Final thoughts, concerns, and trade ideas before Packers officially cut down to 53
The Packers will reduce to 53 players by Tuesday at 3 p.m. CT, but a lot can happen between now and then.
Good morning!
Along with 31 other NFL teams, the Green Bay Packers have now put training camp and the preseason fully behind them. Before the end of the week, every club will have reduced their roster to 53 players and, soon after, assembled practice squads, effectively marking the start of the 2023 NFL regular season.
Today's edition of The Leap looks at which players appeared to make a late push on (or off) the roster, what personnel questions remain, and some creative ways the Packers can reach the 53-man limit before Tuesday's deadline.
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In your estimation, which player on the roster bubble most clearly solidified a spot on the Packers' 53-man roster?
Jason B. Hirschhorn: I don't think the Packers can afford to cut Brenton Cox Jr. and expect him to clear waivers. The undrafted free agent already had a compelling case for a spot on the 53-man roster before Saturday's preseason finale, but the numbers at outside linebacker created some ambiguity. Following his strongest performance to date -- Pro Football Focus put him down for three pressures and a pass breakup and he also registered a tackle for loss, helped create another for a teammate, and hurried the throw that became a game-sealing interception -- Green Bay has little choice but to carry six edge defenders in order to keep Cox in town.
In the short run, Cox probably won't see much action on defense. Even if Rashan Gary sits out a game or two early in the season out of an abundance of caution, Preston Smith, Kingsley Enagbare, Justin Hollins, and Lukas Van Ness all will see work ahead of Cox. Still, the Packers could conceivably trade, say, Hollins around the trade deadline to create opportunities for their young and ascending players.
But beyond what role Cox has this season, he has far more upside than the typical undrafted free agent. As I wrote in the 2023 Packers UDFA Prospectus, the rookie's pass-rush win rates in college put him at or near the top of two of the most talented programs in the nation. He also has a strong athletic profile. It wouldn't surprise anyone if a year from now Cox engenders the type of discourse that Enagbare garners now.
Besides the quarterback, what areas of the Packers' roster have the most questions entering the regular season?
JBH: Anyone who has even loosely monitored the Packers so far in 2023 understands the concerns at safety. Darnell Savage, a player whose performance landed him on the bench for an extended period last year, returns as the only hammered-on starter at the position. Journeyman Rudy Ford appears to have the other starting job, but that status hardly seems permanent. Jonathan Owens, Tarvarius Moore, and perhaps even rookie Anthony Johnson Jr. could usurp Ford's role at various points this season, assuming they make the roster.
As the Packers seem highly unlikely to contend for a title in 2023, poor safety play probably won't matter much in the long run. Still, the coaches want to give the rest of the defense a fighting chance this year if at all possible. What if none of the options for the starting job next to Savage can hack it? Alternatively, what if Savage suffers an injury and misses time as has happened in the past?
The Packers can't expect to find a magic bullet this far into the process. However, don't feel surprised if the front office turns over every stone in hopes of finding competent safety play throughout the season. That could even include a position change for a cornerback, though that seems like a last resort.
Outside of cuts, what move could you see the Packers making between now and Week 1?
JBH: I have discussed the idea of the Packers trading Royce Newman on numerous occasions, most recently during the dead period of this offseason and dating back to the 2022 season. Such a move still makes sense, but we'll highlight another trade possibility here.
Yosh Nijman spent much of the offseason program in a head-to-head battle for the starting job at right tackle with Zach Tom. However, early in training camp, it became clear that Tom had moved decisively ahead in that competition. That alone wouldn't have rendered Nijman expendable as All-Pro left tackle David Bakhtiari, who turns 32 next month and missed essentially all of 2021 and significant portions of '22 due to knee issues, requires a competent backup. But as the preseason unfolded, second-year pro Rasheed Walker appeared to move ahead of Nijman in the pecking order, starting in place of Bakhtiari in the final two exhibitions with Tom as the bookend tackle.
Perhaps the Green Bay coaches simply wanted to see more of Walker because they already know what they have in Nijman and the preseason usage doesn't reflect the depth chart. However, if Nijman has indeed fallen to the fourth spot at offensive tackle, the Packers should at least think about shopping him. Nijman will hit true free agency next offseason and could realistically garner a multiyear contract on the open market. By dealing him now, the team could procure draft assets or personnel that could help them sooner than a hypothetical 2025 compensatory pick.
The New York Jets certainly could use an offensive lineman of Nijman's caliber, but the Packers don't have much incentive to help them given the 2024 draft choice heading back to Green Bay as part of the Aaron Rodgers trade. A more appealing offer could come from a team like the Washington Commanders whose head coach and de facto general manager, Ron Rivera, likely has to win this season to save his job. Given the realities of the NFC East and the state of the Commanders' roster, even a fifth-rounder could and probably will land inside the top 150. That would represent a quality return for a No. 4 offensive tackle.