Setting Realistic Expectations for Each Green Bay Packers Rookie

The Green Bay Packers are one of the best teams on which first-year players could land: Not only does general manager Ted Thompson usually keep all his draft selections past final cuts, but undrafted free agents have enjoyed unique success in Green Bay as well. 

Every rookie has a ceiling, that ultimate level he could reach in his first year as a starter, and a floor. Sometimes the ceiling is a starting job, and the floor is getting cut outright. Other times the ceiling is as a depth player, and the floor is the practice squad.

We've broken down the Packers' eight drafted rookies and realistic expectations for their rookie years, identifying their floors and ceilings. Note that the undrafted rookies were not included, since most of their floors and ceilings are redundant: get cut or make the roster, save for a few practice squad opportunities. 

CB Damarious Randall

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Ceiling: Starting outside corner

Floor: Backup outside corner

While first-round rookie Damarious Randall won't likely be the Packers' starting perimeter cornerback opposite Sam Shields in 2015, it's not completely outside the realm of possibility. 

Per ESPN.com's Rob Demovksy, who observed Randall at all offseason practices open to the media, Randall appears to be best "suited to play only on the outside." That could make him at the least the primary backup on the outside while other players, such as Quinten Rollins and Micah Hyde, get work in the slot. 

However, depending on how Casey Hayward's injury plays out, Randall could find himself making a push to start—at least early in the season—in training camp. Hayward has been dealing with a foot injury and doesn't expect to return until training camp, as Tyler Dunne, formerly of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, reported in late May. 

Randall has been impressive in the meantime with the No. 1 defense in Hayward's absence. As Pete Dougherty of the Green Bay Press-Gazette wrote, "Hayward is expected to practice full time when training camp opens and remains the favorite to win that job. But if he's rusty or injuries continue to dog him, it could open the door for Randall."

CB Quinten Rollins

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Ceiling: Slot corner 

Floor: Dime corner/sub-package corner

Just as it's not likely but possible that Damarious Randall will beat out Casey Hayward for the starting outside job, so too will rookie Quinten Rollins compete this summer with Micah Hyde for the nickel corner job. 

When he has been asked to play in the slot, Hyde has done very well. In 2014, with 242 snaps in the slot, Hyde had two interceptions and allowed opposing quarterbacks an average rating of 81.7, per Pro Football Focus. 

But Rollins has been working in the slot all offseason, and his talent and athleticism have been hard to ignore. "Rollins' play as a slot cornerback suggests that Hyde at least doesn't have a gimme," wrote Pete Dougherty of the Green Bay Press-Gazette. 

Dougherty also shared some praise for Rollins from cornerbacks coach Joe Whitt: "(Rollins) has really good instincts. He understands routes. The ball finds him. He's a ball guy, a lot like Casey (Hayward)."

If Hyde is the guy in nickel defense, expect Rollins to be the Packers' pick for dime slot corner. 

WR Ty Montgomery

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Ceiling: No. 4 receiver

Floor: No. 6 receiver 

Unless something changes drastically in training camp and barring injuries, it seems a given that Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb and Davante Adams have the top three receiver spots locked down heading into 2015. 

That fourth spot is currently up for grabs and could feature rookie Ty Montgomery or second-year players Jeff Janis or Jared Abbrederis.

Montgomery is one of the biggest wild cards in this draft class despite his high-round selection. While the skilled return man will clearly play an important role on special teams, how many snaps can we expect him to play at wide receiver? Will he line up wide, in the slot or in the backfield?

Tom Oates of the Wisconsin State Journal asked quarterbacks/wide receivers coach Alex Van Pelt in mid-June if Montgomery could contribute immediately on offense. 

"It depends on our need at that point,” Van Pelt said.

Even if there's not a need to get Montgomery on the field on offense during his rookie year, he's certainly impressed in the few offseason practices he has been able to attend (because of Stanford's late class schedule).

Per Oates, the Packers are especially impressed with Montgomery's ability to run after the catch, and he has been picking up Green Bay's offense, which is similar to the pro-style scheme run at Stanford, quickly.

So even if Montgomery is listed further down the depth chart at wide receiver, expect Green Bay to use him in some package plays and, of course, on special teams. The Packers won't carry more than six receivers on the 53-man roster, so that is as far as his floor goes. More likely, he'll be at No. 5. 

ILB Jake Ryan

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Ceiling: Starting inside linebacker

Floor: Backup inside linebacker

In some ways, starting snaps for inside linebackers may be limited on Green Bay's defense in 2015. In others, those snaps are up for grabs. 

What's clear heading into training camp is that Sam Barrington will likely be starting at middle linebacker. Given that Clay Matthews has been working with Barrington inside all offseason, as Tyler Dunne reported in early June, running downs may be covered with an opportunity on third downs. 

That's where rookie Jake Ryan can come in. 

