I know it's crazy early to be looking at the day the Packers have to cut their roster down to 53, but it's a quiet time in the offseason and I was wondering where we're going to fit all our draft picks.
Going through it I found it interesting to see at which positions we're carrying a lot of bodies and which areas may have some room.
Below is the 53 man roster we had heading into last season. Tyrell Sutton, Javon Meredith, Anthony Smith and Brian Brohm etc had just been cut and this was our squad. Since then we've added some players (Josh Bell, Mark Tauscher, Ahman Green, Matt Giordano, etc) and cut some (Aaron Rouse, Michael Montgomery, Matt Giordano etc).
I've not listed all the guys we've signed to future contracts and all the practice squad guys as that would take ages and could get a bit messy.
In black are the players that were on the roster then and remain so now (41).
In
green are players who are still on the roster but, in my opinion, are possible candidates for being cut (7).
In
red are the players that have since been cut or released from that original list (5)
In
blue are players we've signed as likely starters (Tauscher) or players coming off injured reserve (Pat Lee, Harrell) or the practice squad (Obiozor) who, in my opinion, have at least a small chance at making the 53 man roster (4).
Quarterbacks (2): Aaron Rodgers, Matt Flynn.
Halfbacks (3): Ryan Grant, Brandon Jackson,
DeShawn Wynn.
Fullbacks (3):
Korey Hall, John Kuhn, Quinn Johnson.
Receivers (5): Greg Jennings, Donald Driver, Jordy Nelson, James Jones,
Brett Swain.
Tight ends (3): Donald Lee, Jermichael Finley,
Spencer Havner.
Offensive linemen (9): Chad Clifton, Daryn Colledge, Jason Spitz, Josh Sitton,
Allen Barbre, Scott Wells, T.J. Lang, Breno Giacomini, Evan Dietrich-Smith,
Mark Tauscher.
Defensive linemen (6): Johnny Jolly, Ryan Pickett, Cullen Jenkins, B.J. Raji, Jarius Wynn,
Michael Montgomery,
Justin Harrell.
Linebackers (9): A.J. Hawk,
Brady Poppinga, Nick Barnett,
Aaron Kampman, Clay Matthews, Brandon Chillar, Desmond Bishop, Brad Jones,
Jeremy Thompson,
Cyril Obiozor.
Defensive backs (10): Atari Bigby, Charles Woodson, Al Harris, Nick Collins,
Jarrett Bush, Will Blackmon, Brandon Underwood,
Aaron Rouse, Tramon Williams, Derrick Martin,
Pat Lee.
Specialists (3): Mason Crosby,
Jeremy Kapinos, Brett Goode.
We have 8 draft picks, our 7 plus a conditional pick for Colin Cole. We also usually bring a number of undrafted free agents like EDS, Sutton etc.
At three 'positions of need' we are actually pretty full, at least on quantity, if not quality:
OL: Many of us want a couple of new players on the Offensive Line, at least one LT, but even if we cut Barbre his spot has already been replaced by Tauscher. Maybe Giacomini and Dietrich-Smith are cut to make room.
DBs: We want another Safety and another Corner in the draft. Aaron Rouse has gone but Pat Lee is back from injury. Bush might get cut but if we draft two rookie DBs that still leaves one of Blackmon, Underwood or special teams ace Martin under threat.
LB: Kampman has gone but Obiozor looked promising so he could stick. Thompson is injured and Poppinga could make room if we draft a couple of OLBers.