I think the most likely “surprise” WR on the 53 is Shepherd. He joined mid camp last year and immediately caught the eye with accurate, consistent routes and very good hands. Excellent jumping and body control producing a large catch radius and capable in contact. A red zone presence. Not particularly fast in NFL terms but wins in the same way Doubs did and adds ability to go up for balls. Probably the only obvious substitute for the old Doubs role were Golden to get hurt in game.

Of the other predictions. If we keep any pure STer (excluding returner), Nieman would be the first to be rostered. He was simply better at it than anyone. The second would probably be Melton, but he has non ST value too.

OL. I think the 6th OL at this point is Glover. It was only when he was injured that Kinnard was brought in. Before that he was having a great camp and LaFleur was noticeably frustrated with his loss. I’d obviously expect Burton to be rostered simply because most 5th rounders are, but it’s not absolutely guaranteed. I think Kinnard is the 7th and first G up though. The outsider candidate is Brant Banks. He was called up once already and is a pure LT. Had a great camp last year and it’s not obvious that Glover is a LT. Kinnard certainly isn’t.

So starting 5 then Glover (RT), Kinnard (G), Burton (C), Williams (G) and Banks is 10 already without Monk. Dalton Cooper is a guy who could prove a better G and emergency T than Kinnard. Monk could beat out Kinnard, Burton or Williams. It’s possible Williams or Burton aren’t ready, but the good news is that most of the rest should be able to be got to the PS and the real battle for them is to be there to develop.

At RB, Im surprised to see you think Martinez, but I personally tend to agree based on what I hear. His protection will have to have improved significantly though. Where I disagree is if Brooks goes down. None of the three back ups are known to be good at protection generally. I think Gute would then sign a back who was but doesn’t excite as a runner. That could be Jamaal Williams, it could be Brooks’ direct predecessor Taylor if he shakes free. It could also be a number of younger backs. As with Brooks, they tend to be available post cut downs.

As to the DL. If Carl Brooks starts we have a problem. The only thing he does well rush. I don’t know that using Hargreaves as a full time NT or even a frequent one, but then again that’s not McClellan’s background either. It is certainly not Brinson’s. Perhaps Ford learns to bend and win leverage, perhaps Stackhouse improves, but if not I still have questions. Brooks, if he makes it, needs to be used primarily in passing situations and just allowed to penetrate and kept fresh for that

Most of the rest I don’t have much to add. If we indeed play a lot of quarters, the ability to play tighter and track man-on-man deep is going to be critical. I’m not sure Hadden has either the speed or fluidity to do that successfully, even if he’s healthy. I have sone doubts about Nixon too, but I suspect he’d have to be bad not to start the year out as one of the top 2. I think Hadden is released and ends up with Hafley where he can play deep off and face the QB and his tackling ability will be more heavily weighted.

Let the games begin. Sadly, for all but the WRs (particularly the smaller ones and perhaps Jaden Nixon and Strong at RB), there isn’t much that can be learned as a fan till pads go on and contact play begins. Early summer is for the fleet of foot and agile to flatter to deceive before contested catches and physical impact are a thing. Still, it’s better than nothing!

Just got back from my daily walk-the-dog-while-listening-to-packaday.
The whole time I was amazed, because I spend (waste) a lot of time doing the same Packers-related mental gymnastics, and here Andy said EXACTLY what I have been thinking for every roster spot! I DID have a few things to add...then in comes Coldworld with most of THOSE thoughts as well!

Although CW mentioned it, here is the big thing I wanted to add: We don't know what the new defense needs. Andy was sort of mushing the roster into a 3-4/4-3 blend without separating the parts, but I think it's going to be key to this roster decisionmaking.
For instance: Sorrel is a great prospect for a traditional 3-4 OLB, but he's NOT a great prospect for a traditional 3-4 DE/DT/5-tech.
I am still predicting that this year's defense is NOT going to be a traditional 3-4 with a big NT and big DT-like guys next to him. That's not what we have on this roster, even after the draft and free agency. I think it will be closer to a 4-3, with the only 3-4 element being that edge guys will sometimes stand up.
So in my predictions, I'm using a 4-2-5 format as my base defense:
VanNess-Wyatt-Hargrave-Parsons
Franklin-Cooper
Nixon-Bullard-Cisse
McKinney- Williams

DDS behind LVN, Sorrel behind Parsons, Brooks behind Wyatt, McClellan behind Hargrave
I also think St-Juste will give Nixon, Cisse, and Bullard all a run for the money.

Andy, you're discussing the 53, but I'd like to add that I think the roster's makeup is going to be a little different this year.
Personally, my current prediction has 23 players on offense and 27 players on defense on the 53, BUT I have 9 offensive players and 6 defensive players on the PS.

(My current PS roster prediction: Kyron Drones, Pierre Strong Jr., Will Sheppard, J. Michael Sturdivant, Messiah Swinson, RJ Maryland, Jacob Monk, Dillon Wade, Brant Banks,
Nyjalik Kelly, Jonathan Ford, T.J. Quinn, Jaylin Simpson, Johnathan Baldwin, Murvin Kenion, Lucas Havrisik)