GREEN BAY, Wis. – There may be a few more under-the-radar signings, but at this point the Green Bay Packers’ offseason roster is more or less set.
From free agency to the draft to the undrafted free agents and, finally, the tryout signings that general manager Ted Thompson made earlier this week, the Packers' roster now stands at 89 – one short of the offseason limit.
Here’s a look at some winners, losers and those in between among the returning players:
WINNERS
Eddie Lacy, James Starks, John Crockett: Thompson expressed supreme confidence in the running back trio from last season by ignoring the position until the rookie free-agent period, when he signed Nevada’s Don Jackson and Troy’s Brandon Burks. Lacy’s extreme weight loss must have given the Packers confidence that he’ll be more productive. They re-signed Starks to a two-year, $6 million deal, and they seem intrigued by Crockett’s potential after promoting him from the practice squad late last season.
Brett Hundley: The Packers believe the second-year pro is a capable backup to Aaron Rodgers. They let last year’s No. 2, Scott Tolzien, sign with Indianapolis for two years and $3.5 million. Behind Hundley, they have Ryan Williams, who hasn’t seen meaningful action since 2013 at the University of Miami, and undrafted rookie Joe Callahan.
LOSERS
David Bakhtiari, Bryan Bulaga: The Packers didn’t trade up to take tackle Jason Spriggs in the second round to play him right away; barring injuries, Bakhtiari will be back at left tackle and Bulaga at right tackle for another year. But anything beyond 2016 is in question. Spriggs could replace Bakhtiari if Thompson isn’t willing to pay Bakhtiari market value for a left tackle (the last two left-tackle deals done – Buffalo’s Cordy Glenn and New Orleans’ Terron Armstead – averaged $11.5 million and $13 million per year, respectively). If the Packers are willing to pay Bakhtiari, perhaps they will move on from Bulaga, whose history of knee problems makes him a shaky investment even at just $6.75 million per year.
Jared Abbrederis, Jeff Janis: Based on the way they finished last season, both would have been good bets to be among the five or six receivers the Packers keep on the roster this season. They suddenly became something less than locks when Thompson picked Cal’s Trevor Davis, one of the fastest receivers in the draft, in the fifth round. It’s now a crowded position group with the return of Jordy Nelson and Ty Montgomery off injured reserve plus Randall Cobb and Davante Adams.
UNDECIDED
Clay Matthews: If fourth-round pick Blake Martinez can get on the field as a rookie – even if it’s only in situational duty – then the Packers should be able to go forward with their plan to move Matthews back to outside linebacker. This might have been more of a given had Thompson picked, say, Alabama inside linebacker Reggie Ragland when he had the chance in the first round. It’s no secret Matthews would prefer to play on the outside more, but have they done enough to make that possible? That much may not be completely clear.