Veteran cuts and UDFA surprise: Way too early Packers' 53-man roster projection

The Green Bay Packers added 19 players over the last week. General manager Brian Gutekunst made 11 draft picks, and the team also signed veteran offensive lineman Andre Dillard and seven undrafted free agents.

Now, it's time to absorb all the additions and project who will effectively make the team in September.

QB (3): Jordan Love, Sean Clifford, Michael Pratt

The Packers took Pratt in the seventh round, so it will make sense to keep him on the 53-man roster as a developmental player. Green Bay will benefit from the emergency QB rule, so the rookie can be inactive each game, but still be available if Love and Clifford go down.

Released: Alex McGough

RB (3): Josh Jacobs, AJ Dillon, MarShawn Lloyd

Jacobs, Dillon, and Lloyd are locks, and the biggest question among them is if the rookie will surpass Dillon right away or not. Wilson fights for a roster spot, and that defines how many backs the Packers will carry.

Released: Emanuel Wilson, Ellis Merriweather

WR (5): Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed, Dontayvion Wicks, Bo Melton

The Packers have relatively few receivers on the roster for this time of the year, but five of them are basically roster locks. Malik Heath is favored to get a sixth spot, but DuBose and Toure have a real shot as well.

Released: Malik Heath, Grant DuBose, Samori Toure, Thyrick Pitts

TE (4): Luke Musgrave, Tucker Kraft, Ben Sims, Tyler Davis

Musgrave and Kraft are locks, and Sims is pretty close to being one too. The Packers like Tyler Davis better than the external perception, so he might be kept as a special teamer, and Pearson can fight for that spot as a TE/FB hybrid, a replacement for Josiah Deguara who left in free agency. But the numbers don't favor the position.

Released: Henry Pearson, Joel Wilson, Messiah Swinson

OL (10): Rasheed Walker, Elgton Jenkins, Josh Myers, Jordan Morgan, Zach Tom, Jacob Monk, Sean Rhyan, Andre Dillard, Travis Glover, Caleb Jones

That will be a fascinating fight for jobs. The Packers drafted three offensive linemen, signed veteran Andre Dillard and two UDFAs. Dillard has no guarantees in his contract, so he'll have to play well in training camp and preseason to justify a roster spot. Among the UDFAs, keep an eye on Donovan Jennings. Royce Newman is experienced, but his time in Green Bay is probably coming to an end.

Released: Royce Newman, Luke Tenuta, Kadeem Telfort, Donovan Jennings, Trente Jones

IDL (5): Kenny Clark, TJ Slaton, Devonte Wyatt, Karl Brooks, Colby Wooden

The Packers haven't added interior defensive linemen until undrafted free agency, so that shows you how well the front office feels about their pieces. Ford and the UDFAs will most likely fight for practice squad spots.

Released: Jonathan Ford, James Ester, Rodney Matthews

EDGE (4): Rashan Gary, Preston Smith, Lukas Van Ness, Kingsley Enagbare.

The first four are locks, and Cox will fight with Keshawn Banks and players from other positions. Banks is probably a better play at this point, but if they want to keep five edges, it makes sense to keep developing Cox protected on the 53-man roster and put Banks on the PS, where he can be elevated three times if necessary.

Released: Brenton Cox Jr, Keshawn Banks, Arron Mosby, Deslin Alexandre, Deandre Johnson, Kenneth Odumegwu

LB (5): Quay Walker, Edgerrin Cooper, Isaiah McDuffie, Ty'Ron Hopper, Eric Wilson

There's only one spot left, unless the Packers decide to keep six off-ball linebackers because of the transition to a 4-3 defense. Eric Wilson is experienced and an important special teamer, so he is favored to keep the job.

Released: Kristian Welch, Christian Young, Ralen Goforth

CB (6): Jaire Alexander, Eric Stokes, Keisean Nixon, Carrington Valentine, Corey Ballentine, Kalen King

The cornerback position is relatively easy to project, unless they decide to keep more than six players. Kalen King isn't guaranteed a roster spot as a seventh-rounder, but Gutekunst likes to keep his picks and he has a high upside.

Released: Robert Rochell, Zyon Gilbert, Gemon Green, Anthony Johnson

S (5): Xavier McKinney, Javon Bullard, Evan Williams, Kitan Oladapo, Anthony Johnson Jr.

McKinney and the rookies are the locks. Anthony Johnson Jr., projected to be a starter before the draft, is now fighting for a roster spot with the other safeties and with other positions too.

Released: Benny Sapp III, Zayne Anderson, Tyler Coyle

ST (3): K Anders Carlson, P Daniel Whelan, LS Peter Bowden

Bowden is a spicy take here, being the only UDFA to make the roster in this projection over veteran Matthew Orzech, who had a below average season in 2023. Carlson is still able to keep his job, despite the competition, because all things being equal, Gutekunst will keep his draft pick with a higher upside.

Released: K Greg Joseph, K Jack Podlesny, LS Matthew Orzech