The Green Bay Packers have completed their offseason program, and we now have five weeks until the start of training camp. OTAs and minicamp gave us a first look at the team and where players are lining up. It also gave us an early look at the depth chart. With that in mind, here are five Packers players in danger of being cut and not making the team after minicamp.

These players could still make the team, but they will have to do well in training camp or benefit from injuries to players ahead of them on the depth chart. They are not listed in any particular order.

Five Packers Players In Danger of Being Cut After Minicamp, Number Five: K Anders Carlson

Kicker Anders Carlson struggled through his rookie season. He now finds himself in a unique, three-way battle for the team’s kicking job with veteran Greg Joseph and undrafted rookie Jack Podlesny.

After a good start to his rookie year, the former Auburn star struggled later in the season. He missed six field goals and five extra points during the regular season and then missed a key field goal in the Packers playoff loss to San Francisco. Carlson’s inconsistency caused GM Brian Gutekunst to bring in Joseph and Podlesny as competition.

The Packers want Carlson to win the job. He has the strongest leg of the trio and they have invested the most in him. So far, Carlson has looked solid in minicamp. However, the Packers were still looking to sign other kickers last week, so obviously they aren’t sold on Carlson for next year just yet.

Number Four: WR Samori Toure

For former seventh-round pick Samori Toure, it is simply a numbers game. The former Nebraska star made the team despite being selected in the final round of the draft, but he failed to take a big step forward in his second NFL season.

As a rookie, Toure caught five passes for 82 yards and a touchdown. Last season, he added eight catches for 78 yards.

But the Packers possess a lot of depth at wide receiver and will only keep five or six players on the active roster. Assuming they stay healthy, Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed, Dontayvion Wicks, Bo Melton, and Malik Heath are all ahead of him on the depth chart.

Toure will need to shine in training camp and in the preseason to stay on the roster and maybe even to earn a spot on the practice squad.

Five Packers Players In Danger of Being Cut After Minicamp, Number Three: RB A.J. Dillon

A.J. Dillon signed a one-year, prove it deal with the Packers this offseason after his rookie contract expired. The former Boston College star struggled early last season but played better in the second half before suffering a season-ending injury late. That allowed Aaron Jones to have a dominant finish.

The Packers have strong depth at running back. Free agent addition Josh Jacobs stands atop the depth chart now. Third-round pick MarShawn Lloyd has earned raves during offseason workouts and the Packers still have Emanuel Wilson who enjoyed a strong preseason a year ago.

Dillon gives the Packers a different style of running back than the other players on the roster, but he will need a productive preseason to hold on to his job. The Packers could move on from Dillon without much cost if they choose to do so.

Number Two: QB Sean Clifford

The Packers selected Sean Clifford in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft. Clifford made a solid impression in the preseason last year, showing leadership and the willingness to throw the ball into tight spaces despite his lack of elite arm strength.

Because Jordan Love stayed healthy last season, Clifford saw only limited action, playing in two games. He threw one pass which he completed to Melton for 37 yards.

However, in this year’s draft. Gutekunst selected Michael Pratt in the seventh round of the draft. The Tulane product will battle with Clifford for the backup quarterback spot. Pratt has made a good showing at OTAs. He still needs to prove he can be effective once the pads are on.

The Packers may only keep one of the two on the active roster, although there’s a chance Gutekunst will want to develop both of his young backups. Clifford will fight for his spot on the roster unless the Pack chooses to keep three quarterbacks this year.

Five Packers Players In Danger of Being Cut After Minicamp, Number One: G Royce Newman

Guard Royce Newman won a starting job in his rookie season. The 2021 fourth-round pick out of Ole’ Miss struggled once inserted into the lineup and has failed to progress since then.

Newman had difficulty with stunts and blitz pickups. He started 16 games as a rookie, but started a total of eight games over the last two seasons. Newman only started when other players were injured. His game did not seem to improve with time.

Now, the Packers have selected three offensive linemen in this year’s draft and all three can play guard. They include first round pick Jordan Morgan, fifth rounder, Jacob Monk, and sixth rounder Travis Glover.

Unless he shows significant improvement, Newman will face a tough fight to stay on the Packers roster.

 

 

 

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