My take in the June report still stands as far as the salary cap and how that possibly affects the roster this year. The Packers 2022 cap concerns could mean that in cases where everything is equal, the cheaper guy wins the roster spot. And that may color some of what happens with the final roster this year. Again, this is the year to win a super bowl because next year some of those guys are gone.

On offense. At quarterback, June 8^th came and went and there was no QB Aaron Rodgers at the mandatory mini-camp and for that matter neither was he traded as some were reporting would take place. And finally, the date to opt out came and went with nothing happening, but it did not stop plenty of online outlets from speculating that he would. Remember, until a thing has happened, it hasn't. We do now know there is some issue that is unresolved, but anyone who thinks they know about the details is guessing, again, no factual information coming from Rodgers or the Packer organization. Rodgers did say that he is working on himself this off season in terms of mental health. The Packers consistently say that Rodgers is the quarterback, and QB Jordan Love is the next man up. So maybe the signing of QB Blake Bortles, QB Kurt Benkert, and QB Jake Dolegala is an effort to find the best number three man. Dolegala, who was signed after I submitted the June report and before minicamp, is a 6-7 quarterback who put up some very good numbers at Central Connecticut State. Not much has changed at running back. RB Aaron Jones and RB AJ Dillion are the 1-2 punch. RB Kylin Hill will get a solid shot at nailing down the 3^rd spot. Hill has the size and skills that Jones has. RB Mike Weber has been released. So that leaves RB Patrick Taylor and RB Dexter Williams as competition for Hill. But as far as fantasy teams are concerned, if Jones and Dillion remain healthy, it won,t make much difference who the 3^rd guy is. But if either of them goes down, then you might want to know who that 3^rd guy is. At wide receiver, locks to make the roster barring injury include; WR Davante Adams, WR Marques Valdes-Scantling, WR Amari Rodgers, and WR Allen Lazard. WR Equanimeous St. Brown and WR Devin Funchess will be challenged by the likes of WR Juwann Winfree and WR Malik Taylor. WR Reggie Begelton, WR Chris Blair, and speedster WR Bailey Gaither could also challenge for roster spots, but more likely are practice squad material for now. OTA star Gaither is intriguing but at his size we will have to find out if he can take a hit and survive. Winfree was also an OTA and minicamp star. All things being equal the cheaper player wins roster spots. At tight end, the Packers have TE Robert Tonyan, TE Mercedes Lewis, TE Josh Deguara, and TE Dominique Dafney. I predict these 4 will make the roster, but the productive fantasy player is Tonyan. The following will have a tougher time making the roster; TE Jace Sternberger, TE Isaac Nauta, and TE Bronson Kaufusi. The offensive line is well stocked. If OT David Bakhtari isn't healthy enough to play left tackle; OT Elton Jenkins will play left tackle, OG John Runyan will play left guard, rookie OC Josh Meyers starts at center, OG Lucas Patrick will play right guard, and right tackle will be OT Billy Turner. Beyond that are rookies OT Royce Newman and OT Cole Van Lanen, both of whom have played multiple offensive line positions in college. OG Ben Braden has also made an impression the minicamp and will be a serious contender in training camp. Packer coaches have gone on record as saying that they are interested in seeing OT Simon Stepaniak in training camp. One guy has indicated that the Packers could save some money if Braden or Stepaniak could do well enough to cost Patrick his roster spot. If that happens, Patrick will play somewhere this year.

On defense, some adjustments have been made since last month. On the line, the Packers now have; DL Kenny Clark, DL Dean Lowry, DL Kingsley Keke, DL TJ Slaton, DL Tyler Lancaster, DL Jack Heflin, and DL Willington Previlon. DL Anthony Rush has been released former DL Delontae Scott has been sent back to the outside linebacker group. The Packers are looking for a boost from Slaton, improvement from Lowry and Lancaster, and one of Previlon or Heflin to show they belong. Clark and Keke are fine. At outside linebacker, OLB Za'Darius Smith, OLB Preston Smith and OLB Rashan Gary are all locks to make the roster, although Smith has to rebound from last or Gary will get more snaps. OLB Jonathan Garvin has the inside track for the fourth spot. But one of OLB Tipa Galeai or OLB Randy Ramsey could surprise, but that remains to be seen. Undrafted free agent OLB Carlo Kemp of Michigan came to the Packers as a defensive lineman but is being tried at linebacker. He has a long way to go to make the roster. And then there is OLB Delontae Scott, formerly of the defensive line is now back at linebacker. He has height and length to play defensive line or outside linebacker. But he needs more weight to play defensive line. My guess is that he had trouble gaining or maintaining weight. So now he sinks or swims at outside linebacker. At inside linebacker, ILB Kyrs Barnes, ILB Kamal Martin, and ILB De'Vondre Campbell are locks to make the roster. New draft pick ILB Isaiah McDuffie has some questions to answer, but appears a good bet to take a roster spot. The Packers know what they have in consistent ILB Ty Summers but is coverage challenged. I continue to think ILB Owen Burks has to make a big jump to make the team. ILB Ray Wilborn, ILB De'Jon Harris, and are on the outside looking in. At cornerback, CB Jaira Alexander, CB Eric Stokes, CB Kevin King, CB Chandon Sullivan, and CB Shemar Jean-Charles are locks to make the roster at this point. CB Josh Jackson seems to have the coach's favor, but his negative production in real games to date doesn't warrant that. If I were an opposing coach I would go after him often, pass interference and holding calls are sure to follow, unless of course he has been working on his craft over the summer. Coaches sometimes get enamored with a players physical attributes and think they can turn him into a player. CB KaDar Hollman, CB Stanford Samuels, and CB Kabion Ento may be on the outside looking in. At safety, S Adrian Amos, S Darnell Savage, and S Vernon Scott are roster locks. S Will Redmond has experience and played well at times and could be a roster lock but S Christian Uphoff seems like an intriguing prospect and may have something to say about that. That leaves S Henry Black and S Innis Gaines to fend for what's left. Overall, the defense has some questions to answer to be top 12 in the league, in other words, fantasy quality. Better consistency on the part of some players and better play as a unit could make them that. Your best Packer fantasy options continue to be; QB Aaron Rodgers, RB Aaron Jones, TE Robert Tonyan (if you need a tight end) and WR Davante Adams. One thing I know for sure, by the time I write my next article we will know for sure if QB Aaron Rodgers is in camp and who will quarterback the Packers this year. I can't wait for training camp to start.

End.