Assessing Every Green Bay Packers UDFA's Chances of Making Final Roster
After the 2015 NFL draft, a whopping 17 undrafted free agents signed with the Green Bay Packers, hoping for their chance to make an NFL roster this summer. Offensive lineman Andy Phillips also signed Monday after his tryout during rookie minicamp, bringing the total number of undrafted rookies vying for roster spots in Green Bay to 18.
As far as being an undrafted rookie goes, the chances of making the roster in Green Bay are higher than with most other teams in the league. In 2014, Packers undrafted rookies played more than double the snaps of other teams' undrafted rookies, per a study the team conducted, via Paul Imig of FoxSports.com.
Notable Packers who got their start as undrafted free agents include Tramon Williams, Sam Shields, Don Barclay, Sean Richardson and Chris Banjo.
Some of the rookies who went undrafted to land in Green Bay were expected to be drafted, and the talent level on this list combined with holes at certain positions could mean a few of these players make the final roster.
Criteria included in assessing each player's chances include predraft assessment and how crowded (or not) his position is. Each player's chance of making the roster has been categorized as highly possible, possible or less possible.
Cornerbacks
1 of 7
LaDarius Gunter, Miami
NFL.com projected that Ladarius Gunter would come off the board in Round 4 or 5 of the draft, so it was quite surprising when he went undrafted. It's possible his 4.69-second 40-yard dash at the combine scared some teams off, but he improved that to 4.66 and 4.64 seconds at his pro day and plays faster on tape.
At Miami, Gunter had 111 total tackles, three tackles for loss, one forced fumble, 18 pass breakups and six interceptions.
He enters a crowded secondary with at least Sam Shields, Casey Hayward, Damarious Randall, Quentin Rollins, Demetri Goodson, Micah Hyde, Morgan Burnett, Ha Ha Clinton-Dix and Sean Richardson likely to make the roster at a minimum. Still, the Packers had 11 players in the secondary on the 53-man roster at the end of the 2014 season, so Gunter has an opportunity.
Chance to make roster: Highly possible
Bernard Blake, Colorado State
Bernard Blake will have to compete against the same players as LaDarius Gunter, including cornerback Tay Glover-Wright and defensive back Kyle Sebetic, to make the roster. He'll have a more difficult time, with a less decorated college career than his fellow undrafted rookie.
At Colorado State, Blake played in 47 games and started 35. After his senior year, in which he had 38 tackles (26 solo), three tackles for loss, 11 pass breakups and one interception, he was selected to play in the East-West Shrine Game. NFL.com projected Blake would either be drafted in Round 7 or be signed as a priority free agent.
Chance to make roster: Less possible
Wide Receivers
2 of 7
Javess Blue, Kentucky
The free-agent rookie wide receivers have an uphill battle ahead of them to make the 53-man roster. Behind roster locks Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb and Davante Adams, the Packers also have 2015 third-round pick Ty Montgomery and 2014 rookies Jared Abbrederis and Jeff Janis.
The Packers only had five receivers on the 53-man roster at the end of 2014. If they do carry a sixth receiver on the final roster, there's practice-squad holdover Myles White.
Blue played the last two seasons of his college career at Kentucky and became the Wildcats' top receiver, with 72 receptions for 1,111 yards and nine touchdowns. Per NFLDraftScout.com, he ran a 4.56-second 40-yard dash at his pro day.
Chance to make roster: Less possible
Ricky Collins, Texas A&M-Commerce
Ricky Collins was expected to be drafted in the late rounds, per NFL.com, so he was a nice undrafted free-agent signing for the Packers.
"Good size and has talent but was in a very simple offense and I think he needs to come in as a free agent and prove he can take on a pro offense," an NFC area scout told Lance Zierlein of NFL.com.
While the Packers offense could be the right fit for Collins, it will be difficult for him to earn the chance. Perhaps a spot on the practice squad is in his future.
Chance to make roster: Less possible
Adrian Coxson, Stony Brook
After one season at Maryland, Adrian Coxson played at Stony Brook for three years over 35 games with 19 starts. He posted 1,335 yards, 82 receptions and 10 touchdowns.
