What roster cutdowns reveal about the 2024 Packers

The Packers' decisions before Tuesday's roster cuts say more than just who made the team.

Weeks of debate and consternation about have concluded. The Green Bay Packers have finalized their initial 53-man roster for the 2024 season, making difficult decisions (as well as not-so-difficult ones) on which players to prioritize and which ones to potentially lose following the conclusion of training camp and the preseason.

For anyone not tracking the developments on Tuesday, the Packers' initial 53 looks as follows:

QB (2): Jordan Love, Malik Willis (pending physical)

RB (3): Josh Jacobs, MarShawn Lloyd, Emanuel Wilson

WR (6): Romeo Doubs, Christian Watson, Jayden Reed, Dontayvion Wicks, Malik Heath, Bo Melton

TE (3): Luke Musgrave, Tucker Kraft, Ben Sims

OL (10): Elgton Jenkins, Josh Myers, Rasheed Walker, Zach Tom, Jordan Morgan, Sean Rhyan, Andre Dillard, Jacob Monk, Kadeem Telfort, Travis Glover

DE (6): Preston Smith, Rashan Gary, Lukas Van Ness, Kingsley Enagbare, Brenton Cox Jr., Arron Mosby

DT (5): Kenny Clark, T.J. Slaton, Devonte Wyatt, Karl Brooks, Colby Wooden

LB (5): Quay Walker, Isaiah McDuffie, Eric Wilson, Edgerrin Cooper, Ty'Ron Hopper

CB (5): Jaire Alexander, Eric Stokes, Keisean Nixon, Carrington Valentine, Corey Ballentine

S (5): Xavier McKinney, Javon Bullard, Evan Williams, Zayne Anderson, Kitan Oladapo

Spec. (3): Daniel Whelan, Greg Joseph, Matt Orzech

In addition to cutting a significant portion of the 90-man roster, the Packers also placed multiple players on injured reserve. Under a new league rule, the team could designate up to two players placed on IR before final cuts for a return after at least four games. Green Bay elected to use only one such designation, allowing defensive tackle Jonathan Ford to come back later in the year. The others -- running back AJ Dillon and tight end Tyler Davis -- will not return in 2024.

The Packers did not retain at least one undrafted rookie on their initial 53-man roster, ending a streak just one season shy of 20 consecutive. They could still bring back one of their undrafted free agents as a member of the practice squad, an option worth considering for rookie offensive lineman Donavan Jennings. Teams have until 11 a.m. CT on Wednesday to submit waiver claims for the recently waived players, so Green Bay will have to wait a bit longer before assembling a practice squad.

Regardless, those observations barely skirt the surface. Here at The Leap, we aim to dig deeper, especially when it comes to a matter as significant as the Packers' decisions leading up to cutdown day. These choices reveal much more than simply which players made the team, including how Green Bay views the roster's shape and quality as well as who wields influence in the process.

Malik Willis trade part of larger conversation