53 Man Roster thread

[ThatJerkDave]

59 minutes ago, Old Guy said:

This is an interesting clickbait article. I'd say 2,3 and 5 are likely. Can't count 1 and 4 out just yet. 

5 veterans who won't make the Green Bay Packers' Week 1 roster (msn.com)

I think releasing Dillon is people getting in their head that the cap hit for Jordan Love is going to be so great that the team needs to pinch pennies at every chance just to stay afloat. Dillon costs 400k more than Emmanuel Wilson will this season.  Maybe Wilson really figured something out and comes to camp on fire.  That would be wonderful.  BUt I would be more inclined to think that they keep 4 rbs at that point and keep 3 TEs and release Pearson, which I think we will do initially anyway.  At this point in his career, we know what AJ Dillon is, and that is a solid running back.  He isn't going to be top whatever, or make a pro bowl, but there are plenty of worse options.  

I also think that cutting Eric Wilson is a mistake.  He would only be about a 1 million dollar savings, and he plays all the special teams, and is very good at it.  He also has played well from scrimmage when his number is called.

The offensive line is a bit different to me.  I say you keep the best guys that are there.  If it is Monk and Glover over Newman and Dillard, so be it.  We already have veteran linemen.  Jenkins and Myers have been starters for a long time.  I think there is too much potential in guys like Jones or Telfort or Jennings (and maybe I am wrong) to release them for the experience that these borderline vets have.  There are already vets in the room.

The specialists are all on year-to-year contracts anyway.  Sometimes a player gets a little more leeway with certain teams.  But every kicker is a 6/18 from being on the street.  

 

[Old Guy]

1 hour ago, ThatJerkDave said:

I think releasing Dillon is people getting in their head that the cap hit for Jordan Love is going to be so great that the team needs to pinch pennies at every chance just to stay afloat. Dillon costs 400k more than Emmanuel Wilson will this season.  Maybe Wilson really figured something out and comes to camp on fire.  That would be wonderful.  BUt I would be more inclined to think that they keep 4 rbs at that point and keep 3 TEs and release Pearson, which I think we will do initially anyway.  At this point in his career, we know what AJ Dillon is, and that is a solid running back.  He isn't going to be top whatever, or make a pro bowl, but there are plenty of worse options.  

I also think that cutting Eric Wilson is a mistake.  He would only be about a 1 million dollar savings, and he plays all the special teams, and is very good at it.  He also has played well from scrimmage when his number is called.

The offensive line is a bit different to me.  I say you keep the best guys that are there.  If it is Monk and Glover over Newman and Dillard, so be it.  We already have veteran linemen.  Jenkins and Myers have been starters for a long time.  I think there is too much potential in guys like Jones or Telfort or Jennings (and maybe I am wrong) to release them for the experience that these borderline vets have.  There are already vets in the room.

The specialists are all on year-to-year contracts anyway.  Sometimes a player gets a little more leeway with certain teams.  But every kicker is a 6/18 from being on the street.  

 

Dave,

I agree with all of this but would like one reliable vet as a backup offensive lineman. If I'm spending money, it's on Connor Williams, assuming you can get him on a 1-year cheap deal or 2-3 years at a reasonable level. When he's healthy, he may replace Meyers. I would think he's not likely to be healthy to start the season. 

I'd like to have. Newman, Dillard, down the road in a heartbeat. 

I think you will get one of the big OT's you think can develop, two probably will not happen IMO. 

[ThatJerkDave]

1 hour ago, Old Guy said:

Dave,

I agree with all of this but would like one reliable vet as a backup offensive lineman. If I'm spending money, it's on Connor Williams, assuming you can get him on a 1-year cheap deal or 2-3 years at a reasonable level. When he's healthy, he may replace Meyers. I would think he's not likely to be healthy to start the season. 

I'd like to have. Newman, Dillard, down the road in a heartbeat. 

I think you will get one of the big OT's you think can develop, two probably will not happen IMO. 

I was of the same mind right before I started typing.  I had to change the load of laundry I was doing, and then I kind of thought, "what if the second string guys are inexperienced?" Our most experienced pass catcher last season was Romeo Doubs.  Our most experienced QB had like 50 passes.  I will be happier than a pig in **** if Royce Newman figures out whatever it was that Lane Taylor and Lucas Patrick figured out to become good players.  Or if Andre Dillard finally lives up to his first round pedigree.  But if all of their experience is bad, just give me the developing player.  Remember, it was the experience that got Billy Turner playing in the playoffs over Yosh Nijman a couple of years ago.  Do we win with Nijman? I don't know.  But he couldn't have been much worse.  If our best guys are all 23, then they are all 23.

