Predict the initial 53 man roster for 2022

[Evil Hurney]

What is your guess for the initial 53 man roster?

Here is my current guess as to what the roster will look like on August 30th. I will not be surprised if we add to the DL prior to week 1. I could also see us only keeping 9 OL (Daley joins the cut list) and adding an extra DB (Barnes or Robinson) or LB (Stanford for ST).

Edited August 24, 2022 by Evil Hurney

[dynomite]

That center situation is scary

[45catfan]

We only keep 5 LBs?  With Shaq's injury history?

[ECHornet]

I like it. 
 

I think it’s one DB too many and Roberts could be expendable if Smith and Zylstra can handle returns. 
 

Other team’s cuts would factor into how we feel those two openings.

[TheCasillas]

32 minutes ago, 45catfan said:

We only keep 5 LBs?  With Shaq's injury history?

Injury history? He has played at least 14 games every single season. The most games he has missed in a single season is 3.

[gofightwin]

That backup OL/DL situation is horrifying. One young guy (Mays) and the bunch of guys proven to be the worst starters we may have ever seen.  At least Mays can play the whole line in a pinch.  On DL, Haynes and Barno are situational backups at best and the rest of the guys wouldn't even make a decent squad.  We really need some veteran backup linemen even if they are past their prime. 

I think we hit the cuts hard for both OL and DL and churn the bottom of the roster

[scratched]

6 hours ago, dynomite said:

That center situation is scary

I think we could play Mays in a pinch.

[Mistuh Jones]

we effing should (play Mays) and with an actual NFL mind in Campen there I feel like we will see him sooner than later IMHO 

[Evil Hurney]

3 hours ago, 45catfan said:

We only keep 5 LBs?  With Shaq's injury history?

It's a passing league and with Chinn and our bigger corners we tended to have 5 DBs on the field quite often. Not a lot of 3 LB sets needed. That said, Stanford had like 300+ ST snaps last season and would make sense as a guy that plays ST but could also fill in for injury.

[SetfreexX]

A few notes on the following as denoted in red:

I think we are a little to inexperienced at TE, I like Ian and he looked good in his role back in 2018 when filling in for Olsen, a lot is on him right now to shoulder the load. Tommy in year two I expect to improve, but we need a vet for that room, and I'm not against adding a guy like Ebron for depth / experience. 

I don't think Andre Roberts makes it 'solely' as the returner, Shi Smith has looked good in that role, and seems to have carved himself a place in the offense -- six receivers is enough, can't see a spot for a seventh.

I think the writing is on the wall for Brown as he red-shirted last year, and seems to be behind UDFA's like Michael Jordan -- I could see him in favor of Daley a former 6th rounder him self in a slight cap savings move, but it is unlikely as Daley has experience at T / G.

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I set our defense up as a more of a hybrid since we do not run a traditional 4-3, we have a lot of odd fronts, so with that in mind you will see 'Edge' and 'NT / 3T' instead of DE / DT. 

Luvu is the first one that fits this mold as he plays the 'SLB' or 'Sam' in a 4-3 front, but is also an 'Edge' defender in a 3-4 or other Odd front. So when considering ''Off Ball LB'er'' depth he flexes to that group as needed. 

Jaycee Horn spent A LOT of time as a 'nickel' defender in the firs three games, and I think most people tend to forget that, with the resurgence seemingly of Henderson, I think we will see more of this. Myles Hartfield also spends a good portion of his time as a 'nickel' DB so I'd anticipate him in this roll as well aside from Safety depth. 

Burris as a former starter over fringe roster guys like (Chandler / Robinson) seems a better fit, and represents less drop off if he needs to fill in. Sam makes the roster as he can also play sub package LB'er, is one of our best guys on ST's, and has Safety experience as well. 

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Personally I would still like to see more proven players added to the interior DL and Edge position, but I feel very good about our secondary, and honesty our LB'er depth as generally we play 2 at a time in the off-ball position. 

Receiver, and running back depth is also of quality, and on paper the starting OL looks to be average to above average pending Ickey and BC's growth on the left side. 

QB for the first time IMO since Cam, has a guy there with ''It'' and not just a ''guy''. I wasn't a Baker homer, and honestly had doubts with him as the #1 overall pick. However you can't knock his resume' it stands up to most starters, and he's clearly an upgrade over the last two full time starters (Teddy / Sam). He took a team that was 1-31 in the two years before him, and helped lead a 7-8-1 season as a rookie, and in his 3rd year got to 11-5 with a playoff win....we haven't had a playoff win since what...2015 as we lost to New Orleans in 2016, didn't make the playoffs in 2017, Cam's arm in 2018, and in 2019 Cam's foot injury. 

I will pull for Baker, but 7-9 wins is as optimistic as I'll be until we show more on the actual field. 

 

[Evil Hurney]

33 minutes ago, SetfreexX said:

I don't think Andre Roberts makes it 'solely' as the returner, Shi Smith has looked good in that role, and seems to have carved himself a place in the offense -- six receivers is enough, can't see a spot for a seventh.

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Burris as a former starter over fringe roster guys like (Chandler / Robinson) seems a better fit, and represents less drop off if he needs to fill in. Sam makes the roster as he can also play sub package LB'er, is one of our best guys on ST's, and has Safety experience as well. 

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Rhule had a bit of a slip in his presser yesterday where he basically commented about Roberts playing in game 1.

I wasn't sure what do do about safety as I haven't paid much attention. I chose Chandler mostly based on ST snaps.

In an earlier presser by Rhule he all but said Stanley Thomas Oliver has a spot based on special teams value alone.

[rayzor]

11 hours ago, Evil Hurney said:

What is your guess for the initial 53 man roster?

Here is my current guess as to what the roster will look like on August 30th. I will not be surprised if we add to the DL prior to week 1. I could also see us only keeping 9 OL (Daley joins the cut list) and adding an extra DB (Barnes or Robinson) or LB (Stanford for ST).

i don't really have a problem with that, though i hate to see Saunders go and i'd like to see us upgrade LT and LG depth there. Would rather move on from Michael Jordan and Bozeman should be the starter when he gets back. Aside from Moton and BC, i really don't want any leftovers from last year on the roster.

[Michael G]

5 hours ago, 45catfan said:

We only keep 5 LBs?  With Shaq's injury history?

Barno and Haynes can play a little OLB. They are listed as DE's. Plus Chinn, Hartsfield, and Horn playing at the nickel so much of the time will limit our need for traditional LBs probably.

[DJ feed me moore]

Same as OP but id prefer K rob and Burris over chandler and franklin, unfortunately those are rhules guys so Id say your analysis is dead on.