Southwest's way-too-early take on the 53-man roster
May 25, 2018 11:30:45 GMT -6
Reignman, Funkytown, and 1 more like this
Post by southwest on May 25, 2018 11:30:45 GMT -6
It's way too early, but I'm going to make a guess at the roster anyhow. Lets see how wrong I end up being! In the meantime, lets discuss your best guesses.
Offense (25)
QB (3)
Kirk Cousins, Trevor Siemian, Kyle Sloter
-- This is a position the team could potentially roll with two guys, and the first two are all-but set, but I think they like Sloter, and it seems unlikely he survives another year on the practice squad.
RB (4)
Dalvin Cook, Latavius Murray, Mike Boone, CJ Ham
-- The first two spots are locked in. The third is purely a guess, but I think that the youth wins out here. If they want some experience, Mack Brown would be an option, and Boone might go to the practice squad. There are also a couple other rookies who could make a case. Ham is the fullback, and can play some halfback as well, but could be cut if they think a tight end can fill the position when they occasionally use it. If that's the case, I expect four halfbacks instead, with Mack Brown probably being the fourth guy.
WR (6)
Stefon Diggs, Adam Thielen, Laquon Treadwell, Kendall Wright, Stacey Coley, Korey Robertson
-- The first two are locks. Given that Treadwell is a first round pick, I suspect he gets one more year to prove himself. Kendall Wright is a veteran that I can see filling the reliable, spread-them-out in the red zone role that Jarius Wright held. Stacey Coley needs to show something this year, but I think gets the first chance. You can swap out Robertson for Jake Wieneke if you want, but I think whomever shows up in training camp will get the last spot.
TE (3)
Kyle Rudolph, Tyler Conklin, David Morgan
--This ends up pretty balanced. Rudolph is a huge asset when healthy, and can do pretty much anything that is asked of him. Conklin is known more as a pass-catcher, and gives Cousins another big target. Morgan is more of a blocking type player, but has performed adequately when asked to play.
OL (9)
Riley Reiff, Mike Remmers, Pat Elflein, Nick Easton, Tom Compton, Danny Isidora, Rashod Hill, Colby Gossett, Brian O'Neill
-- This leaves us a bit thin on Tackles if Mike Remmers moves to guard so in that case expect another Tackle instead of Gossett. Nick Easton, despite being likely to start in a guard position, is still listed as a center, and would be the primary back up to Elflein. Tom Compton and Danny Isidora are battling for the starting right guard role in this scenario. The loser becomes the primary back up at guard. Rashod Hill can play both sides as the swing tackle in case of injury. O'Neill and Gossett are both primarily depth.
Defense (25)
DT (4)
Linval Joseph, Sheldon Richardson, Jaleel Johnson, Jalyn Holmes
-- Joseph and Richardson are locks. Johnson is a bigger guy, who can rotate in. Holmes is much smaller and will be in a pass-rush role
DE (5)
Everson Griffin, Danielle Hunter, Brian Robison, Tashawn Bower, Ade Aruna
-- Griffin and Hunter are obvious here. Robison is back on a veteran minimum contract, and is a huge part of the locker room. Bower is a rotational rusher, and Aruna is very raw, but a physical freak.
LB (6)
Eric Kendricks, Anthony Barr, Ben Gedeon, Eric Wilson, Devante Downs, Hercules Mata'afa
-- The same three starters should stay together, and Eric Wilson seems like he could step in at mike as needed. Downs will be a special teamer, but shouldnt have a lot of trouble beating out the competition for the role. Mata'afa is listed as a DE, but profiles better as a line-backer. He can also cut out a role as a special teamer, but is mostly a project.
CB (6)
Xavier Rhodes, Trae Waynes, Mike Hughes, Terrance Newman, Mackensie Alexander, Marcus Sherals
-- Its hard to see any of these guys getting cut. Rhodes and Waynes are one of the best tandems in the league, and Hughes was the first round pick this year, so consider them safe. The team drafted Alexander too highly and recently to give up on him yet, I think. Newman keeps defying time, and is by all accounts a great presence on the field. He can also play safety in a pinch, and might be better off moving there. I will never bet against Marcus Sherals, and I think he hangs on for at least one more year, primarily for special teams.
S (4)
Harrison Smith, Andrew Sendejo, Jayron Kearse, Jack Tocho
-- Harrison Smith is an absolute stud, and there is nothing that says this team is looking to move on from Sendejo beside him. Jayron Kearse is an absolute athletic specimen, and should be able to step up by this point in his career. Jack Tocho is a bit more of a project still, but what better coach for a DB project than Mike Zimmer? If you assume Newman provides some depth here, you could drop Tocho in favor of Holton Hill.
