Two weeks from now the deeper-than-anticipated Green Bay Packers could very well be trying to trade as many as four players with considerable experience as starters.
Outside linebacker Brady Poppinga, safety Aaron Rouse and tackle Tony Moll appear to have no better than a 50-50 chance to make the 53-man roster. Trading any of them might be the way to solve crowded competition at their positions.
Scott Wells still might end up being named the starting center. If not, the Packers might have sufficient backup strength in the offensive line to deal him.
The Packers also are well-stocked at inside linebacker. One of the top four, A.J. Hawk, has had another ordinary camp and might be expendable in the unlikely event the Packers could find a team to take on the remaining portion of his rich contract.
Another player that might not survive the final cut in Green Bay and could draw interest is defensive back Jarrett Bush. He has a fairly good reputation around the league because of his three-year work on special teams.
And if any team might want to try jump-starting the career of Brian Brohm, the third-string quarterback probably would be available in a heartbeat.
Trades at cut-down time have been few and far between in Green Bay, but two of the seven that were consummated since 1998 did bring exceptional results.
Late in August 1998, the Packers shipped kick returner Glyn Milburn to Chicago in exchange for a conditional seventh-round draft choice in '99 that was used to take wide receiver Donald Driver.
Early in September 2004, Green Bay dealt safety Marques Anderson to Oakland for fifth- and sixth-round selections. The fifth was used for guard Junius Coston, who started seven games, and the sixth was used for defensive end Michael Montgomery, who remains a key backup.
Barring additional injuries, the Packers probably won't be looking to acquire players. It would appear that a punter and No. 3 tight end would be the extent of their wish list.
Using the final 53-man roster as a barometer, 29 of the 80 players are judged to be locks to make the team, 11 are good bets, 29 are on the fence and 11 are long shots.
All teams must be down to 75 players on Sept. 1 and then to 53 on Sept. 5.
On Sept. 6, teams can sign up to eight players to the practice squad. Candidates are any free agents who do not have an accrued season of free-agency credit (six games on the 53-man roster or injured reserve) or who were on the 45-man roster for fewer than nine regular-season games during their only accrued season.
Players with more than two seasons on a practice squad are ineligible for another. A year of service on the practice squad includes a minimum of three weeks.
WIDE RECEIVERS (5)
Locks: Greg Jennings, Donald Driver, James Jones, Jordy Nelson.
Good bets: Ruvell Martin.
On the fence: Brett Swain, Jake Allen.
Long shots: Kole Heckendorf, JaRon Harris.
Comment: After three weeks of camp, the only change in the pecking order from a year ago is Jones over Nelson at No. 3. Despite a groin injury that sidelined him for a week, Martin has held serve. He's steady, almost never drops a pass and can help on special teams.
Swain, a seventh-round pick in 2008, has benefited from a season on the practice squad and is improved. The only knock on him is his ability to catch in traffic.
Allen, another practice-squad returnee, is most effective catching the ball over his head because of his lanky frame. Heckendorf, a native of Mosinee, gives the unit an eighth competitive member.
TIGHT ENDS (2 or 3)
Locks: Donald Lee, Jermichael Finley.
On the fence: Spencer Havner, Evan Moore.
Long shots: Devin Frischknecht.
Comment: As cruel as it might be, Tory Humphrey's season-ending arm injury Aug. 6 forced the Packers to try and do better than him.
For now, Havner would be No. 3 even though the Cleveland exhibition was the first time he played tight end in a game since high school in Grass Valley, Calif. He did periodically practice there at UCLA and on Green Bay's practice squad. An outside linebacker by trade, Havner is a functional blocker and receiver.
Moore, a wide receiver at Stanford, has been rag-dolled too often as a blocker even in an offense that doesn't require heavy-duty blocking from the position. He is a tall, inviting target with sure hands.
OFFENSIVE LINE (9 or 10)
Locks: T Chad Clifton, C-G Jason Spitz, G Daryn Colledge, G Josh Sitton.
Good bets: T Allen Barbre, G-T T.J. Lang, C Scott Wells, T Breno Giacomini.
On the fence: T Jamon Meredith, T Tony Moll, C-G Evan Dietrich-Smith, C-G Duke Preston.
Long shots: G Andrew Hartline, T Dane Randolph.
