Guesses at a 53-man roster
 

Early for this, I suppose, but why not. I'm bored.

QB
Brees
Wallace

HB
Thomas
Ingram
Sproles
Cadet

FB
Collins

WR
Colston
Moore
Toon
Morgan
Roby
Parker

TE
Graham
Watson
Higgins

OL
C. Brown
Grubbs
De la Puente
Evans
Strief
Armstead
Olsen
M. Jones
B. Harris

DL
Jordan
Hicks
Bunkley
Jenkins
T. Johnson
Coleman
T. Walker

LB
Lofton
Vilma
W. Smith
Galette
M. Wilson
Hawthorne
Herring
R. Johnson
C. Thomas

CB
Greer
Lewis
Robinson
White
Sweeting

S
Jenkins
Harper
Vaccarro
Quddus

K
Hartley

P
Morestead

LS
Drescher

PS
R Griffin (QB)
Stills (WR)
K. Robinson (RB)
Hakim (WR)
Reddick (LB)
Sweeting (CB)
Tiller (OL)
Martin (LB)


Not a ton of surprises, I guess. Some thoughts:

-I see Will Smith as flopping between DL and LB, allowing for some roster flexibility.
-Willing to bet Stills does not make the roster based on recent history. If not on the PS they will stash him on IR like they've done with a bunch of other WR's in the past.
-Parker is an underrated acquisition for this team, IMO. I'm rooting for either him or Hakim to make the final roster. I went with Parker because he's a veteran and adds good special teams play.
-Some really promising/good players will be cut. This roster plays it safe but I have a feeling there are some entrenched veterans who might find themselves cut. Somebody like Roby (who I love) is going to find himself battling. I wouldn't even be surprised if Streif gets passed up by Marcel Jones (who is pretty much a younger, cheaper version of Strief). Gonna be interesting to see what shakes out.

Re: Guesses at a 53-man roster
 

Good job.

Other than having Sweeting listed twice (on the 53 and PS)...the following IMHO are going to be heard from during TC. There might not be any room for them at the "inn", but they might surprise us fans.

Aaitui, Isaako - DT
Bush, Rafael - S
Fayson, Jarred - WR
Mealer, Elliott - C
Smith, Jason - T
Shipman, Ray - LB
Tanner, Andy - WR

Like you, Roby may be on the bubble. Also, this may be the last year for Smith, Vilma, Harper, and Jenkins. Graham will cost approximate $9.5mm/year (6-year contract), and he is not going anywhere!

Re: Guesses at a 53-man roster
 

I can't see Stills clearing waivers. I think he makes the 53 unless he just blows during pre-season.

Re: Guesses at a 53-man roster
 

That may be the case, if Payton decides that then all that has to happen is that Stills has some little "accident" (winky wink) stepping off the bus so that they have to IR him for the year.

Re: Guesses at a 53-man roster
 

The only change I'd make is swapping one of the backup LB's (maybe herring?) for Rafael Bush, great special teams player and solid backup safety.

Other than that, agreed with the whole list

Re: Guesses at a 53-man roster
 

Thin Rufus Johnson will supplant Herring

Re: Guesses at a 53-man roster
 

I don't love Herring, BUT he's good in coverage and a good special teamer, which IMO gives him a role on this team as the nickel/dime LB. I like Bush too, just overlooked him.

Re: Guesses at a 53-man roster
 

I hope Herring manages to make the cut. I have followed him since he was in college at Auburn and he has always struck me as a hard-working overachiever. As Jack Vegas said, he is a good special teamer and I think he provides some solid depth. But I know he was released and re-signed earlier this year, so he is definitely on the bubble.

Re: Guesses at a 53-man roster
 

Smith and Roby are the only two that I wouldn't put on that list......maybe Herring as well.

Re: Guesses at a 53-man roster
 

I don't think Stills starts on the PS