Pre-minicamp Packers 53-man roster projection features tough decisions and key trends coming out of OTAs

The Green Bay Packers have their mandatory minicamp this week. After two weeks of organized team activities (OTAs), this is the final week of collective offseason work before players have some time to rest before the grind of training camp, preseason, and the regular season.

So now it's a good time to evaluate how the team is, and what are the projections for the 53-man roster.

Quarterbacks (2)

• In: Jordan Love, Malik Willis
• Out: Sean Clifford, Taylor Elgersma
  
  Since our last projection, the Packers have signed Elgersma to compete with Clifford for the QB3 spot. More likely, though, they will fight for a practice squad spot, while Love and Willis are the QBs on the 53-man roster.

Running backs (3)

• In: Josh Jacobs, Emanuel Wilson, MarShawn Lloyd
• Out: Chris Brooks, Amar Johnson, Jalen White
  
  The Packers didn't draft a running back in a strong class, which bodes well for Lloyd's chances. Wilson and Brooks were kept, but they are restricted free agents next offseason. Brooks is a good depth running back and a good special teamer, so he will fight with players from other positions for a spot.

Wide receivers (6)

• In: Jayden Reed, Romeo Doubs, Dontayvion Wicks, Matthew Golden, Savion Williams, Malik Heath
• Out: Mecole Hardman, Bo Melton, Julian Hicks, Cornelius Johnson, Samuel Brown
• PUP: Christian Watson
  
  The Packers usually keep six receivers, but increasing the number to seven isn't out of the equation. With Watson starting the season on the physically unable to perform list, there's a roster spot available in a fight between everyone, with Heath, Hardman, and Melton with higher chances. The roster locks, barring a surprise (like Doubs being traded), are Reed, Doubs, Wicks, Golden, and Williams.
  It's possible that Green Bay decides to keep Hardman if he's projected to return kicks and punts, and that would possibly cost an offensive lineman his job.

Tight ends (3)

• In: Tucker Kraft, Luke Musgrave, John FitzPatrick
• Out: Ben Sims, Messiah Swinson, Johnny Lumpkin
  
  Another case of a strong class and no players taken in the draft, showing the Packers trust what they have. This is good news for Musgrave in terms of role and for FitzPatrick or Sims in terms of making the team. FitzPatrick is a better special teamer, which is valuable at the bottom of the roster.

Offensive line (10)

• In: Rasheed Walker, Aaron Banks, Elgton Jenkins, Jordan Morgan, Zach Tom, Sean Rhyan, Kadeem Telfort, Anthony Belton, John Williams, Jacob Monk
• Out: Travis Glover, Donovan Jennings, Trey Hill, Tyler Cooper, Brant Banks, J.J. Lippe
  
  OTAs showed us that Jacob Monk has a clear path to make the roster, because he practiced with the ones most of the team while Elgton Jenkins didn't attend. Kadeem Telfort practiced at guard with the twos, and John Williams missed some time of the voluntary work for undisclosed reasons. Travis Glover is probably the odd man out, but if the Packers decide to keep only nine linemen, things will get more competitive.

Defensive tackles (5)

• In: Kenny Clark, Devonte Wyatt, Karl Brooks, Warren Brinson, Colby Wooden
• Out: Nazir Stackhouse, James Ester, Keith Randolph Jr., Nesta Jade Silvera
  
  Nazir Stackhouse was in our previous list, but OTAs didn't show us any indication so far that he has a real shot. Meanwhile, Wooden spent some time with the ones and he's had chances at nose tackle, which could mean a bigger role within the defensive line rotation.

Edges (6)

• In: Rashan Gary, Lukas Van Ness, Kingsley Enagbare, Barryn Sorrell, Brenton Cox Jr., Collin Oliver
• Out: Arron Mosby, Deslin Alexandre
  
  It's tough and unusual to keep six edges, but Collin Oliver is an off-ball linebacker hybrid. If the Packers want to cut one more player from his list, it will be a battle between former starter Kingsley Enagbare and promising Brenton Cox.

Linebackers (5)

• In: Edgerrin Cooper, Quay Walker, Isaiah McDuffie, Ty'Ron Hopper, Isaiah Simmons
• Out: Kristian Welch, Jamon Dumas-Johnson
  
  Isaiah Simmons was added after the draft. Maybe Welch can make the roster as a special teamer too, but it will depend on the numbers elsewhere — and with Simmons in, it's harder to justify that.

Cornerbacks (5)

• In: Keisean Nixon, Nate Hobbs, Carrington Valentine, Kamal Hadden, Gregory Junior
• Out: Kalen King, Micah Robinson, Johnathan Baldwin, Isaiah Dunn, Tyron Herring
  
  Brian Gutekunst doesn't like to cut draft picks, but he has done it from time to time with seventh-rounders. With the release of Jaire Alexander, there will be another spot up for grabs. Former Vols' Kamal Hadden had more work with the ones, alongside Kalen King and Gregory Junior, and these four players will probably fight for two spots.

Safeties (5)

• In: Xavier McKinney, Evan Williams, Javon Bullard, Zayne Anderson, Kitan Oladapo
• Out: Omar Brown, Kahzir Brown
  
  No big additions here after the reconstruction of the unit last offseason.

Special teamers (3)

• In: Brandon McManus, Daniel Whelan, Matthew Orzech
• Out: Alex Hale (IPP)
  
  The Packers kept all their three special teamers, re-signing McManus and Whelan. Hale is a member of the International Pathway Program, so he doesn't count towards the 90-man roster limit—and won't count towards the 16-man practice squad limit either.