The Green Bay Packers start the season with a young roster. They are a team in transition as the Aaron Rodgers Era is over and Jordan Love takes over as the starting quarterback. There is still plenty of talent on this roster with seven players having earned Pro Bowl or All Pro honors. Here is a look at the five deepest positions on the Packers roster at the start of this season. Positions with one player on the roster like punter or kicker are not eligible for the list.
Packers Deepest Position Number 5: Inside Linebacker
The Packers have a former All Pro in De’Vondre Campbell and 2022 first-round pick Quay Walker as the starters. Campbell is hoping to bounce back from an injury-plagued campaign a year ago. Walker led the team in tackles as a rookie. He started slowly, especially against the run but improved his ability to diagnose plays later in the season. Walker also needs to keep his temper in check. He was ejected from two games last year for hitting a practice squad player and a trainer long after plays were over.
The top backup is Isaiah McDuffie. He started one game when Campbell was injured and looked solid when pressed into service.
Eric Wilson is a special teams ace and gives the team experience and depth. He has started 27 games in his first six seasons in the NFL.
Packers Deepest Position Number 4: Defensive Line
Defensive line has been a problem area for the Packers in recent years, but the team has more depth at the position than they’ve had in more than a decade.
Kenny Clark earned Pro Bowl honors twice and is in the prime of his career. He’s moving from nose tackle to defensive end which should help him avoid double teams and put more pressure on the passer.
T.J. Slaton will start now at nose tackle, and he will be responsible for helping to slow down the run. Last year’s first-round pick Devonte Wyatt will be the third starter. Wyatt flashed his ability late last season when he started to see the field more often.
Joe Barry is hoping the defensive line can get more penetration this season and create negative plays and tackle for loss.
Rookies Colby Wooden and Karl Brooks both enjoyed strong training camps and preseasons. They will provide the team with more depth than they’ve had in recent years.
Packers Deepest Position Number 3: Running Back
The Packers have one of the best duos in the league in Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon. Jones set a career high a year ago with 1,121 rushing yards and added 59 receptions, another career high. Jones is a speedy runner who can get to the edge and turn any run into a long gain.
Dillon provides toughness between the tackles and has the size and power to compliment Jones. The former Boston College star ran for seven touchdowns and gained 770 yards during what he called a “disappointing” season. He’s in his contract year so he has every incentive to have a big season this year.
Emanuel Wilson had a great preseason and surprised everybody by earning a roster spot. He has great burst and vision and has the potential to earn a bigger role in the future.
The Packers kept Patrick Taylor on the practice squad. He gives the team more experience and reliable depth at the position.
Packers Deepest Position Number Two: Offensive Tackle
GM Brian Gutekunst kept five offensive tackles on the roster because of the depth they have at the position. They also kept Luke Tenuta on injured reserve to make sure they didn’t lose him.
David Bakhtiari is one of the best pass-blocking offensive tackles in the league. Zach Tom provides versatility and is a young player on the upswing at right tackle.
The primary backups are Rasheed Wallace who took a big step forward in his second season and Yosh Nijman who has 21 career starts to provide experienced depth.
They also have Caleb Jones who is the largest player in Packers history on the depth chart and who they view as a developmental project.
Kadeem Telfort adds more depth on the practice squad.
Packers Deepest Position Number One: Edge
The Packers kept six edge rushers on the roster, and they have a lot of depth and talent at this position.
Rashan Gary was on pace for his first Pro Bowl season in 2022 before he suffered a season-ending knee injury. He will be on play count early in the season but should return to his elite play.
Preston Smith gives the Packers a reliable veteran on the other side and will start opposite Gary.
Second-year man Kingsley Enagbare appears to have improved his pass rushing technique during the offseason and looks ready to take his game to another level.
Justin Hollins gives the Packers an experienced veteran who provided some juice to the pass rush after being signed late last season.
This year’s first-round pick, Lukas Van Ness, will be brought along slowly much like Gary was in his rookie season. The Packers don’t need him to play too much but will get him on the field in obvious passing situations as part of the rotation as he learns the pro game.
Undrafted free agent Brenton Cox earned a roster spot with his pass-rush ability. If his off the field problems from college are behind him, he could be a great addition for the Packers.
Keshawn Banks earned a spot on the practice squad. He played well enough during the preseason to earn a roster spot on many teams but the Packers depth on the edge kept him off the 53.
This group is talented with a good mix of youth and experience and very deep.
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