Packers 2014 Roster Predictions: Only Three True Safeties Remain

We project the Packers to keep three safeties this year, while a third who played a major role on the roster in 2013 gets released.

To prepare for training camp, we will be breaking down every player on the Green Bay Packers‘ 90-man roster in more detail, looking at contract terms and 2013 statistics, before we make our prediction for which players will make the 53-man roster at the end of training camp.

With each of the Packers’ six safeties thoroughly analyzed earlier today, we area ready to release our predictions for which players will make the roster. If you’re really counting down closely, you may have noted that we have 47 players currently on the 53-man roster, with only safeties and special teams players to go. Naturally, that means we’ll be keeping three safeties.

Without further ado, here they are.

Projected Starters: Morgan Burnett, Ha Ha Clinton-Dix

This should come as no surprise – Burnett’s big deal all but guarantees him one starting job, and the fact that he will come into the season rested and fully healthy should help him as a new year begins. Each one of us projected that the Packers’ first-round draft pick would win the starting free safety job over Micah Hyde, though it’s reasonable to expect Hyde to take a handful of snaps here and there as the team tries to ease in the rookie.

Projected Backup: Sean Richardson

With Hyde providing some additional flexibility, we had to go with physical upside here – Richardson is the best bet. He’s already been very good on special teams in his injury-limited two years, and he’s got the best combination of size and speed of any player in the secondary. It would be a major surprise to us if Richardson doesn’t make the team this fall, barring injury.

Projected to be released: Chris Banjo, Charles Clay, Tanner Miller

For Banjo, we think he gets squeezed out by the glut of corners and edge rushers on the current roster. When your primary focus is special teams and you’re competing with players who can compete both there and on defense, we don’t see it happening for a second straight year. Clay and Miller are raw and will need massive performances in camp to make the team, and we don’t expect either one to really push strongly for a roster spot – but keep an eye on them for the practice squad.