Coxson made a push to get drafted in the late rounds at his pro day, where he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.28 and 4.33 seconds, per Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. Per Wilson, the Packers were in attendance at that workout and clearly liked what they saw.
Chance to make roster: Less possible
Jimmie Hunt, Missouri
Over his career at Mizzou, Jimmie Hunt had 74 receptions for 1,204 yards and 12 touchdowns. At his pro day, he ran a 4.55-second 40-yard dash, per NFLDraftScout.com. Hunt set career highs in receptions (40), yards (698) and touchdowns (seven) his senior year.
Hunt was one of nine undrafted rookies to receive a $5,000 signing bonus from the Packers, along with receivers Coxson and Collins.
Chance to make roster: Less possible
Larry Pinkard, Old Dominion
Larry Pinkard was putting together a productive career at Old Dominion prior to his dismissal in 2014 for a violation of team rules. In three years, he had 160 receptions (No. 3 in school history) for 2,338 yards (No. 2 in school history) and 25 touchdowns.
Pinkard received a $3,000 signing bonus from the Packers.
Chance to make roster: Less possible
Running Backs
3 of 7
John Crockett, North Dakota State
Likely Green Bay's most high-profile undrafted free agent, John Crockett finds himself at the best possible crossroads this summer: He's an incredibly talented player at a position that could be flexible.
Crockett was projected to be drafted in Round 6 or 7 by NFL.com. He was a top performer among running back prospects at the NFL combine in the vertical jump (40 inches) and the broad jump (125 inches) and ran a 4.62-second 40-yard dash.
He had three consecutive seasons of 1,000-plus rushing yards, and his senior year he set school records for all-purpose yards (2,419), rushing yards (1,994) and rushing attempts (368).
Behind Eddie Lacy and James Starks, Crockett has a good chance of beating out practice-squad holdover Rajion Neal for the No. 3 spot.
Crockett earned a $5,000 signing bonus from the Packers.
Chance to make roster: Highly possible
Alonzo Harris, Louisiana-Lafayette
Alonzo Harris was a hard-nosed inside runner for Louisiana-Lafayette, averaging 4.7 yards per carry over his career.
In addition to the 3,330 rushing yards Harris gained on 704 attempts and 44 touchdowns at Louisiana-Lafayette, he also had 29 receptions for 234 yards.
The Packers gave Harris a $3,500 signing bonus.
Chance to make roster: Possible
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Linebackers
4 of 7
Tavarus Dantzler, Bethune-Cookman
Another highly touted undrafted free-agent signing for the Packers, Bethune-Cookman linebacker Tavarus Dantzler has a diverse skill set that could be beneficial to the Packers on the inside or the outside.
Though the 6'2", 240-pounder played as an outside linebacker at Bethune-Cookman—where he had 175 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, five pass breakups, five forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries—he could be a candidate to move inside for Green Bay.
Along with his size, Dantzler brings coverage ability to the table. He ran a 4.66-second 40-yard dash at his pro day, per NFLDraftScout.com. He met with the Packers in a predraft visit before signing, per Wes Hodkiewicz of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
Clay Matthews and Sam Barrington are the only players on the roster with any in-game experience at inside linebacker. To make the roster, Dantzler would have to compete with fourth-round selection Jake Ryan, 2014 rookie Carl Bradford, Joe Thomas and Nate Palmer, as well as offseason acquisition Josh Francis.
Chance to make roster: Highly possible
Jermauria Rasco, LSU
Though the Packers appear stacked at outside linebacker, with Clay Matthews, Julius Peppers, Nick Perry and Mike Neal, in addition to Adrian Hubbard, Andy Mulumba and 2014 undrafted free agent Jayrone Elliott, that could change quickly.
Matthews looks to be spending more snaps inside in 2015. Peppers is due to count $10.5 million against the cap in 2016. The Packers declined to pick up Perry's fifth-year option, and Neal's contract will expire after this season.
If the Packers feel they have future contributors at outside linebacker heading into training camp, now is a good time for them to compete for a spot. At LSU Rasco played in 35 games, starting 13, with 157 total tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss and 10 sacks. He led the Tigers in sacks in 2013 and 2014.
Rasco was one of nine undrafted rookies to receive a $5,000 signing bonus.
Chance to make roster: Possible
James Vaughters, Stanford
Vaughters had an impressive showing his senior year at Stanford, with 51 tackles, 11 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks. He played inside linebacker as a sophomore. He had another four sacks as a junior.
Though he's strong at 6'2" and 258 pounds, scouts had worries about Vaughters' athleticism, specifically his lack of fluidity when changing direction and ability to disengage, per NFL.com's Lance Zierlein.
Vaughters has a lot to overcome if he's going to try to displace players like Elliott and Hubbard, who have a lot of upside in Green Bay.
Chance to make roster: Less possible
Offensive Line
5 of 7
Matt Rotheram, G, Pittsburgh
Matt Rotheram is another player who has a legitimate chance to make the final roster both due to his talent as well as playing a position that has room to expand.
General manger Ted Thompson did not draft an offensive lineman in 2015 for the first time in his Green Bay tenure, providing Rotheram a unique opportunity in training camp: He has no need to worry about displacing a draft pick from the same class.
Rotheram played right tackle in 2011-12 and then moved to right guard in 2013-14. The 6'5", 325-pound guard has great size.
He said that "he turned down more money to sign with the Packers because there was a better opportunity to make the 53-man roster since Green Bay didn't draft an offensive lineman this year," per Wes Hodkiewicz of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
Chance to make roster: Highly possible
Fabbians Ebbele, T, Arizona
Fabbians Ebbele played all four seasons at right tackle for Arizona. NFL.com's Lance Zierlein writes that the 6'8", 315-pound tackle "has overall length that most offensive linemen dream of."
In 2013, he was part of a line that allowed Arizona to average 264.9 rushing yards per game and allowed just 1.31 sacks per game, per the team's website.
Chance to make roster: Possible
Marcus Reed, G, Fayetteville State
Marcus Reed will have a tough road ahead trying to beat out Rotheram for a roster spot at guard. He played the last two years of his career at Fayetteville State after two years at Kilgore College in Texas.
Reed started 17 games at Fayetteville State and earned second-team All-CIAA honors his senior season.
Chance to make roster: Less possible
Andy Phillips, C/G, Central Michigan
The Packers signed 6'2", 303-pound Andy Phillips last Monday after a tryout during rookie orientation camp.
He started 43 games at Central Michigan: 38 at left guard and five at center. The Packers have good depth at the center spot behind Corey Linsley with J.C. Tretter, who isn't going anywhere anytime soon.
Chance to make roster: Less possible
Tight Ends
6 of 7
Mitchell Henry, Western Kentucky
The Packers had four tight ends on the depth chart in 2014, with Andrew Quarless, Richard Rodgers, Brandon Bostick and Justin Perillo.
With Bostick gone, one or two spots could be open on the final roster depending on whether the Packers once again keep four tight ends and whether Perillo earns his spot back. Competing for a spot will be sixth-round draft pick Kennard Backman and Mitchell Henry.
Henry played 47 games at Western Kentucky and started 24, totaling 78 receptions for 1,094 yards and 12 touchdowns. He projects to be an H-back or a move tight end, as he can struggle to maintain his blocks, per NFL.com's Lance Zierlein.
Still, Henry has soft hands and can make route adjustments to extend the play.
Chance to make roster: Possible
Defensive Line
7 of 7
Lavon Hooks, Mississippi
Lavon Hooks' chances of making the roster looked slightly improved Monday, when the Packers released defensive lineman Luther Robinson, who earned a spot on the practice squad last year after trying out at rookie orientation camp.
Hooks played for two seasons at Northeast Mississippi Community College before his two years at Mississippi, in which he had 27 tackles, nine tackles for a loss and three sacks.
Still, he'll face a tough challenge with sixth-round pick Christian Ringo on the roster as well as seven other defensive tackles.
Hooks was the only undrafted rookie not to receive a signing bonus from the Packers.
Chance to make roster: Less possible
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