Comment: Barbre is a far better athlete than Giacomini and is being given every chance to start at RT. Giacomini, a RT only, still probably makes the team even if he doesn't win the job. Lang is 15 pounds heavier than Barbre and more athletic than Giacomini, but as a rookie the coaches aren't prepared to make it a three-way tussle at RT.
The fifth tackle berth is a battle between Meredith and Moll. Meredith ranks just 13th in the one-on-one pass-blocking drill with a record of six victories, five losses and four ties, but Moll hasn't been a whole lot better at 10-3-2.
Both are fifth-round draft choices. Moll's 18 starts are valuable, but Meredith has been playing stronger and possesses better feet. So far, Meredith has dispelled the hard-to-coach label given to him by the coaching staff at South Carolina. He isn't ready to play now, but because Lang (10-3-3) probably is ready, the Packers could afford to develop Meredith for a year as the 53rd man.
The second-best performer in one-on-ones has been Sitton (14-1-2), who has made a charge to start at RG. Spitz (19-1-2) would start ahead of Sitton if Wells gets the nod at center over Spitz. Wells (17-1-3) might be the best run blocker in camp.
If Wells doesn't start, he could also back up at guard. However, he's such a proud player that the best move in that event might be a trade.
Either Dietrich-Smith (16-8-6) or Preston (5-8-5) would have a shot if there's a need for a backup center or the decision is made to keep 10 linemen.
Dietrich-Smith, a rookie free agent from Idaho State, was excellent against the Browns; one more performance like that and there's no way he can pass through waivers onto the practice squad. Preston, a former Bill, plays high, gets pushed and has been a disappointment.
Hartline (11-6-4) is technically sound and a solid athlete. He just needs another year or two to develop more lower-body strength.
QUARTERBACKS (2 or 3)
Locks: Aaron Rodgers, Matt Flynn.
On the fence: Brian Brohm.
Comment: Flynn has elevated his game to an entirely different level than Brohm, the other second-year player. He's quicker with his reads this summer and more accurate with his passes. He's a fine athlete possessing charisma that linemen like.
Coach Mike McCarthy went with only two QBs in 2007 after cutting Ingle Martin and might do it again. To release Brohm would be to concede that using a second-round pick to take him was a mistake, but the cap hit ($450,000) would be manageable. Brohm also might be claimed, but at this point the Packers might not care.
Despite two years of intense coaching from McCarthy and Tom Clements, Brohm remains unsettled in the pocket.
Clearly, there was room for Michael Vick on this roster.
RUNNING BACKS (5 or 6)
Locks: RB Ryan Grant.
Good bets: RB Brandon Jackson, FB Quinn Johnson.
On the fence: RB DeShawn Wynn, RB Tyrell Sutton, RB Kregg Lumpkin, FB Korey Hall, FB John Kuhn.
Comment: Grant has been the best back in camp. Other than that, nothing is settled.
Jackson missed more than a week with a shoulder injury and appears to be the same workmanlike player of the past two seasons.
Wynn is 12 pounds heavier than Jackson, catches the ball better than Grant or Jackson and might be more elusive than any back in camp. However, Wynn doesn't slam into holes as often as he should and remains a major durability risk.
Sutton, the free agent from Northwestern, seems to have leapfrogged Lumpkin and is a legitimate threat to make the club. He's more reliable than Wynn and probably a better receiver than Jackson. His 40-yard dash time might be the slowest of the five RBs, but when a hole is there he can find it in a hurry.
The Packers probably can forget about stashing Sutton on the practice squad if he has another performance like Saturday night.
Johnson has a leg up at FB because he's easily the most powerful lead blocker, seems to catch well enough and should be able to handle the game plan. The Hall-Kuhn duel is too close to call. Hall is regarded as somewhat more valuable on special teams, but Kuhn is the more robust blocker.
DEFENSIVE LINE (6)
Locks: DE Cullen Jenkins, DE B.J. Raji, NT Ryan Pickett.
Good bets: DE Michael Montgomery, DE Johnny Jolly.
On the fence: DE Jarius Wynn, DE Justin Harrell, DE Ronald Talley.
Long shots: NT Anthony Toribio, DE Alfred Malone, NT Dean Muhtadi.
Comment: After keeping between nine and 11 on opening-day rosters the past eight years, the Packers appear set to retain only six in their new 3-4 defense.
Montgomery had the best record (10-8-5) on the unit in the one-on-ones and captured one of the two backup DE jobs. Jolly (1-4) missed almost two weeks with an ankle injury but, when he wants to play, he's a 330-pounder with good range and pretty good quickness.
