Predicting the Winner of the Green Bay Packers' Biggest Training Camp Battles

There's been a lot of talk in this corner of the Internet about the Green Bay Packers' impending training camp battles, but finally the start of camp is almost upon us. Soon, we'll be able to watch these competitions play out at multiple position groups. 

The Packers have five main positions where players will compete for roles from rotational to starting: wide receiver, defensive end, running back, tight end and cornerback. 

We've broken down some of these battles and what to watch for previously this offseason, but now we'll take it a step further and project the expected winners. Who will win the Packers' five most contentious training camp battles? Projections to follow. 

Wide Receiver

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The Packers currently have 12 wide receivers competing for five or six spots on the final roster.

In that competition, Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb, Davante Adams and rookie Ty Montgomery are the virtual locks, while second-year players Jeff Janis and Jared Abbrederis also vie for roster spots.

That battle for the potential sixth spot could be shaken up further by the recent report from Dave Furst of WRTV-6 in Indianapolis that the Packers are among the teams interested in free-agent veteran wide receiver Reggie Wayne. However, a free-agent signing that splashy is not general manager Ted Thompson's usual M.O.

Even without Wayne entering the fray, the Packers already have plenty of competitors for the sixth spot when camp starts on July 30. Practice-squad holdover Myles White and undrafted rookies Ricky Collins, Javess Blue, Adrian Coxson, Jimmie Hunt and Larry Pinkard will all attempt to demonstrate that they can round out the group of pass-catchers. 

However, expect Abbrederis, coming off a rookie season spent on injured reserve, to earn the final spot. He was a relatively high draft selection (fifth round) just last year, and his ability to contribute in returns on special teams gives him an extra advantage. 

Predicted winner: Jared Abbrederis 

Defensive End

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When all the legal troubles subside, which defensive end will be left standing? Right now, it appears that opposite starter Mike Daniels, Josh Boyd may be the best option actually available for Game 1. 

The league suspended Datone Jones for the season opener against the Chicago Bears for a citation for marijuana possession early in the offseason, as reported by the Green Bay Press-Gazette's Ryan Wood and Doug Schneider. 

Veteran Letroy Guion, who had the best season of his career in 2014, could be out even longer than one game. Potential consequences from the league as a result of his February arrest for possession of marijuana and a firearm are currently unknown, so he's likely out as the Game 1 starter as well. 

Will Boyd earn the job by default, or will he show enough in camp to prove he could have won it outright? He did have four starts in 2014 after none his rookie season and increased his combined tackles to 21. 

Boyd is a better run defender than Jones, who is more of a situational pass-rusher. Guion may outperform both in training camp, given how well he did last season, but at this point it appears to be Boyd's job to lose. 

Projected winner: Josh Boyd

Running Back

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Rajion Neal, John Crockett or even Alonzo Harris—which player will be the No. 3 behind Eddie Lacy and James Starks?

Neal is a practice-squad holdover who brings the most experience to the table. He also brings the best receiving ability out of the backfield; at Tennessee, Neal had 66 catches for 626 yards and five touchdowns. He also played as a wide receiver.

Undrafted rookie Crockett, on the other hand, boasts the ability to get yards after contact and crazy production. In college he had three consecutive seasons of 1,000-plus rushing yards, and in his senior year, he set school records for all-purpose yards (2,419), rushing yards (1,994) and rushing attempts (368). 

Crockett also has the ability to contribute as a kick returner, which is a weight that could tip the scale heavily in his favor. 

Fellow undrafted rookie Harris was a hard-nosed inside runner for Louisiana-Lafayette, averaging 4.7 yards per carry over his career. 

The competition may come down to Crockett's health. He is still recovering from a sprained ankle he suffered during the Packers' first minicamp practice while running a route up the sideline.

As Paul Imig of Fox Sports Wisconsin reported at the time, Crockett "expects to be full-go for training camp." If that's the case, expect his well-rounded skill set to win him the job. 

Predicted winner: John Crockett

Tight End

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The Green Bay Packers should be in better shape at tight end heading into training camp.

Because they didn't address the position in free agency, however, or draft a tight end early in the 2015 draft, a veteran facing legal troubles in Andrew Quarless will compete with second-year player Richard Rodgers, former practice-squad player Justin Perillo and rookies Kennard Backman, Henry Mitchell and Harold Spears. 

Rodgers is the obvious choice of that group to win the starting job.

Quarless' legal case for allegedly firing a gun in public is still unresolved, but discipline under the NFL's personal conduct policy could still be on the table, per ESPN.com's Rob Demovsky. That alone is a reason to prepare Rodgers to take the majority of the snaps.  

As Brian Carriveau of 247Sports reported Monday, Quarless' court date has finally been set for August 10. That's only three days before the preseason opener, meaning any potential NFL punishment could be handed down not long before the start of the season. 

Rodgers had five starts in 2014, per Pro Football Focus, while Quarless had 11. Rodgers finished the regular season with 225 yards on 20 receptions and two touchdowns, and Quarless had 29 receptions for 323 yards and three touchdowns. 

Though Rodgers' rookie season started out rocky with regard to blocking, he improved over time to finish the year as the No. 5 tight end in pass blocking in the league, per Pro Football Focus. Combined with his excellent hands, Rodgers has the ability to develop into a trusted target for Aaron Rodgers in 2015. 

Predicted winner: Richard Rodgers 

Cornerback

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This one is almost a no-brainer: Veteran Casey Hayward has earned the opportunity to start outside opposite Sam Shields in 2015. 

If he can stay healthy. 

Hayward, who was the best slot corner in the league in 2014 by Pro Football Focus grades, previously started seven games in 2012 when Shields missed time.

That experience, combined with his proven ball skills, makes him an easy start on the outside. However, Hayward is currently dealing with a foot injury that caused him to miss offseason practices. 

If that injury causes him to miss time in camp, it will be the second training camp in as many years that Hayward has been dealing with an injury.

If the Packers need to prepare another player to play outside, it could be rookie Damarious Randall. Randall appears best "suited to play only on the outside," as ESPN.com's Rob Demovksy noted this offseason, and he'll continue to get snaps there during camp.  

Second-year player Demetri Goodson is another option in a pinch.  

Predicted winner: Casey Hayward