Rank the Roster 2023: #11

[Waldo]

Rank The Roster: 2023 Edition

1. Jaire Alexander (43%)[+2]
2. Aaron Jones (26%)[+6]
3. David Bakhtiari (34%)[+1]
4. Kenny Clark (50%)[-2]
5. Rashan Gary (57%)[+1]
6. Elgton Jenkins (54%)[-1]
7. DeVondre Campbell (29%)[--]
8. Christian Watson (32%)[+14]
9. Jordan Love (32%)[+21]
10. Preston Smith (32%)[+2]
11. Current (xx%)[--]

Percent of vote the winner got will be in parenthesis, position change vs. 2019 will be in brackets.

Here's how this works:

Each day there is a new thread/poll, starting at #1, on down to whereever we get. The whole point of this exercise is to have something to talk about in the lean news months to carry us to camp. Each poll will be open for voting for 24 hours. New threads will only be created on weekdays. Ties will cause a runoff poll. You may vote up to TWO players (a change that was made mid-poll last year, seemed to work well).

Simply voting is not enough!

Post why you voted for who you did and provide a player to add to the next poll (every poll will be a list of 15-20 guys, new players added in bunches every few days).

Here's the thing. There is no criteria. This is an exercise to foster discussion therefore there are no clear criteria for ranking. Who is better right now? Who will have the best season? Who was better last year? Sort of a combo of them all? Do you take positional value into account? It really doesn't matter.

Previous Years:
Rank the Roster: 2022
Rank the Roster: 2021
Rank the Roster: 2020
Rank the Roster: 2014-2019

[Waldo]

Have a streak of 32% vote winners here going.

Sticking with Dillon and Quay today.

I used yesterdays OTA practice report to help add names, everyone but Toure I added was running with the first team. Deguara, Ford, McDuffie, Newman are players that probably should be added soon.

[Yoop]

I'am going Dillon for the 3rd time again, guy had 1000 yrds combined last year, so he deserves it, but I can see folks voting for Quay, he's cusping, same with Nixon, great open field runner, seems like a jet option guy as well as CB

[YoHoChecko]

I’ve got Rasul as the end of a tier here

Gonna be fascinating to see what comes next. Probably Dillon, but Walker and Wyatt moving into bigger roles could be good options.

I’m very concerned about Stokes’ injury update. Not sure where I’d vote for him. For a guy whose primary “special trait” is elite speed, having knee and foot surgery simultaneously, a plate inserted in your foot, and just getting back to running a couple weeks ago…. Yikes

[Labrev]

'Sul. He's a quality boundary corner/CB2.

Nixon, though the ST rule changes infuriatingly look to hurt him a bit. Then again, he put together an All-Pro season as a return specialist in just 6 games, so it's exciting to imagine what he can do over a full season.

It's not news to me that Nixon can also hold his own as a nickel corner; I was aware of that since last year's early practices, but it's still good to hear he was balling out yesterday at OTAs in that position, and it sounds like he was a real tone-setter on that side, so we can add Intangibles to the long list of things to like about him.

He's a Top-10 player on this team, IMO.

[APB]

I went Quay...and Doubs.

I think Quay is much more impactful this year - and yes, that's projection and arguably a reach - but I think he does it. His athleticism and rugged style of play is just what this defense needs.

My second vote considerations were Rasul, Dillon, and Doubs.

I can't help but feel like Rasul - and the Packers - caught lightening in a bottle when he was signed two years ago. Big plays every week right when we needed them. Last year, though, he came back down to Earth a bit. I think his descent back toward the FA pickup level player continues this year albeit his floor has raised considerably from the journeyman he was when we got him. He excels in zone but the Packers seem to be moving toward more man coverage, if MLF has his way. That doesn't project well for him unless the rumored move to safety actually plays out.