Harrell (1-7-1) was playing well enough to start at either DE in base when his back went out again. Both sides intend to explore every medical option. Injured reserve or retirement is possible; releasing him isn't.
Harrell's misfortune opened a berth for Wynn, a sixth-round selection. Wynn (3-19-3) didn't register a victory in the one-on-ones until the 13th day of camp but really has been coming on in the last week.
Wynn isn't quite as strong at the point as Talley (2-16-5) but is a more explosive and skilled pass rusher. Talley is another good undrafted rookie and might end up on the practice squad.
Toribio (3-17-6) doesn't have a distinguishing trait to merit a roster berth. Malone (6-15-3) has been in the NFL since 2005 but hasn't been a factor.
LINEBACKERS (9)
Locks: OLB Aaron Kampman, ILB Brandon Chillar, ILB A.J. Hawk, ILB Desmond Bishop, ILB Nick Barnett, OLB Clay Matthews.
Good bets: OLB Jeremy Thompson.
On the fence: OLB Brady Poppinga, OLB Brad Jones, OLB Cyril Obiozor, ILB Danny Lansanah.
Long shots: OLB Stryker Sulak.
Comment: Matthews (1-7-1) and Thompson (3-7) have missed most of camp with injuries. They are expected back by the regular season and are the next two at OLB behind Kampman (3-6-4).
Their injuries have given Poppinga (1-11) hundreds of extra snaps to help make the transition from SLB in the 4-3 to OLB in the 3-4. Poppinga had value in the 4-3 blasting blockers and stuffing the run from tackle-to-tackle, but in his current role he isn't asked to do that. In the 3-4, Poppinga's limited repertoire as a power-only pass rusher has been brutally evident.
For now, Poppinga might have the edge on Jones, a seventh-round pick whose bad back prevented him from practicing until Monday, and Obiozor (3-9-4), an impressive rookie free agent from Texas A&M who also might not get through waivers and onto the practice squad. Both Jones and Obiozor run faster than Poppinga and are more dangerous pass rushers.
Poppinga has four years left on a five-year extension that includes a $1.9 million base salary in '09. If some 4-3 team has a void on the strong side, he'd be expendable if either Jones or Obiozor proves worthy.
Lansanah teamed well with Bishop on some cross-blitzes against Cleveland and still has a chance. A 255-pound run stuffer, he isn't bad on special teams.
SECONDARY (9 or 10)
Locks: CB Charles Woodson, CB Al Harris, S Nick Collins, CB Tramon Williams, S Atari Bigby.
Good bets: CB Will Blackmon.
On the fence: S Anthony Smith, S Aaron Rouse, CB Brandon Underwood, CB-S Jarrett Bush, S Charlie Peprah, CB Pat Lee.
Long shots: CB Trevor Ford, CB Joe Porter.
Comment: Blackmon's roster berth is secure based on his dual return work. In coverage, the results don't equate with his talent.
Lee seemed somewhat improved in his second season but hurt his back and has been out indefinitely since Aug. 6. His absence has created an opening for Underwood, a sixth-round draft choice. Despite a lack of confidence and experience at the position, he probably has played as well as Lee did and is in position to stick.
In no particular order, Smith, Rouse, Bush and Peprah are vying for perhaps two jobs behind Collins and Bigby. Bush probably isn't as good at safety as the other three but doubles as a cornerback, the position where he looked quite natural in the last week.
After a fine off-season, Rouse has been a disappointment in camp. He could be more physical, has been late reacting and isn't making big plays. With nine starts in two seasons and a modest contract, he might bring a late draft choice via trade.
Smith isn't fast but he is tough and has been in the defense for four years. Peprah operates almost like a coach on the field, but his speed and size are much less than desirable.
Ford, a rookie free agent from Troy, has ability and seems headed for the practice squad.
SPECIALISTS (3)
Locks: LS Brett Goode, K Mason Crosby.
On the fence: P Jeremy Kapinos, P Durant Brooks.
Comment: Kapinos started poorly and found himself behind Brooks after the first 10 days. In the last week, however, Kapinos has been more consistent and seems at least to have drawn even.
The Packers must decide if the left-footed Kapinos has enough leg strength and if Brooks can show more stability than he did during a six-game stint a year ago in Washington.