), Matt Orzech (LS)
Backup(s):?
Just Missed the Cut: None
Not a whole lot to say about this group. The Packers seem to be content rolling with their rookie kicker. Orzech is the guy that they want at long snapper, so I’ll trust Bisaccia on that one. O’Donnell was solid last year, and I’d expect similar things this year.
These predictions could all look different in just a few weeks after we’ve gotten to see all the camp battles, joint practices, and pre-season games. For now, though, this is how I see Green Bay’s final 53-man roster shaping up.
