Green Bay Packers Defensive Position-by-Position Breakdown, Depth Chart Analysis
The Green Bay Packers currently have 41 defensive players on their offseason roster, but that number will decrease dramatically by final cuts.
Of the 53 spots the Packers have available on the final roster, 27 were occupied by defensive players last season. In projecting the 2015 defensive depth chart, we'll use that number as a guide, breaking down the 27 players who could find themselves on the Packers' active roster for Week 1.
That number includes seven defensive linemen, nine linebackers, seven cornerbacks/defensive backs and four safeties. These projections are, of course, subject (and likely) to change once training camp begins.
Did your favorite rookie or undrafted free agent make the cut? Which veterans could see a switch-up in their starting positions? Read on to find out.
Defensive Line
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Current Roster
Datone Jones, Josh Boyd, Mike Daniels, Bruce Gaston, Letroy Guion, Lavon Hooks, Mike Pennel, B.J. Raji, Christian Ringo, Khyri Thornton
Projected Depth Chart
Left Defensive End: Josh Boyd, Datone Jones, Christian Ringo
Nose Tackle: B.J. Raji, Letroy Guion, Mike Pennel
Right Defensive End: Mike Daniels, Josh Boyd
The defensive line is the area of the defense that will inevitably see multiple reductions come final cuts. This projection becomes difficult when taking someone like second-year player Thornton into account.
After the Packers drafted him in the third round of the 2014 draft, Thornton injured his hamstring in the final game of the preseason and was placed on injured reserve. It's early to give up on him or move him to the practice squad, but he also wasn't showing much in training camp last year before his injury, and Green Bay needs to make room for rookie Ringo.
Boyd gets the nod over Jones for the starting left end position in a competition that is going to be close anyway, but now Jones has been suspended for the season-opener against Chicago for a citation for marijuana possession early in the offseason, as reported by the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
Talented undrafted-rookie Hooks will be a tough cut to make, but this is a numbers game. He's a great candidate to make the practice squad.
Don't expect Guion to warm the bench backing up Raji at nose tackle; he'll likely also be used at end. However, it's currently unclear the level of discipline Guion will be facing from the league as a result of his February arrest for possession of marijuana and a firearm, as well as a new report from ESPN.com's Rob Demovsky of a civil lawsuit filed against him.
Linebackers
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Current Roster
Sam Barrington, Carl Bradford, Tavarus Dantzler, Jayrone Elliot, Josh Francis, Adrian Hubbard, Clay Matthews, Andy Mulumba, Nate Palmer, Julius Peppers, Nick Perry, Jermauria Rasco, Jake Ryan, Joe Thomas, James Vaughters, Mike Neal
Projected Depth Chart
Left Outside Linebacker: Mike Neal, Clay Matthews, Jayrone Elliot
Left Inside Linebacker: Clay Matthews, Jake Ryan, Joe Thomas
Middle Linebacker: Sam Barrington, Carl Bradford
Right Outside Linebacker: Julius Peppers, Nick Perry
The Packers' current group of linebackers is a versatile one—many either transitioned from outside linebacker to inside linebacker, like Bradford, or can play both, like Matthews.
Like the defensive line, however, there are some tough cuts to stomach in trying to whittle this group down to nine players. Promising undrafted-rookie Dantzler perhaps lands on the practice squad, while 2014 undrafted-free-agent Hubbard just misses the cut.
On the inside, the Packers will likely rotate Matthews out on passing downs, and if he develops well enough during camp, rookie Ryan should be able to take his place, especially given his coverage skills. Thomas lands a spot behind Ryan, but Palmer could push him for it in training camp.
Neal and Peppers are the cornerstones of the pass rush in the base defense; in the NASCAR package, expect Neal, Peppers, Perry and Matthews to take the field as pass-rushers. Elliott will get a chance to follow up last year's preseason, in which he led all NFL players in sacks, with more snaps in 2015 than he saw last season.
Cornerbacks
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Current Roster
Bernard Blake, Tay Glover-Wright, Demetri Goodson, LaDarius Gunter, Casey Hayward, Damarious Randall, Quinten Rollins, Sam Shields, Micah Hyde (DB), Kyle Sebetic (DB)
Projected Depth Chart
Left Cornerback: Casey Hayward, Micah Hyde (slot), Demetri Goodson
Right Cornerback: Sam Shields, Damarious Randall, Quinten Rollins, LaDarius Gunter
While the depth chart projection for the secondary may seem a bit unbalanced with seven cornerbacks and four safeties, the Packers have emphasized adding players of both positions who are athletes first. Technique can be taught, but instincts and natural play-making ability cannot.
The only player listed above who could potentially be left off if the Packers decide they can't allocate seven spots to corners is second-year player Goodson, but he'll be a valuable special teams contributor and provides valuable insurance in case rookies Randall and Rollins take longer to develop.
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." Rollins, on the other hand, has been spending most of his time inside and could be the Packers' primary dime back.
With Hayward moving outside full-time, expect Hyde to take over as the primary slot corner. He could share some snaps with Rollins, and for that reason he has also been included in the safety group.
NFL.com projected Gunter to be selected in Round 4 or 5 of the draft, but in a draft-day surprise he went undrafted. His spot is another that could be sacrificed if the Packers need an extra linebacker or lineman, but cornerbacks coach Joe Whitt is exceptional at developing young talent and Gunter is a worthwhile investment.
Safeties
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Current Roster
Chris Banjo, Morgan Burnett, Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, Jean Fanor, Sean Richardson
Projected Depth Chart
Strong Safety: Morgan Burnett, Sean Richardson, Chris Banjo
Free Safety: Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, [Micah Hyde]
Clinton-Dix finished the 2014 season strong, with three passes defensed and two interceptions in the NFC Championship Game against the Seattle Seahawks. Though he put together a very solid rookie season, expect him to improve on his late performance and start the year off strong at free safety.
Hyde was included among the cornerbacks, where he'll likely play the slot, but he can also be used at free safety.
After they matched the Oakland Raiders' offer of $2.55 million over one year to keep restricted-free-agent Richardson in Green Bay, you'd better believe the Packers have bigger plans for him than as a backup. The Packers like to use Richardson at the line of scrimmage in run defense, almost as an extra linebacker.
He'll also continue to be a special teams mainstay.
Banjo is another core special teams player. After starting out last season on the practice squad, Banjo was signed to the active roster in December. Simply because of the lack of competition at the position, Banjo could earn a spot on the 53-man roster this summer, but don't count out Fanor's ability to beat him.
Per ESPN.com's Rob Demovsky, "Fanor, a practice-squad player last year, has a nose for the ball, too." Demovsky projects that Fanor will make the final roster.
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