The Green Bay Packers open training camp on July 28 in Green Bay. The Packers finished the regular season 13-3 and in first place in the NFC North, earning the No. 1 overall seed in the NFC playoffs. They return 21 starters from that team as well as head coach Matt LaFleur and coordinators Nathaniel Hackett (offense), Mike Pettine (defense) and Shawn Mennenga (special teams). Here's a 53-player roster projection:
QUARTERBACKS (3): Aaron Rodgers, Jordan Love, Tim Boyle.
Is Love ready to be the backup right away? Rodgers was as a rookie in 2005, but he had an entire offseason of in-person work. Love didn't get that because of the virtual offseason program, so the Packers might be best served keeping the strong-armed Boyle around for another year.
RUNNING BACKS (4): Aaron Jones, AJ Dillon, Jamaal Williams, Tyler Ervin.
The Packers ran 175 plays with two backs on the field last season. They averaged 4.5 yards per play and scored nine touchdowns. Those 175 snaps with two backs on the field were 10th-most in the NFL in 2019, according to ESPN Stats & Information. Matt LaFleur said he wanted a third running back to go along with Jones and Williams. Maybe now he has four. Ervin, the kick returner specialist, found a role in the offense. If there's someone expendable, perhaps it's Williams and his $2.133 million salary.
RECEIVERS (7): Davante Adams, Allen Lazard, Devin Funchess, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Jake Kumerow, Equanimeous St. Brown, Reggie Begelton.
It's not exactly the same group as last year -- Funchess was a free-agent signing, St. Brown was on IR all of 2019 and Begelton played in the CFL -- but is it any better than last season?
TIGHT ENDS (3): Marcedes Lewis, Jace Sternberger, Josiah Deguara.
No more Jimmy Graham means Sternberger needs to be a downfield threat. Deguara, the third-round pick, could be the Packers' version of Kyle Juszczyk -- a versatile tight end/fullback/H-back.
OFFENSIVE LINE (10): David Bakhtiari, Rick Wagner, Corey Linsley, Elgton Jenkins, Billy Turner, Lucas Patrick, Lane Taylor, Alex Light, Jon Runyan, Jake Hanson.
The Packers have several options to replace Bryan Bulaga at right tackle, but are any of them -- Wagner, Turner, Light or even Taylor -- any good there? The new practice squad rules -- 12 players and freedom to activate players weekly -- could mean significant weekly movement at this spot.
DEFENSIVE LINE (5): Kenny Clark, Dean Lowry, Treyvon Hester, Kingsley Keke, Tyler Lancaster.
It just hasn't clicked for former third-round pick Montravius Adams, and Hester has significant NFL experience (41 games with three different teams).
INSIDE LINEBACKER (4): Christian Kirksey, Oren Burks, Ty Summers, Kamal Martin.
A totally revamped position from Blake Martinez and B.J. Goodson last year. The hope is that it helps the run defense and coverage against tight ends.
OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS (4): Preston Smith, Za'Darius Smith, Rashan Gary, Jonathan Garvin.
Despite how productive the Smiths were last season, this spot still looks a little thin after letting Kyler Fackrell walk in free agency.
SAFETIES (4): Adrian Amos, Darnell Savage Jr., Raven Greene, Will Redmond.
Seventh-round pick Vernon Scott could find his way onto the roster, but the Packers would have to go short at another spot to do it.
Cornerbacks (6): Jaire Alexander, Kevin King, Chandon Sullivan, Josh Jackson, Ka'dar Hollman, Marc-Antoine Dequoy.
It might be tough for an undrafted rookie like Dequoy to make it given the absence of an in-person offseason this year. Jackson couldn't get on the field last year even when healthy, but if nothing else he has the makings of a special teams core player.
Specialists (3): Mason Crosby, JK Scott, Hunter Bradley.
The Packers made Crosby one of the highest-paid kickers in the league, but they need more consistency from Scott's punts and Bradley's snaps (which have turned Scott into a valuable holder).