2018 Packers 90-man roster ranking, #40-31: Notre Dame duo reunites in Green Bay

In light of the NFL announcing its Top 100 Players of 2018 and with the Green Bay Packers finalizing their spring roster, Acme Packing Company is back this week to break down the team’s 90-man roster, player-by-player. Once again, here is our 90-Man Roster Ranking, this time for 2018.

These rankings represent a composite of the individual selections from several APC contributors. Today, we continue with players ranked 40 through 31, a range that encompasses seven players in their first three NFL seasons. Also included in today’s sequence is a former Notre Dame quarterback-receiver tandem that looks to renew their aerial potency on Green Bay’s second-team offense.

40. Equanimeous St. Brown, WR

The 6-foot-5 St. Brown was one of three imposing size-speed receiving prospects selected by the Packers and may become an early contributor. Thought by many to be a second day pick, St. Brown slipped into Green Bay’s hands in the sixth round and has a chance to be a better pro than collegian. With a future Hall-of-Fame quarterback to throw him the ball, St. Brown will have a chance to realize his immense potential and become a downfield, outside weapon that the Packers need opposite Davante Adams. His ability to stretch the middle of the field and gain separation on crossing patterns will be an asset as a larger receiver with run-after-the-catch ability.

39. JK Scott, P

Green Bay thought highly enough of Scott to not only pick the Alabama standout in the fifth round, but to release last year’s rookie Justin Vogel after a promising first season. Averaging a 45.6-yard career punting average, Scott punted the ball 54 times as a senior and only saw five returnable boots and four touchbacks. Green Bay will count on Scott to translate his leg power and accuracy at the college level into pro production in a much colder climate. He will be the Packers’ punter from day one and may also become the team’s holder on kicks.

38. Jason Spriggs, OT

Spriggs enters a show-me third season with the team after a wildly inconsistent two-year stretch. Athleticism has never been an issue for the former Indiana Hoosier, but Spriggs has been beaten badly at times in regular season action and left an awful taste in fans’ mouths after the 2017 preseason. Nearly shelved for a major part of the 2018 season after a December scare, Spriggs should be ready to go for OTAs after suffering a dislocated knee cap. As a former second round pick, Spriggs will get every opportunity to succeed in Green Bay, specifically at right tackle in Bryan Bulaga’s absence, but time is ticking on his development.

37. Montravius Adams, DT

It was a disappointing rookie season for last year’s third round pick. Adams’ July foot injury sidelined him after a strong start to training camp and the defensive lineman never seemed to recover as the season went along. Fortunately for Green Bay, the defensive line was a strength of the team last season. Nonetheless, the Packers will hope to see much more from the interior player that appeared in seven games without accumulating a meaningful stat.

T-35. DeShone Kizer, QB

St. Brown’s quarterback at Notre Dame, Kizer was shipped to Green Bay in exchange for Damarious Randall earlier in the offseason. For the Packers, Kizer will instantly compete to be Aaron Rodgers’s backup after a less-than-stellar season from Brett Hundley. Although Kizer’s numbers were not glamorous for Cleveland as a rookie, the Browns’ receiving targets were nothing special either. Head Coach Mike McCarthy believes Kizer would have been a first round pick this year had he stayed for his senior season with the Irish and that would certainly have been possible. Though he was picked off 22 times as a rookie, Kizer showed a willingness to throw downfield that Hundley rarely did, and he made some throws against Green Bay late in the season that displayed promise as a developmental second-stringer.

T-35. Lance Kendricks, TE

Last year’s production from the tight end position was far from what anyone imagined heading into the 2017 season. Both Martellus Bennett and Kendricks appeared to be an upgrade over incumbent Richard Rodgers, but that simply was not the case. After posting just 18 catches in 2017, much more will be expected in Kendricks’ final season on contract as he backs up Jimmy Graham and provides time for the Packers to develop a young player behind him. Perhaps Joe Philbin’s return to the Green Bay offense will increase production from two-tight end sets.

34. Reggie Gilbert, OLB

Looking toward the 2018 season, Gilbert’s development could play a large role in the Packers’ defense. Green Bay struggled with pass rush a season ago, but schemes from new coordinator Mike Pettine may bolster a unit that failed to add any legitimate pass rushers in the offseason. After a solid 2017 preseason, Gilbert was slow to find the field in the regular season, but he may be an X-factor in 2018 after showing signs of effectiveness in limited snaps. Many have already counted on Gilbert to leapfrog Kyler Fackrell in the pass rushing linebacker rotation.

33. Jake Ryan, ILB

Ryan heads into his fourth season as a Packer after starting 12 games and racking up 50 tackles in 2017. Ryan’s playing time helped trigger a proven performance base salary bump in 2018 if he makes the squad. After the Packers drafted Oren Burks in the third round, saw development from Blake Martinez as a sophomore, and discussed situational moves inside for Clay Matthews, Ryan may be fighting for a roster spot this training camp. Ryan is a solid player for Green Bay who has definitely contributed, but his ceiling may have been reached.

32. Davon House, CB

Lost at times in the Packers signing long-time veteran Tramon Williams and drafting two early-round corners is the re-signing of House. Injuries were a concern for House once again last season, but he provides a good level of experience and boundary corner ability for the Packers to fall back on in a youthful unit. House started 12 games and intercepted one pass in 2017 and is back on another one-year contract as Green Bay looks to build its secondary.

31. J’Mon Moore, WR

Along with St. Brown, Moore will be expected to help immediately as a member of the wide receiving corps. A tall, long receiver with sneaky athleticism, Moore is a threat after the catch and that trait should get him on the field quickly. A fourth round pick, Moore is an obvious outside option to replace Jordy Nelson. He needs NFL coaching to improve his route-running and expectations for a rookie should be tempered. But with time, Moore could become a real weapon for Rodgers and the Packers’ offense.