2023 Packers roster ranking, 90-82: Meet the long shots
The Leap ranks the Green Bay Packers' 90-man roster in order of player caliber.
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With the Green Bay Packers on break until training camp and the personnel essentially frozen for the foreseeable future, The Leap has decided to use this time to release its 90-man roster rankings.
Our methodology: We ordered the players based on ability relative to their respective positions rather than the value of those positions. Put another way, this exercise prioritizes the "best" players, not necessarily the "most valuable" ones. That means the starting quarterback doesn't necessarily have to top the list because of the position he plays.
Each edition of the 90-man roster ranking will include a batch of roughly 10 players. Due to voting ties, some batches will feature one more or one fewer.
Today's slate features those on the fringes of the 90-man roster. Most entered the NFL earlier this year while a few have previously had a cup of coffee with a professional team or two. None have registered a statistic during the regular season or players. These are all true long shots.
90. Broughton Hatcher
Position: long-snapper
How acquired: undrafted rookie (2023)
Since Brian Gutekunst took over as the Packers' general manager in January 2018, he has tried to find a long-term answer at long-snapper. He invested a draft pick in Hunter Bradley, though that experiment fizzled out after a few years. Steve Wirtel became a midseason replacement for Bradley in 2021 only to lose the job the following offseason to Jack Coco. Frustrated by the results, Gutekunst made his biggest move yet at the position back in March, signing former Los Angeles Rams long-snapper Matt Orzech to a three-year deal.
All of that serves as the backdrop to Broughton Hatcher coming in No. 90 on this ranking. A rookie out of Old Dominion, Hatcher might well have what it takes to become an NFL long-snapper. However, with the investment the Packers just made in Orzech, Hatcher would need a lot to break his way in order to seriously compete for the job. Barring a disaster for his veteran competition, Hatcher seems likely to become one of the first players let go come cutdown day.
89. William Hooper
Position: cornerback
How acquired: undrafted rookie (2023)
A tryout player who earned a contract during rookie minicamp, William Hooper faces even more uphill battles in the coming weeks and months. A 5-foot-10, 180-pound cornerback, Hooper's stature probably limits him to the slot. More likely, he'll have to make the majority of his impact on special teams given the Packers' depth at the position.
If Hooper beats the odds and makes a push for a roster spot, his speed will presumably play a major role. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.45 seconds at his pro day. While timed speed doesn't matter as much at certain positions, it does make a tremendous difference at corner. It should also help his cause on special teams, though he'll need more than raw speed to impress coordinator Rich Bisaccia.
88. Jimmy Phillips Jr.
Position: inside linebacker
How acquired: undrafted rookie (2023)
After many years of underinvestment at inside linebacker, the Packers made some significant splashes over the past few years. After De'Vondre Campbell delivered a first-team All-Pro campaign in 2021, the front office rewarded him with a long-term contract. That same offseason, the team spent a first-round pick on Quay Walker, the Georgia linebacker with a Campbell-esque stature and upside. Those two now serve as starters with veteran Eric Wilson and draft picks Isaiah McDuffie and Tariq Carpenter providing backup as well as holding roles on special teams.
Those investment works against an undrafted free agent like Jimmy Phillips Jr. While the SMU product has enough tools to conceivably carve out a niche in the NFL, he doesn't appear to have any one trait that would help him stand out over his direct competition. Furthermore, the Packers tend to give the benefit of the doubt to their draft picks, meaning Phillips would have to considerably outperform one or more of the backup linebackers to earn a job.
87. Antonio Moultrie
Position: defensive lineman
How acquired: undrafted rookie (2023)
The Packers remade much of their defensive line this offseason, opening the door for young players to contribute. That would normally bode well for an undrafted free agent like Antonio Moultrie, but he joins a crowded room. Kenny Clark and Devonte Wyatt headline the group with T.J. Slaton in line for a big role as well. Behind them, Colby Wooden and Karl Brooks will likely get the longest looks given their status as 2023 draft picks while Jonathan Ford, a selection a year earlier, should also garner consideration for more work. Even Chris Slayton, a 26-year-old journeyman, made a case for a roster spot during the 2022 preseason.