Special Teams (3)
Kevin McDermott, Ryan Quigley, Daniel Carlson
-- McDermott and Quigley have no competition on the roster at this point, so are likely to stay. The team didn't spend a 5th round pick on Carlson to cut him, unless Forbath dramatically outperforms him.
Offense (25)
QB (3)
Kirk Cousins, Trevor Siemian, Kyle Sloter
-- This is a position the team could potentially roll with two guys, and the first two are all-but set, but I think they like Sloter, and it seems unlikely he survives another year on the practice squad.
RB (4)
Dalvin Cook, Latavius Murray, Mike Boone, CJ Ham
-- The first two spots are locked in. The third is purely a guess, but I think that the youth wins out here. If they want some experience, Mack Brown would be an option, and Boone might go to the practice squad. There are also a couple other rookies who could make a case. Ham is the fullback, and can play some halfback as well, but could be cut if they think a tight end can fill the position when they occasionally use it. If that's the case, I expect four halfbacks instead, with Mack Brown probably being the fourth guy.
WR (6)
Stefon Diggs, Adam Thielen, Laquon Treadwell, Kendall Wright, Stacey Coley, Korey Robertson
-- The first two are locks. Given that Treadwell is a first round pick, I suspect he gets one more year to prove himself. Kendall Wright is a veteran that I can see filling the reliable, spread-them-out in the red zone role that Jarius Wright held. Stacey Coley needs to show something this year, but I think gets the first chance. You can swap out Robertson for Jake Wieneke if you want, but I think whomever shows up in training camp will get the last spot.
TE (3)
Kyle Rudolph, Tyler Conklin, David Morgan
--This ends up pretty balanced. Rudolph is a huge asset when healthy, and can do pretty much anything that is asked of him. Conklin is known more as a pass-catcher, and gives Cousins another big target. Morgan is more of a blocking type player, but has performed adequately when asked to play.
OL (9)
Riley Reiff, Mike Remmers, Pat Elflein, Nick Easton, Tom Compton, Danny Isidora, Rashod Hill, Colby Gossett, Brian O'Neill
-- This leaves us a bit thin on Tackles if Mike Remmers moves to guard so in that case expect another Tackle instead of Gossett. Nick Easton, despite being likely to start in a guard position, is still listed as a center, and would be the primary back up to Elflein. Tom Compton and Danny Isidora are battling for the starting right guard role in this scenario. The loser becomes the primary back up at guard. Rashod Hill can play both sides as the swing tackle in case of injury. O'Neill and Gossett are both primarily depth.
Defense (25)
DT (4)
Linval Joseph, Sheldon Richardson, Jaleel Johnson, Jalyn Holmes
-- Joseph and Richardson are locks. Johnson is a bigger guy, who can rotate in. Holmes is much smaller and will be in a pass-rush role
DE (5)
Everson Griffin, Danielle Hunter, Brian Robison, Tashawn Bower, Ade Aruna
-- Griffin and Hunter are obvious here. Robison is back on a veteran minimum contract, and is a huge part of the locker room. Bower is a rotational rusher, and Aruna is very raw, but a physical freak.
LB (6)
Eric Kendricks, Anthony Barr, Ben Gedeon, Eric Wilson, Devante Downs, Hercules Mata'afa
-- The same three starters should stay together, and Eric Wilson seems like he could step in at mike as needed. Downs will be a special teamer, but shouldnt have a lot of trouble beating out the competition for the role. Mata'afa is listed as a DE, but profiles better as a line-backer. He can also cut out a role as a special teamer, but is mostly a project.
CB (6)
Xavier Rhodes, Trae Waynes, Mike Hughes, Terrance Newman, Mackensie Alexander, Marcus Sherals
-- Its hard to see any of these guys getting cut. Rhodes and Waynes are one of the best tandems in the league, and Hughes was the first round pick this year, so consider them safe. The team drafted Alexander too highly and recently to give up on him yet, I think. Newman keeps defying time, and is by all accounts a great presence on the field. He can also play safety in a pinch, and might be better off moving there. I will never bet against Marcus Sherals, and I think he hangs on for at least one more year, primarily for special teams.
S (4)
Harrison Smith, Andrew Sendejo, Jayron Kearse, Jack Tocho
-- Harrison Smith is an absolute stud, and there is nothing that says this team is looking to move on from Sendejo beside him. Jayron Kearse is an absolute athletic specimen, and should be able to step up by this point in his career. Jack Tocho is a bit more of a project still, but what better coach for a DB project than Mike Zimmer? If you assume Newman provides some depth here, you could drop Tocho in favor of Holton Hill.
Special Teams (3)
Kevin McDermott, Ryan Quigley, Daniel Carlson
-- McDermott and Quigley have no competition on the roster at this point, so are likely to stay. The team didn't spend a 5th round pick on Carlson to cut him, unless Forbath dramatically outperforms him.