[craig]

23 hours ago, Old Guy said:

There are over 2.3 million reasons to get rid of Newman. That is the difference between what he makes and what a potential rookie, like Monk would make this year. 

There is no reason for Newman to be on the roster. Newman has the 15th largest cap number this year. That is puke worthy. 

Yeah, this is the year that his cap hit jumps, so totally that $3.2 cap hit gives the $2.3 million reasons.  I'm hoping they feel OK enough with somebody cheaper to let those $2.3 reasons walk.  

We all get that, and MLF and Gute do too.  Obviously if minimum-wage Monk or Glover or Jennings or Lecitus Smith look as good or better than Newman, easy call. 

Just saying that it might not necessarily be that easy of a call for Gute?  Guys sometimes make NFL rosters who are worse than Newman.   I'd hate to lose a Super Bowl because you kept an awful player for 2.3 reasons, and he compromises every running and every passing play.  Gute will consider the anti-awful principle before he releases Newman.   

[craig]

6 minutes ago, craig said:

Yeah, this is the year that his cap hit jumps, so totally that $3.2 cap hit gives the $2.3 million reasons.  I'm hoping they feel OK enough with somebody cheaper to let those $2.3 reasons walk.  

We all get that, and MLF and Gute do too.  Obviously if minimum-wage Monk or Glover or Jennings or Lecitus Smith look as good or better than Newman, easy call. 

Just saying that it might not necessarily be that easy of a call for Gute?  Guys sometimes make NFL rosters who are worse than Newman.   I'd hate to lose a Super Bowl because you kept an awful player for 2.3 reasons, and he compromises every running and every passing play.  Gute will consider the anti-awful principle before he releases Newman.   

But I'm totally OK to trust Gute and MLF with that call.  Both the call on whether it's helpful to add some outside vet, and the decision on who to keep or release at end of camp.  

 

[Refugee]

I see the Packers inbox fielded a question about Dillard who had been off of my radar. It will be interesting to see what he can bring. I’m not optimistic that the 29 year old  has some huge redemption, but can he be better than Newman at depth T/G? His cap hit is less than half of what Newman’s would be with the escalators. Hoping he shows something and seizes the opportunity. 

[ThatJerkDave]

18 minutes ago, Refugee said:

I see the Packers inbox fielded a question about Dillard who had been off of my radar. It will be interesting to see what he can bring. I’m not optimistic that the 29 year old  has some huge redemption, but can he be better than Newman at depth T/G? His cap hit is less than half of what Newman’s would be with the escalators. Hoping he shows something and seizes the opportunity. 

Well, he has been a bust so far.  But he also has 59 games played and 19 starts.  The remainder of the non-Newman Packers depth has 14 games played and 2 starts.  At least one of those games was Caleb Jones who had 1 special teams snap. 

I think it largely depends on how comfortable the staff is with inexperienced players being back-ups.  They went really young last season.  Being honest, the team exceeded expectations last season.  This season, they have loftier goals, and may prefer some more experience on the depth chart.  Dillard and Newman have been through the seasons, while the rest of the OL depth has not.  If all things are equal, I would go youth, but maybe the coaches and Gute think differently.  It isn't like Dillard and Newman are ancient either.  

[Refugee]

11 hours ago, ThatJerkDave said:

Well, he has been a bust so far.  But he also has 59 games played and 19 starts.  The remainder of the non-Newman Packers depth has 14 games played and 2 starts.  At least one of those games was Caleb Jones who had 1 special teams snap. 

I think it largely depends on how comfortable the staff is with inexperienced players being back-ups.  They went really young last season.  Being honest, the team exceeded expectations last season.  This season, they have loftier goals, and may prefer some more experience on the depth chart.  Dillard and Newman have been through the seasons, while the rest of the OL depth has not.  If all things are equal, I would go youth, but maybe the coaches and Gute think differently.  It isn't like Dillard and Newman are ancient either.  

I also think it depends on how we use our line. Obviously there is some level of brute force needed to play on the line at any level of football let alone the pros. That doesn’t seem to be his game but he should have the feet to get in position. Maybe we ask our guys to do less steam rolling compared to PHI and TEN? I don’t know enough about their teams outside of the “brotherly shove” and that Henry runs a smashmouth game in TEN.

Anyway, Dillard gets a change of scenery and a shot and like you said has more starts than most of our depth has snaps. I think he could help us there. Hope he shows out in the PS. 

