Today is the deadline, and by 5PM central time all teams will need to have cut their rosters down from 90 players to just 53 players. This, of course, is no different for the Green Bay Packers. The Packers, having just come off a week three preseason victory against the Cardinals, will have to make some tough decisions.
One thing that we have learned is that the Packers have a ton of depth in many different positions. Some players will be cut who are completely worthy of a roster spot. Hopefully they are able to find a spot with other teams. Or, better yet, make it back to the Packers practice squad.
But don’t think that the initial 53-man roster is the end-all-be-all of what this team will look like. Because it won’t. It’s fun to make all of the predictions on who you think might be on the roster, but ultimately you won’t be right. The Packers roster will have some changes even before Green Bay heads out to Minneapolis.
Packers Roster Changes?
So, yeah! It is exciting to see how the roster takes shape but just know, it won’t be finalized at 5PM. Many teams will have to make roster cuts and sometimes those cuts are made for cap reasons more than for just play reasons. Because of this, some players will come available that Green Bay might covet.
But obviously, the Packers can’t add any roster cut down players until, you know, roster cut downs take place. And by the time that happens the Packers will have already reduced their roster, too.
Plus, roster cut down day is kind of an unofficial deadline of sorts for teams who have been in contract disputes with players. Teams will either come to agreement with said player or trade them if a trade is possible. Usually, if this is the case, there is normally some smoke of a possible trade that could take place.
Last year, for Green Bay, that absolutely was the case. I don’t think anybody had Micah Parsons on their Packers roster predictions. But everybody had Kenny Clark. Before week one arrived, Micah Parsons was a Packer and Clark found himself a Cowboy. Things can change quickly over the next few days. It’s honestly another free agency period.
Any Possible, Unexpected Changes?
And, similar to last year, there is a bit of smoke with the Packers making a trade for Cardinals edge rusher Josh Sweat. Many different people are saying that talks have taken place between the Cardinals and the Packers on a potential trade. But others say otherwise. Matt Schneidman of the Athletic came out and said Brian Gutekunst has had no conversations about acquiring Sweat. All of this could be a nothing burger and Schneidman could be absolutely correct, or it could be a part of the negotiation process.
Similar things took place last year with Micah Parsons as well, although there was way more smoke on that trade at the time in comparison to anything for Josh Sweat. Only time will truly tell. I actually don’t think Sweat ends up a Packer, but I could be completely wrong. Heck, he could be a Packer by the time you are reading this. But I doubt it.
How About From the Packers Side?
Could the Packers trade someone that is on their initial 53-man roster? I think it is completely possible. The Packers need a ton of depth, but there is a price for everyone and if someone came and offered something for Keisean Nixon, Green Bay would at least consider it – especially if another corner becomes available after cut downs.
There are just so many possible outcomes that it is incredibly difficult to make accurate predictions.
It truly is an exciting time just before the regular season kicks off. I’m excited to see what transpires, but I would like to remind everyone that these are people too and it is their livelihood. For a lot of these players who don’t make a NFL team’s roster, it spells an end to their playing days. All of their work, time, and effort since they were in peewee football just comes to an end. The dream is over. So even though it is an exciting time, please be cognizant of the lives and the mental health of the players. It can’t be easy.
But I am excited, overall, to see what happens and no matter what:
Go Pack Go!
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Damon is a diehard, fully-immersed cheesehead who currently lives in southern Missouri. He teaches at a local high school and has a family YouTube channel about all things Packers. You can follow him on twitter at @packersfamily and on YouTube at The Packers Family.
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