So it comes down to Dillon and Doubs for me. I took Doubs because I think he will benefit most from a) the departure of Rodgers and move to Love as QB1 and b) the presence of Watson on the other side for an entire season. I have a sense Doubs will be WR 1B to Watson's 1A and be an impactful player on offense...and just a tad more valuable than Dillon as RB 1B is to Jonesy.

[paco]

Still AJ. Still Nixon.

[YoHoChecko]

I can't help but feel like Rasul - and the Packers - caught lightening in a bottle when he was signed two years ago. Big plays every week right when we needed them. Last year, though, he came back down to Earth a bit. I think his descent back toward the FA pickup level player continues this year albeit his floor has raised considerably from the journeyman he was when we got him. He excels in zone but the Packers seem to be moving toward more man coverage, if MLF has his way. That doesn't project well for him unless the rumored move to safety actually plays out.

Rasul excels outside and they played him at nickel before Stokes got hurt. He played really well again when they moved him back outside. The defense got better as a whole, too, but there are a lot of factors there (including Campbe;ll returning from injury and some stylistic/scheme changes). I don't know why people keep trying to mess with a good thing. He mugs people outside and because he's bigger and less fast people want him to be a safety or inside to help tackling. Just let the dude do what he's good at (which is essentially what MLF said in one of hi post-draft pressers).

I also don't know what you mean about "moving more toward man." I wish that were true, but we didn't change the coordinator and overall scheme and MLF hasn't said anything in the pressers I watched that I can remember about utilizing man coverage more. If he did and I missed it, I apologize (and I'd be happy and love to hear it). But as long as Barry is the DC I think we're going to be much more zone-heavy in the secondary.

I also don't think man is bad for Rasul; you have to watch his matchups a bit, but he can stick with those big physical receivers that are all over the league just fine. You don't want him on Stefon Diggs or anything, but that's why we have Jaire.

[Cdragon]

Nixon and Quay,
Nixon scares the enemy.
Quay is going to take a jump and keep his head on tight this year.

[Madcity_matt]

still Quay and Sul for me. dillon and Nixon right behind them for me.

[Crazylegs Starks]

Rasul, no question in my mind

After him, it gets more difficult for me to choose

[YoHoChecko]

I’m very concerned about Stokes’ injury update. Not sure where I’d vote for him. For a guy whose primary “special trait” is elite speed, having knee and foot surgery simultaneously, a plate inserted in your foot, and just getting back to running a couple weeks ago…. Yikes

Further update. He was injured November 6th; surgery soon after. In a wheelchair until JANUARY 8th. Two months in a wheelchair.

Yikes yikes.

I know lupe already thought he was never any good, but for the rest of us, this could very well be a Terrance Murphy-level "wonder what could have been" sort of catastrophe.

[Labrev]

Oh that's a damn shame. I hope Stokes can beat the odds, but foot injuries at skill positions are bad news.

If not, I think we've gotta lock up Nixon long-term. In truth, Nixon as a nickel guy probably fits with Jaire and Sul better than Stokes as a boundary guy.

[BF004]

Quay and Wyatt


Wyatt was a bit like Gary, flashed in limited snaps, not sure why he was never getting more. He was an old rookie, so I think he has an impressive year.

[salmar80]

Stokes - I believe the gazelle finds a way to become a more complete NFL CB.

Savage - In a career-defining year, maybe the athleticism finally becomes playmaking. He should be the old man in the room when it comes to scheme at this point.

[Yoop]

just when we seem comfortable at CB, stokes has a knee and lis franc injury, but it sounds as though he's on schedule to return.

May 23rd, 2023 at 6:09pm CST by Sam Robinson
Packers plans at using their Jaire Alexander–Eric Stokes cornerback duo have run into consistent turmoil. Alexander went down early in the 2021 season, just as Stokes entered the starting lineup. As Alexander returned last year, Stokes suffered season-ending injuries in November.

As of now, the former first-rounders are on track to suit up together in Week 1. Stokes suffered foot and knee injuries last year, and he confirmed Tuesday each required surgery. The procedures occurred at the same time, per ESPN.com’s Rob Demovsky, but they shut down Stokes for months (Twitter link).