Edited July 11 by Refugee

[CWood21]

On 7/10/2024 at 8:11 PM, Refugee said:

I see the Packers inbox fielded a question about Dillard who had been off of my radar. It will be interesting to see what he can bring. I’m not optimistic that the 29 year old  has some huge redemption, but can he be better than Newman at depth T/G? His cap hit is less than half of what Newman’s would be with the escalators. Hoping he shows something and seizes the opportunity. 

Not that I'm a fan of Newman in any way possible, but Dillard doesn't really offer OG value does he?

[Ozzy]

Depth at the backup LB spot in all positions, depth at TE and depth at IOL seems to be their biggest issues on the roster.

 

If Walker and Cooper never get hurt it is less of an issue, but not sure Hopper, Young or Wilson are some star in waiting and with the transition away from a 3/4 it could be an issue, when typically all they would need is two but now they need three legit guys.  McDuffie could be solid as well but again behind those top three it could be an issue if injuries happen.

 

TE injuries have already happened with Musgrave and Kraft, Sims is a quality backup but they might need to add another one potentially which would not be super difficult.

 

IOL for sure, who is the backup center or guard.  Monk could be an answer but who knows.  Newman as a backup is ok, I assume they would ideally want Tom as a OG but he is most likely the RT.  Assuming Morgan who could be a star develops he will soon be the RT which would allow Tom to go to OG and improve the depth there with Rhyan going to the bench.  

 

 

Their DL, WR and RB depth is arguably as good as any team in the NFL.  

[Refugee]

16 minutes ago, Ozzy said:

If Walker and Cooper never get hurt it is less of an issue, but not sure Hopper, Young or Wilson are some star in waiting and with the transition away from a 3/4 it could be an issue, when typically all they would need is two but now they need three legit guys.  McDuffie could be solid as well but again behind those top three it could be an issue if injuries happen.

 

TE injuries have already happened with Musgrave and Kraft, Sims is a quality backup but they might need to add another one potentially which would not be super difficult.

 

IOL for sure, who is the backup center or guard.  Monk could be an answer but who knows.  Newman as a backup is ok, I assume they would ideally want Tom as a OG but he is most likely the RT.  Assuming Morgan who could be a star develops he will soon be the RT which would allow Tom to go to OG and improve the depth there with Rhyan going to the bench.  

 

 

Their DL, WR and RB depth is arguably as good as any team in the NFL.  

McDuff played a really solid role last year. Having more experience with Haf and Campanile than anyone else also can’t hurt. I think we’re better at ILB than we have been in a long while. We’ll likely need it, too with the new D asking a lot form those guys. Cooper is ne guy that was lighting it up early. I think he eventually is a player for us but he might not take the second spot for Duff right away. 

Edited July 13 by Refugee

[Zycho32]

5 hours ago, CWood21 said:

Not that I'm a fan of Newman in any way possible, but Dillard doesn't really offer OG value does he?

Only in terms of potential. Still talking about a first round selection, after all. It's not unheard of for a Tackle prospect to underwhelm, get moved inside, and essentially recover their career. That and he's really got no choice if he wants to carve a spot on the depth chart instead of packing his bags for the UFL.

[ThatJerkDave]

7 hours ago, CWood21 said:

Not that I'm a fan of Newman in any way possible, but Dillard doesn't really offer OG value does he?

Just have to hope that Newman is on the Lane Taylor/Lucas Patrick development schedule.  I thought both of them looked really bad, and then really turned a corner around year 3 or 4.  Toughest part for Newman is that he is the 3rd highest paid OL on the roster.  He is probably toast, but stranger things have happened before.  

I believe that Dillard played some guard in the OTA practices, but I could be incorrect.  I am also pretty sure that he has played both left and right tackle as well.   

I think both of these guys are just in camp as place holders in case the young players are simply disastrous.

[Old Guy]

What is the plan if Tom isn't a go in week 1? Everybody is expecting him to be a go, but we've been down this road before. 

Is there even a decent backup RT on the roster? 

Probably my biggest concern heading into the season. Second is making sure Newman gets cut. 

[AlexGreen#20]

42 minutes ago, Old Guy said:

What is the plan if Tom isn't a go in week 1? Everybody is expecting him to be a go, but we've been down this road before. 

Is there even a decent backup RT on the roster? 

Probably my biggest concern heading into the season. Second is making sure Newman gets cut. 

Jordan Morgan takes his first NFL snap against Jalen Carter.