All of that leaves Moultrie buried deep on the depth chart. He can't even lay claim as the Packers' most physically gifted defensive lineman among the undrafted rookies, as Jason Lewan offers a stronger athletic profile. Moultrie certainly has some talent, but the numbers don't stack up well for him in Green Bay.
T-85. Daniel Whelan
Position: punter
How acquired: street free agent (2023)
As with long-snapper, the Packers have gone through several punters in recent years hoping to find a solution. The bet on JK Scott didn't yield great results while Corey Bojorquez's hot start in 2021 faded as the weather turned. The team tried again last offseason, signing veteran Pat O'Donnell to a two-year deal.
O'Donnell remains in Green Bay and, by all appearances, has the inside track for the job. That leaves Daniel Whelan, the former XFL standout, with an uphill battle. Whelan comes with a strong leg and a few accolades (All-XFL honors, No. 1 in career punting average at UC Davis), but he'll need some help to sniff the 53-man roster.
T-85. Jadakis Bonds
Position: wide receiver
How acquired: undrafted rookie (2023)
The past two offseasons have seen the Packers completely remodel their receiver room. Barring a veteran addition, they will enter training camp with one of the youngest and most inexperienced receiving corps in recent NFL history. Accordingly, the exact complexion of the unit won't become clear until sometime in August or later.
However, for an undrafted rookie like Jadakis Bonds, the path to a roster spot has many obstacles. Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, and Jayden Reed each have secured roster spots while Samori Toure and Dontayvion Wicks seem like strong bets to make the team as well. Bonds will also have to push ahead of wideouts who have already spent time in the Packers' system (Jeff Cotton, Bo Melton) and a 2023 draft pick (Grant DuBose). And among the undrafted rookies, Malik Heath has flashed more to this point in time. Bonds, like others who finished toward the rear of this 90-man roster ranking, faces long odds of making a dent.
T-83. Emanuel Wilson
Position: running back
How acquired: undrafted rookie (2023)
The Packers have a decent track record with undrafted running backs, so it makes sense that Emanuel Wilson's agent placed his client in Green Bay after a short stint with the Denver Broncos. It also doesn't hurt that the depth chart has nothing set in stone beyond Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon.
Still, Wilson will begin training camp looking up at a trio of backs competing for the No. 3 job. Veteran Patrick Taylor returns for a fourth year while Tyler Goodson, an undrafted free agent from a year ago, appears to have made major strides since his rookie season. Lew Nichols III also probably holds an advantage given his status as a 2023 draft pick. Running back has more flexibility than other positions, so don't write Wilson off entirely. But the competition here looks strong.
T-83. Henry Pearson
Position: fullback
How acquired: undrafted rookie (2023)
A converted college tight end, Henry Pearson offers an enticing athletic profile for his new position. His background as a pass catcher should make him an interesting figure if/when head coach and offensive play-caller Matt LaFleur opts for a little fun and creativity in the preseason.
However, a fullback new to the position has a lot to learn and not much margin for error. Though the Packers haven't officially carried a fullback on the 53-man roster since 2019, Josiah Deguara has held down the role the past few years and will likely do so again in 2023. Pearson would have to show some Kyle Juszczyk-like upside to earn a job.
82. Jean Delance
Position: offensive tackle
How acquired: street free agent (2022)
Jean Delance has already made quite a few NFL stops for a player without an accrued season. He entered the league a year ago, signing with the Chicago Bears as an undrafted free agent. He lasted just a few months before the team waived him with a non-football illness designation. A few months later, he reappeared on the Arizona Cardinals' practice squad only to depart after two weeks. He then arrived in Green Bay, spending the final five weeks of the season on the Packers' practice squad.
Between Delance's 2022 odyssey and his extended collegiate career -- he sat out 2017 due to transfer rules and gained an extra year due to the COVID pandemic -- he has already celebrated his 25th birthday. That makes him older than Chuck Filiaga, Caleb Jones, Kadeem Telfort, Luke Tenuta, and Rasheed Walker, all offensive linemen against which he'll compete for a roster spot. As a former four-star recruit, Delance has the tools to play in the NFL, but his path to a job in Green Bay looks difficult.
-- Jason B. Hirschhorn is an award-winning sports journalist and Pro Football Writers of America member. Follow him on social media: @by_JBH on Twitter / @by_jbh on Instagram / @JBH@mastodon.social on Mastodon