Yeah it's early, but let's look at it anyway.
Offense 25
QB 2 Maye Dobbs - They don't carry a 3rd QB this year on the 53.
TE 3 Hooper Hunter DIPPRE(UDFA) - Dippre beats out the field and ends up the squad. Most didn't even play last year. So while there will be 3 or 4 other guys competing for the spot. I don't see it in doubt. If he shows as a block like i think he will they know they can't cut him.
WR 6 Diggs WILLIAMS Boutte Douglas Hollis Polk - They will give Polk every chance to make this roster. They just will. He could be cut, but they will give him every benefit of the doubt and inside track till the final minute. They don't want to be the team to give up the the 37th overall ranked guy in 1 year just to see him get right with another team. They want to turn him around given his talent and would love to give their program time to do it. 95% he sticks. Hollins is Vrabel's guy. He's the vet presence and example they know Diggs isn't. He is sticking. Douglas could be odd man out if Polk shows signs of life and Chism balls out. For now though, this is the list.
C 2 Bradburry WILSON - No surprise here. Bradburry probably starts the year, Wilson finishes it.
G 3 Onwenu Wes Strange - Wilson backs up here too. May even play some snaps. I don't see a 4th guard true guard worth carrying. As much as I hate to say it. Campbell is probably the emergency back up... though it makes 2 spots weaker. Maybe if Wilson takes his spot Bradburry becomes emergency guard too? Don't know if he's ever played it hough.
OT 4 CAMPBELL Moses Lowe Wallace - So yeah... Only 9 OL men on the 53. Which isn't great for a position that is still a weakness.
RB 4 HENDERSON Stevenson Gibson LARISON(UDFA) - Larison makes the squad. Jennings isn't keeping him off. They pick up a PS guy here.
FB 1 Brock Lampe - I think they want a FB on this team. Vrabel likes them
Defense 24
DL 5 - Milton Barmore FARMER Pharms Tonga - No surprise here. I think they go with this group.
EDGE 5 - Landry White Chaisson SWINSON Jennings - Again, the D is pretty clear. I don't see the competition here.. Maybe Jennings faces some... but i kind of doubt it.
LB 4 - Spillaine Elliss Gibbens Tavai - Mapu as the joker is also kind of the 5th guy here.
CB 4 - Gonzo Davis M Jones Alex - Woodson probably plays 5th man at this spot as well. Alex shouldn't be challeneged and he'd be the guy to be.
S 5 - Dugger Peppers Epps Hawkins WOODSON - No surprises will happen.
Joker 1 - Mapu
STs 4
LS - Ashby - Thanks for the memories Cardona! We wish you the best!
K - Borregales - new guys take these spots clearly.
P - Baringer
ST - Schooler (DB) - not really being talked about enough when it comes to rosters... But he did make the probowl as a STs and AP1. So he's sticking 100%
PS
Wooldridge QB - They needed a 3rd guy but that 3rd guy won't make the 53. He goes here.
Chism - WR - While i kind of like him to take a spot... it is going to be hard to say if he will at the start of the year but look out mid year... unless Polk just continues to implode epically. Or if he shows out so good we feel okay letting Douglas walk.
Braynt - OT - Wallace probably has the inside track as the 5th guy. Probably too raw but makes it here.
Minkins - DB
Minor - DB
Great job.
My take on each position group.
QB I think we keep 3 because Qb3 doesn’t count against actives. And now that you can elevate PS guys, the 53rd spot is less vital.
RB last year we had 360 rush attempts by RB. I’ll assume it increases to 400 wins better offense staying on the field and less garbage time while losing.
I’d expect the break down to be about
Stevenson 200. Henderson 150 Gibson 50.
I see Henderson as the “passing game RB” who runs a lot of draws and inside runs out of a spread formation like woodhead was used. RS is lead back. Gibson backs up both.
This is a solid group and a + position for us.
WR Diggs is the 1. Douglas figured to be the 3/slot. Hollins the wr4. Williams has the inside track to WR2, but Bourne, Boutte, Polk and Baker are all competing, and only 2 make the roster. (Polk probably gets WR6 for developmental reasons). Douglass may not be a lock.
We will have 5 capable receivers likely in roles they belong in and fit. Huge improvement over last year.
TE. Assuming we keep the UDFA as TE3 but he will be inactive. Could keep him on PS though.
OL Starting 5 is set.
Campbell Strange Bradbury Onwenu Moses
That figures to be no worse than an average OL, a huge improvement over last year.
Wilson will be the primary back up at all 3 IOL spots. I assume Robinson gets another year so he is IOL 5. IOL 6 can be on the practice squad. Schweitzer is old and brittle. Maybe another PS guy.
At T Wallace is one back up and hopefully a 3rd round pick in year 2 can hold that down. Lowe has inside track to make the roster due to experience but begs the question what better experience at sucking or no experience at all?
Defense
DT is 4 deep with Williams Barmore Tonga Farmer maybe we keep one of the remaining flotsam and jetsom but they don’t need to play. Thank for.
DE/OLB is actually now deep. With Landry White Chiasson Stinson Jennings
LB. Spillane is one. The other could be Gibbens, Tavai, Ellis or Mapu who I think is moved to LB and may be a pleasant surprise. This may be our potentially weakest area, but there are guys here who could step up.
Jennings could play here at times too.
CB I believe cb3 will play around 75% of the snaps. I like the 3 Gonzo, Davis, M Jones. I’m ok with the 4 Austin but I’m not comfortable after that and with 1 injury cb is the primary game day backup.
S. Since I expect cb3 to play 75% of snaps I think S3 will be seeing fewer snaps. Duggar and peppers will play the bulk of the snaps. I see Epps and Woodson fighting for S3 snaps and no one else at this position being worth much.
STs
We drafted our K, have our P and whether Cardona stays or gets beaten out by the rookie doesn’t matter much to me. Cardina is good but aging and we can save some cap room with the rook. I’d say he could stay on ps while Cardona is still prime but he would get poached during the season.
