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With veteran free agency essentially concluded and the 2018 NFL Draft in the rearview mirror, Acme Packing Company will once again rank and break down the Green Bay Packers’ 90-man roster.
These rankings represent a composite of the individual selections from several APC contributors. Today, we continue by revealing players 70 through 61, a group almost exclusively comprised of talented, albeit unproven, prospects that have realistic paths to a spot on the final roster or practice squad.
70 (tie): Marcus Porter, ILB
An undersized off-ball linebacker out of little Fairmont State, Marcus Porter faces an uphill battle in his bid to make the 2018 Packers. The defense already features 2017 breakout star Blake Martinez at the position, and Oren Burks just arrived as a third-round pick. Porter probably has to beat out veteran linebacker Jake Ryan, second-year man Ahmad Thomas, and a slew of other undrafted free agents to have a shot.
70 (tie): Tyler Lancaster, DL
If the defense has one obvious strength heading into 2018, it lies along the D-line. Mike Daniels and Kenny Clark formed a dynamic duo last year and should anchor the entire unit again under new defensive coordinator Mike Pettine. Former second-team All-Pro Muhammad Wilkerson joins the group and could establish himself as one of the top pass rushers on the team. With Dean Lowry showing flashes in 2017 and former third-rounder Montravius Adams bidding for more playing time, the Packers might not have anything left over for an undrafted free agent like Tyler Lancaster.
69: Austin Davis, C
Though ranked near the bottom of the list by APC’s writers, Austin Davis tied for the largest signing bonus of any Green Bay undrafted free agent this year. The Packers paid out for Davis in part because of his experience (38 appearances, 25 consecutive starts during his college career) and his physical gifts. At 6-foot-4, 301 pounds, Davis possesses rare size for a center. He also offers plus athleticism for the position, ranking in the 51st percentile among all offensive linemen, not just centers. If his Duke pedigree translates into a quick internalization of the Packers’ offense, Davis could reasonably make the 53-man roster or practice squad.
68: Donatello Brown, CB
Part of the legion of undrafted cornerbacks the Packers brought in during 2017, Donatello Brown spent the first half of the season on the practice squad before receiving the call-up to the 53. Brown didn’t show much during his brief playing time, and he might not get many additional opportunities with Green Bay investing multiple premium draft picks at his position and several veterans like Tramon Williams coming into the fold. With Brown turning 28 on Tuesday, he’ll have to decisively beat out several corners to get a sniff of the practice squad or 53-man roster.
67: Tim Boyle, QB
With Brett Hundley and DeShone Kizer battling for the right to back up Aaron Rodgers and the Packers unlikely to retain three quarterbacks on the final roster, a third signal-caller will probably end up on the practice squad. The front-runner for that job appears to be Tim Boyle, an undrafted free agent out of Eastern Kentucky. Boyle has prototypical size (6-foot-4, 232 pounds) and atypical athleticism (4.75 second 40-yard dash, 7.04 second 3-cone drill, 35.5-inch vertical, 117-inch broad jump). Boyle has the arm to force passes into tight windows, but his accuracy remains a question mark as training camp approaches. Still, the Packers have kept quarterbacks with less promise and physical tools before. Boyle could develop into one of Green Bay’s more intriguing undrafted projects.
66: Joe Kerridge, FB
Even though the NFL has largely moved away from fullbacks in recent years, the Packers rostered two in 2017: Aaron Ripkowski and former undrafted free agent Joe Kerridge. Kerridge doesn’t have Ripkowski’s size or athleticism, but he has shown more as a blocker and special-teams contributor. If Ripkowski doesn’t rebound, Kerridge could end up with the roster spot.
64 (tie): DeAngelo Yancey, WR
The Packers drafted DeAngelo Yancey in large part to his James Jones-esque stature (6-foot-1, 220 pounds) and big-play capabilities. Yancey contributed a few long completions during the preseason but didn’t perform consistently enough to make the final roster. He also apparently didn’t make enough strides during his time in the practice squad, seeing undrafted Michael Clark get the nod for the 53 ahead of him. Still, Yancey has reportedly dropped some weight and will have his first full NFL offseason to work on his craft. It remains too early to write him off as a viable receiver.
64 (tie): Devante Mays, RB
Though Devante Mays spent his entire rookie season on the Packers’ 53-man roster, he saw extremely limited action on offense. When he did, Mays struggled to hold onto the football, fumbling half of his four carries. With Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams showing promise as lead backs, Mays needs to do more than just clean up his ball security in order to stick around.
63: Adam Pankey, OL
Adam Pankey’s position versatility earned him a promotion to the 53-man roster in September when injuries decimated the offensive line, but his lack of refinement kept him from seeing the field for the vast majority of the season. That doesn’t mean Pankey couldn’t see an uptick in opportunities heading into his sophomore campaign, especially given the typical improvement linemen make after their first year. Pankey seems far from making a dent in the starting lineup, but so did Lane Taylor at the same point in his career.
62: Demetri Goodson, CB
When the Packers drafted Demetri Goodson in 2014, they envisioned him becoming a mainstay on special teams and potentially a reliable backup cover man. Injuries have thrown a wrench into those plans, with Goodson suffering a torn ACL and MCL in 2016 and spending all of last year in recovery. By the time Week 1 rolls around, Goodson will have turned 29 years old, an advanced age for a player still technically on his rookie contract. Unless Goodson clicks with Pettine’s defense, his days in Green Bay appear numbered.
61: Chris Odom, OLB
Claimed off waivers following final cuts in 2017, edge rusher Chris Odom spent the entire season in Green Bay, providing little on defense. That the team retained him despite his limited contributions suggests management believes in his upside. Odom has to do more to stick around for another year, but he should receive plenty of opportunities after the Packers passed on signing or drafting an edge rusher before the seventh round.