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Green Bay Packers Early September Scouting Report
Mike Hankes
9/2/2023

This report is a "who made it" report. We were vacationing up north the last couple of weeks and I could not get a report done. So I apologize for that. Honestly, we are going to need the cut list because so many draft picks and undrafted free agents have stepped up and performed well. The Packers finished the pre-season 2-1. The following are the results of the Packer 2023 traing camp.

 

At the quarterbackQB Jordan Love is the starter and continues to progress. QB Sean Clifford has been announced as the number two guy. And QB Alex McGough made the practice squad. Clifford and McGough both did well when they had their chances. At running backRB Aaron Jones and RB AJ Dillion are the starters – that is not open for debate. The surprise of the cuts is that RB Emmanuel Wilson made the roster. RB Patrick Taylor and FB Henry Pearson made the practice squad. Wilson was a more dynamic runner in games than Taylor. Wilson may not play much but his assent is surprising. At tight end, TE Josiah Deguara, TE Luke Musgrave, and TE Tucker Kraft made the roster. TE Tyler Davis sustained a significant knee injury and will be out for the year – which is a shame because he was having a very good camp. TE Austin Allen made the practice squad. In the early part of year we will have to see how tight ends will be used. But Musgrave has gotten a lot of passes in camp, and he can line up wide too. At wide receiver, WR Christian Watson, WR Romeo Doubs, WR Samori Toure, WR Jaylen Reed, WR Dontayvion Wicks and WR Malik Heath made the roster. WR Bo Melton and WR Grant DuBose made the practice squad. Wisdom says there should be an older receiver who can mentor the younger guys, but as it is, there are 3 second year players and 3 rookies. In the fantasy world, if your offensive line is good, than the skill position players get a chance to do well. On the offensive line the starters are; OT David Bakhtari, OG Elgton Jenkins, OC Josh Meyers, OG Jon Runyan, and OT Zach Tom. And there are plenty of replacements as the Packers kept 11 linemen – some of the reserves are pretty good. Pro Football Focus rated the Packer OL #3 in the NFL last season even though there was a weekly shuffle of guys over the first half of the season.

 

On the defensive line, DL Kenny Clark, DL TJ Slaton, DL Devonte Wyatt, DL Colby Wooden, and DL Karl Brooks have roster spots. Wooden and Brooks are being moved along the defensive line like rush linebackers and performing well in games. Slaton and Wyatt have been difficult to handle. Only DL Chris Slayton has a practice squad spot. At inside linebacker no question that ILB De’Vondre Campbell and ILB Quay Walker will start. ILB Isaiah McDuffie and ILB Eric Wilson appear to be the backups. At outside linebacker it looks like OLB Preston Smith, OLB Rashan Gary, OLB Kingsley Enagbare, OLB Lukas Van Ness, and OLB Justin Hollins all have roster spots. LB Brenton Cox also has a roster spot which is surprising considering the position is crowded and he was kicked off two SEC teams in college. He did perform very well in the games. OLB Keshawn Banks, OLB Aaron Mosby, and LB Kenneth Odumegwu have practice squad spots. At cornerback, CB Jaira Alexander, CB Rasul Douglas, CB Keisean Nixon, and CB Carrington Valentine, have roster spots. CB Eric Stokes starts the season on the PUP list. CB Corey Ballentine and CB Kiondre Thomas are on the practice squad. Finally, at safety S Darnell Savage and S Rudy Ford are the starters. S Dailin Leavitt, S Anthony Johnson, and S Jonathan Owens all have roster spots. S Innis Gaines and S Benny Sapp are on the practice squad. I still want to see how this defense operates in a regular season game before I would recommend them.

 

On special teams, PK Anders Carlson wins the kicking job. His final pre-season game was very good and included a 57 yarder. Oddly enough Carlson is 9 of 10 on Lambeau field in pre-season games this year. We will have to wait until the regular season to see if he continues to the number of chances as he did in pre-season. Although not a fantasy concern there has been some stiff competition at long snapper and punter too. The Packers will have a rookie punter this year as the incumbent, P Pat O’Donnell was cut. The new guy is P Daniel Whelan.

 

Conclusion: I would draft QB Jordan Love, RB Aaron Jones, WR Christian Watson, WR Romeo Doubs, and perhaps TE Luke Musgrave and PK Anders Carlson. If you’re not sure about Love draft him as a number 2 guy. Watson first and Doubs second will be main targets. Maybe who gets the most targets will depend on what the opposing defense tries to do. If the MLF offense runs as much as it passes the ball, Jones should be a no brainer. He contributes in the running game as well as passing game. The regular season is upon us. There will be another report before the Bears game on September 10th. Until then …………..

 

End.

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