Packers' 16-man practice squad prediction ahead of roster cuts
The Green Bay Packers are set to cut dozens of players by the end of Tuesday's deadline, but their careers -even with the Packers- are far from over. The NFL's practice squad is a great opportunity for guys to find their footing and potentially develop into someone who can join the active roster on game […]
The Green Bay Packers are set to cut dozens of players by the end of Tuesday's deadline, but their careers -even with the Packers- are far from over.
The NFL's practice squad is a great opportunity for guys to find their footing and potentially develop into someone who can join the active roster on game days. It's not a bad way to make some decent money, either.
Below are the NFL's general rules when it comes to the composition of each team's practice squad:
- Teams can start signing players after the waiver claim period ends at 12pm ET on Wednesday, August 30. Teams can protect up to four players each week from getting "poached" by other teams. If a rival team wants to sign a player from another team's squad, and they aren't playing them within a 6-10 day timeframe, then they must sign the player to the active roster and pay them three weeks salary.
- Squads are comprised of 16 players. Players with zero accrued seasons or players with an accrued season that consists of them being on an active game day roster for fewer than nine games in that season are eligible. Players with no more than two accrued seasons and players with three or more are also eligible, but teams are limited to a combination of up to four of the former and up to six of the latter players, with the six representing "veteran" status.
- Two players can get called up to the active roster on game days, but that can only happen three times before their respective team has to sign them to the active roster. If they are called up a fourth time, they must be paid a regular minimum salary for three weeks – even if they are cut during that time period.
- Players with two or fewer accrued seasons will make $12,000 each week they are on the practice squad and players with three or more accrued seasons will make $16,100-$20,600 per week. In all, a player on the lower end of the pay scale can make $216,000 in a year while the other guys can make between $289,800-$370,800.
So, without further ado, let's dive into some predictions. Just to keep things simple, I'll stick with Packers players, only, for this exercise.
Note: Players with one asterisk represent players that have less than two accrued seasons. Two asterisks equal two accrued seasons and three equal three or more.
Packers 2023 Practice Squad Predictions
- QB Alex McGough*
- RB Emanuel Wilson*
- RB Tyler Goodson*
- RB Lew Nichols III*
- WR Grant DuBose*
- WR Jadakis Bonds*
- WR Bo Melton*
- OL James Empey*
- OL Royce Newman**
- DL Jonathan Ford*
- OLB Arron Mosby*
- OLB Kennth Odumegwu*
- CB Corey Ballentine***
- CB Elijah Hamilton*
- S Benny Sapp III*
- LS Broughton Hatcher*
There's definitely a world where the Packers could add a punter or kicker to the practice squad simply for the sake of insurance. It's an offense-heavy squad with nine of the players belonging on that side of the ball, but it really speaks to the depth the team has on defense.
It'll be really interesting to see if rookies Lew Nichols III and Grant DuBose can make an impact and find a way to get called up on game days. Those two, along with Jonathan Ford, are the most likely to get called up, specific situations aside.
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Featured image via Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports
