First off, Thanks to wpr for recording the Packers official 2012 opening 53 man roster numbers.


My mock 53 post Seahawks game guess has one less S and WR, for an extra NT and OLB.

In other words

Minus S Woodson; Plus NT Jolly
Minus WR Driver; Plus OLB Neal (and DE Boyd filling the DE hole)

Onto my mock
OFFENSE (23), DEFENSE (27) SPECIALISTS (3)

Offense (23)
QB (2): Rodgers, Young (2)
RB (4): Harris, Lacy, Franklin, Green (6)
FB (1): KUUUUUUHHHHHHNNNN (7)
TE (4): Finley, Mulligan, Williams, Quarless (11)
WR (5): Cobb, Nelson, Jones, Boykins, Ross (16)
OT (3): Bakhtiari, Barclay, Newhouse (19)
OG (2): Sitton, Lang (21)
OC (2): Dietrich-Smith, Van Roten (23)

Defense (27)
NT (3): Raji, Pickett, Jolly (3)
DE (4): Wilson, Daniels, Jones, Boyd (7)
OLB (5): Matthews, Perry, Neal, Mulumba, Palmer (12)
ILB (5): Jones, Hawk, Francois, Manning, Barrington (17)
CB (6): Williams, Shields, Hayward, Hyde, House, Bush (23)
S (4): Burnett, McMillian, Jennings, Banjo (27)

ST (3): Crosby, Masthay, Goode


~ TE: Not sure 3rd/4th back-up TEs have earned the spots but this team loves TEs and Williams and Quarless have some potential. Also might keep TE Taylor over one of them for his ST play if he’s healthy. Wouldn't be surprised if the went with 3 TEs either and WR or OL getting the spot.

~ WR: I don't feel a 5th WR has earned a spot yet, but with Cobb and Nelson banged up, they'll probably keep one. I went with Ross for ST reasons. Though they might keep 6 WRs if they can.

~ OL: I think it'd be smart to keep an 8th OL, but Packers risked the back-ups to the PS last year and might do the same again. Maybe take the 4th TE spot away for the 8th OL spot. Could be OT Datko, OG Taylor or C Lewis. But I thought they might just try to sneak them all to the PS again. (though the Raiders clearly have an eye out for OTs right now)

~ Boyd/Palmer: Thought about putting Boyd and Palmer on the Practice Squad... but plain and simple, I don’t want to. They have flashed good potential, while they’re both very raw I don’t want to lose that potential. As a rookie OT Newhouse looked HORRIBLE at first but they kept him because he flashed potential just like Boyd and Palmer did.

~ Contract years: Those in the last year of their deals (this list might not be perfect)
QB: Young
FB: Kuhn
TE: Finley, Mulligan, Quarless
WR: Jones
OT: Newhouse
C: Dietrich-Smith

NT: Raji, Pickett, Jolly
DE: Wilson
OLB: Neal
ILB: Francois
CB: Shields
S: Jennings

Kind of crazy at TE and NT...

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