Stokes suffered a Lisfranc injury, with the subsequent surgery ending with a plate inserted. Stokes said he resumed running earlier this month, roughly six months since the ailments sidelined him. This will be Stokes’ third season, though he has only played a handful of games with Alexander healthy.

The Packers will keep Stokes sidelined during OTAs, per The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman, who adds the 2021 first-rounder could not walk without crutches until mid-January. The knee surgery addressed Stokes’ meniscus (subscription required).

Should Stokes return to full strength as expected, the Packers will have a cornerback logjam. They tried Rasul Douglas in the slot alongside Alexander and Stokes last season, but the former midseason pickup is more comfortable as a boundary defender. That is also Stokes’ role, complicating matters. The Packers plan to use Keisean Nixon as their primary slot corner.

Although a team having four regular corners would be a good problem to have, the Packers have invested two first-round picks at the position and re-signed Douglas on a three-year, $21MM deal in 2022. Matt LaFleur said the team is planning a rotation between Alexander, Stokes and Douglas on the outside. Given Alexander’s contract (a corner-record $21MM per year) and value to the team, this plan would seemingly affect Stokes and Douglas more than it would Alexander. It will be interesting to see how this comes to fruition by September.

While slotting Alexander and Douglas as top-30 options at corner last season, Pro Football Focus graded Stokes outside the top 100. PFF gave Stokes a much better assessment as a rookie, ranking him inside the top 50. Nixon checked in just outside the top 60 in 2022, though the ex-Raider UDFA only played 290 defensive snaps. This will be an interesting puzzle to follow, with Stokes’ recovery being one of the most notable non-Jordan Love Packers storylines this summer.

https://www.profootballrumors.com/2023/ ... -surgeries

[TheSkeptic]

Douglas and Walker Not sure whether Douglas will play outside corner, the slot or safety but he will be a full time starter at a high value position. Personally I think Stokes starts on the PUP and so it will be Douglas and Alexander outside.

Nixon on deck

[APB]

I also don't know what you mean about "moving more toward man." I wish that were true, but we didn't change the coordinator and overall scheme and MLF hasn't said anything in the pressers I watched that I can remember about utilizing man coverage more. If he did and I missed it, I apologize (and I'd be happy and love to hear it). But as long as Barry is the DC I think we're going to be much more zone-heavy in the secondary.

I thought I remember MLF having a "come-to-Jesus, your predominant zone defense calls don't play to your player strengths" conversation with Barry last year as the catalyst for the defense's improvement in play...? Wasn't Jaire vocal about it, as well? Maybe I'm misremembering.

[Yoop]

You did, we all did, here is what was said after the first Viking game

https://dairylandexpress.com/2022/09/13 ... personnel/

this in December

A big run play is defined by Menon as a gain of 10 or more yards, while a big pass play is a play of 20-plus yards. Individually, the 46 explosive run plays allowed by Green Bay are tied for the fifth-most, and the 38 explosive pass plays are tied for the ninth-most.

https://dairylandexpress.com/2022/12/15 ... big-plays/

I remember seeing a article but couldn't find it that said we use zone over 70% of the time, hopefully that changes, but I wont hold my breath for it to happen

[YoHoChecko]

I also don't know what you mean about "moving more toward man." I wish that were true, but we didn't change the coordinator and overall scheme and MLF hasn't said anything in the pressers I watched that I can remember about utilizing man coverage more. If he did and I missed it, I apologize (and I'd be happy and love to hear it). But as long as Barry is the DC I think we're going to be much more zone-heavy in the secondary.

I thought I remember MLF having a "come-to-Jesus, your predominant zone defense calls don't play to your player strengths" conversation with Barry last year as the catalyst for the defense's improvement in play...? Wasn't Jaire vocal about it, as well? Maybe I'm misremembering.

Gosh I hope you’re right