Green Bay Packers 2012 Roster Projection: OL

The Green Bay Packers' offensive line is fairly set in stone, though their could be a battle for a couple of backup spots. Four starters are locked in, while the two guys fighting for the left tackle spot will both make the roster for sure. The Packers had eight offensive linemen on their opening day roster last season, a fairly standard number that they'll probably stick with this time around.

Locked in starters: RT Bryan Bulaga, RG Josh Sitton, C Jeff Saturday - The returning players from last season should all improve or play at a similar level compared to last year, while Saturday should play at a level comparable to Scott Wells.

Job security: Ironclad - It will take an injury or a felony for any of these three spots to change.

Near-lock starter: LG T.J. Lang - I left Lang off the lock list simply because there is a very outside chance that Derek Sherrod and Marshall Newhouse could both perform so well that the coaching staff wants to get both of them on the line. I think that this is highly unlikely, but at least Lang is facing some form of competition. The same isn't the case for the right side. Lang should keep his job, and I expect him to improve.

Job security: Very high - It would be pretty stunning if Lang didn't keep his job.

Probable starter: LT Marshall Newhouse - Because of injuries, Newhouse ended the season as the Packers' starting left tackle. Because Sherrod has not completely recovered from that injury, Newhouse is also going to enter camp as the starter. He had some shaky moments as the starter, but performed well enough that he'll have a chance to win the job full-time. Sherrod is going to have to get healthy, fast, if he wants to take it away.

Job security: Below average - Sherrod's going to make this a 50-50 battle if he's ready to go by the second week of training camp.

Primary backup: T Derek Sherrod - Sherrod might end up as a multi-position backup if he's unable to win the left tackle job from Newhouse.

Job security: Ironclad - There's no chance that Sherrod gets cut this season, and coaches have been optimistic enough about his recovery that he's not a PUP candidate either.

Backups: Evan Dietrich-Smith and Andrew Datko - With Chad Clifton gone and Newhouse moving up, I like Datko to make the 53-man roster as the eighth offensive lineman. Dietrich-Smith has proven to be competent at both guard and center and should make the roster again.

Job security: Average - There are a lot of guys gunning for these spots, and neither is locked in. EDS' position is probably more secure than Datko's, due to Datko's injury history and the fact that his shoulder might deter other teams from signing him, meaning the Packers could sign him to their practice squad.

PUP or practice squad: Ray Dominguez, Sampson Genus - But only if they're not picked up by other teams. I can definitely see the Packers keeping Dominguez instead of Datko because they think Datko is more likely to go unsigned, and thus, more likely to end up on their practice squad.

Cut: Shea Allard, Don Barclay, Jaymes Brooks, Grant Cook, Tommie Draheim, Mike McCabe, Herb Taylor - Wow, that's a lot of guys. Among that list, I think Allard is the guy with the best chance to stick with the practice squad. The first couple of weeks of camp and the first preseason game are going to be huge for these guys.

Roster spots left: 29