Ryan played outside linebacker for most of his career at Michigan but moved inside 2014, when he put together the best season of his career: 112 total tackles, 14 tackles for loss, two sacks, two forced fumbles and an interception in 12 starts. 

During offseason practices, Ryan has been taking second-team reps at inside linebacker with Carl Bradford, per Paul Imig of Fox Sports Wisconsin. Even if he doesn't start at inside linebacker in 2015, Ryan can aim to replace Matthews next to Barrington on passing downs. 

Bradford could also compete for those snaps, but even at his absolute floor Ryan will be a rotational inside linebacker. Based on talent alone, he has the skills to someday be a three-down linebacker for the Packers. 

QB Brett Hundley

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Ceiling: No. 3 quarterback

Floor: No. 3 quarterback

UCLA quarterback Brett Hundley hasn't had the most impressive offseason so far, but after general manager Ted Thompson traded up to draft him, there is virtually no scenario in which he doesn't make the 53-man roster. 

Still, Hundley would have to blow the team away in training camp to earn the No. 2 job over Scott Tolzien. According to ESPN.com's Rob Demovsky, quarterback Matt Blanchard is "so far ahead" of Hundley currently, making the rookie the fourth quarterback on the depth chart. 

When the team practiced without most veterans during the minicamp, Tolzien took the first-team reps, and Blanchard went second, per Demovksy. 

Hundley was known to be a developmental project ahead of the draft, and he could really benefit from time spent in head coach Mike McCarthy's offseason quarterback school. Even if Blanchard is truly the better player at this stage, the Packers can't risk Hundley not clearing waivers en route to the practice squad and getting poached by another team. 

Thus, both Hundley's ceiling and floor seem to be as the No. 3 quarterback on the roster. 

FB Aaron Ripkowski

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Ceiling: No. 1 fullback

Floor: Backup fullback

Can the Packers justify keeping two fullbacks on the 53-man roster at the expensive of another defensive lineman, linebacker or tight end?

If they can't, it will have to be veteran John Kuhn who doesn't make the cut, not Green Bay's future investment, rookie Aaron Ripkowski. 

Kuhn signed what will probably turn out to be his last one-year deal with the Packers this offseason. Ripkowski has a similar playing style but is perhaps a better run-blocker than pass-catcher. Ripkowski blocked for what was the top rushing offense in the nation at Oklahoma in 2014. He also scored three touchdowns on six rushing attempts last season.

The fullback position still has a future in Green Bay. But if the Packers have to make a cut, it won't be their developmental prospect. 

DT Christian Ringo

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Ceiling: Rotational defensive lineman

Floor: Practice squad

General manager Ted Thompson almost always keeps his draft picks, so there's virtually no scenario in which the Packers cut sixth-round rookie Christian Ringo. 

However, given the logjam at defensive line, there is a small chance they try to stash him on the practice squad. 

Green Bay is expected to keep six defensive linemen on its final depth chart. It will have to cull that final list from a group that includes Mike Daniels, B.J. Raji, Letroy Guion, Datone Jones, Josh Boyd, Khyri Thornton, Mike Pennel, Bruce Gaston and undrafted rookie Lavon Hooks.

Assuming that the Packers' starting three will be Daniels, Raji and Jones, those three are roster-locks. Boyd and Guion are important rotational players, and it's hard to imagine them not making the final roster. That leaves five players competing for the sixth spot.

Is it too early for Thompson to give up on Thornton? The former third-round draft pick didn't have a stellar training camp and then spent the rest of his rookie year on injured reserve. Can the Packers try to sneak Hooks, who has stood out this summer in offseason practices, through waivers to place him on the practice squad?

The same question stands for Ringo. He had a highly productive college career, with 11.5 sacks and 20.5 tackles for loss in 13 games last season alone. If he's the sixth defensive lineman on the roster, he'll likely move to the interior in Green Bay as a rotational 3-technique.

TE Kennard Backman

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Ceiling: No. 3 tight end

Floor: No. 4 tight end or practice squad

Last season, the Packers had four tight ends on their depth chart: Andrew Quarless, Richard Rodgers, Brandon Bostick and Justin Perillo.

In 2015, however, Green Bay may have to sacrifice that fourth tight end if it wants to keep six wide receivers or two fullbacks. That makes this summer a little more challenging for rookie tight end Kennard Backman. 

In addition to Backman, undrafted rookies Mitchell Henry and Harold Spears will also compete at the position behind Quarless and Rodgers. So not only will Backman be expected to factor into the offense in receiving and blocking, but he'll replace Bostick's role on special teams as well. 

He made 37 starts at tight end at UAB and finished his career with 96 receptions for 979 yards and seven touchdowns.

Backman has demonstrated so far this offseason that he's capable of stretching the field, as indicated by a report from Tyler Dunne, formerly of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. If the Packers keep only three tight ends, he'll probably round out that group.