The "Way Too Early" Pre-Training Camp prediction of our 53 man roster thread (Bonus Practice Squad guess too!)

[Bronn]

Make your guesses at how our final roster(s) turn out here.

I used the roster manager at Spotrac and came up with the team below. By their values, and with the salary adjustments I made for PS players, this gives us cap room of around $1.9 Million.

Offense (24):

QB:
Cam
Gilbert

I still like Gilbert as the backup, but we might end up snagging someone from cuts.

RB:
Anderson
McCaffrey
Barner

The CAP/Barner battle will be one to watch. Someone suggested trading CAP in another thread, and I have to admit he is one of the more likely tradeable players on our team. Barner, IIRC, brings more to the return game, so I give him the nod.

FB:
Armah

He'll be a better player in this system, and used a lot more in different sets (including TE.) At least, I hope.

WR:
Funchess
Smith
Moore
Wright
Samuel
Byrd

Only one we're missing here is Bersin, ha. But yeah, I think all 6 of these will make the 53 man roster, but Byrd, Samuel, or Wright sit each week.

TE:
Olsen
Thomas
FA Signee

Looking at our roster, this may trump safety as far as depth need. I think we'll snag someone here post cuts for sure, IF we don't trade for someone or bring them in during camp.

T:
Kalil
Williams
Moton

Can any of them play LT? Kalil will hold it down another year, but I like some of the younger guys we've got hanging around, at least on paper.

G:
Turner
Van Roten
Sirles
Silatolu

LG will be another TC battle to watch. It could end up being someone not listed on this G list (read Larsen or Moton,) but I'll give the edge to Van Roten.

C:
Kalil
Larsen

Maybe the best C and backup C combo in the league?

Defense (26):

DE:
Pep
Addison
Horton
Hall
Obada
Cox
Haynes

We're pretty set here IMHO. I think Hall and Obada will surprise.

DT:
Short
Poe
Butler
Love

Stacked. Try to run at this rotation. I dare you.

LB:
Kuechly
Davis
Thompson
Mayo
Norris
Carter
Smith

I like both rookies to make the 53 man roster. It pushes Jacobs out, though.

CB:
Cockrell
Bradberry
Gunter
Jackson
Seymour

I think Captain is gone, despite the hit. I don't know that he ever really got out of the doghouse from anything I've read, and tbqh he played like hot garbage. Bradberry might be in danger, tbqh. I think we're pretty good here, however.

S:
Adams
Searcy
Gaulden

Colin Jones not making the cut makes this a pretty thin unit, and I expect we've got Boston or someone on speed dial. As long as Adams and Searcy don't have to play catch up and can keep the action in front of them, I think we'll be okay. As far as Gaulden goes, I'll keep my fingers crossed.

Special Teams (3):
Gano
Palardy
Jansen

No questions here.

For the PS players, I dropped all their salaries to $150,000 or so. It could end up being a little more or a little less on a case-by-case basis. The only real surprise here is Elder, I suppose. I think that if we cut him and re-sign him to the PS he gets a new contract, which will give us a few more dollars in space. He, Cox, and Southward, I did set salary values of $250,000 for.

Practice Squad:
QB - Heinicke
WR - Howard
TE - Baylis
T - Eatmon
G - Bosch
DT - Norton
DT - Sprinkle
CB – Elder
CB – Southward
S – Cox

 

[TheSpecialJuan]

not too shabby  

[Pup McBarky]

We won't enter the regular season with only 3 safeties on the 53 especially if one is a rookie. No way.

[Bronn]

I should have added that that cap number doesn't include the amount for the hypothetical TE3 we pick up. So, basically, it reflects the other 62 players I listed, and any TE or any other addition/subtraction we make will impact that $1.9M in space.

[Saca312]

Ugh. If Curtis Samuel actually does sit down for a few weeks (considering I’d put him as arguably one of our best offensive weapons behind Cam and CMC), that’d be a huge mistake.

Best deep threat and play-making potential imo.

[Bronn]

Just now, Pup McBarky said:

We won't enter the regular season with only 3 safeties on the 53 especially if one is a rookie. No way.

I think my thought was that we'd plug Bradberry, Jackson, or another CB in at FS in an emergency situation, and then elevate Southward or Cox.

Who gets cut to bring a 4th safety? Byrd? One of the rookie LBs? OL depth on an already sketch unit?

[Pup McBarky]

Also pretty sure we aren't keeping 7 DEs and only 3 tackles. Obada will be on ps, and likely one of the rookie LBs too.

[Bronn]

3 minutes ago, Saca312 said:

Ugh. If Curtis Samuel actually does sit down for a few weeks (considering I’d put him as arguably one of our best offensive weapons behind Cam and CMC), that’d be a huge mistake.

Best deep threat and play-making potential imo.

I think they'll feel safer with Wright more often than not, at least early on, and will want to give Samuel more time to work on his legs. TBQH, though, both will probably be active most weeks with Byrd being the odd man out.

[Bronn]

2 minutes ago, Pup McBarky said:

Also pretty sure we aren't keeping 7 DEs and only 3 tackles. Obada will be on ps, and likely one of the rookie LBs too.

FWIW in 2017 we rolled with both 3 Tackles and 3 Safeties on cut down day. We took 5 DEs, but I think we'll bring at least one more with Hall and Obada both being available. Hall made the roster but got the early IR last year and Obada couldn't be moved to the active roster. If we PS Obada, someone will take him.

Haynes could be a PS candidate, but I think we'll want to keep him away from PS hawks too.

[Pejorative Miscreant]

20 minutes ago, Pup McBarky said:

Also pretty sure we aren't keeping 7 DEs and only 3 tackles. Obada will be on ps, and likely one of the rookie LBs too.

I can see a red shirt IR just waiting to happen if we are afraid of stashing a guy on PS.  

[KB_fan]

27 minutes ago, Pup McBarky said:

Also pretty sure we aren't keeping 7 DEs and only 3 tackles. Obada will be on ps, and likely one of the rookie LBs too.

I'm not even positive that Obada is eligible this year. I saw something back around the time of the draft that suggested he is still part of that special exemption international player program, and I'm not sure he can be promoted this season.  I'll try to find what I read and will post it if I find it.

So yeah, I think only 5 or 6 DEs.

Pep, Mario, Horton, Cox, Hall, Haynes.

[KB_fan]

Here's a Twitter discussion with Jourdan Rodrigue back in May about Obada's status. 

And this from RiotReport

I was a participant in both discussions and appreciated Jourdan and Josh attempting to get clarity, but I confess I still don't really understand his status!!!

[shaqattaq]

39 minutes ago, Pup McBarky said:

We won't enter the regular season with only 3 safeties on the 53 especially if one is a rookie. No way.

Agreed. That rookie safety is also really a nickle. I think either Southward/Parms/Cox make it and possible Jones as well. He really is a good St player.

[Bronn]

2 minutes ago, KB_fan said:

Here's a Twitter discussion with Jourdan Rodrigue back in May about Obada's status. 

And this from RiotReport

I was a participant in both discussions and appreciated Jourdan and Josh attempting to get clarity, but I confess I still don't really understand his status!!!

IIRC he can be on the 53 man roster now, but if we PS him, he can be claimed. IF we stash him on PS, we can carry 11 PS players but you risk him getting hawked. Not sure if this is correct understanding, but I will research and be back.