Packers' roster projection: Carl Bradford, Khyri Thornton could be in trouble

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http://espn.go.com/blog/green-bay-p...l-bradford-khyri-thornton-could-be-in-trouble

Coach Mike McCarthy likes to say players can make the biggest improvement between their rookie year and second season.

That better hold true forCarl BradfordandKhyri Thornton.

Neither played a single snap as a rookie. Bradford, a fourth-round pick, was inactive for every game after he moved from outside linebacker to the inside late in training camp. Thornton, a third-round pick, spent the season on injured reserve because of a hamstring injury he sustained near the end of an ineffective preseason.

If they don't show significant improvement this summer, they could be gone.

The same could hold true for second-year cornerbackDemetri Goodson, who was a sixth-round pick in 2014 yet did not play a snap on defense.

Here's an early look at theGreen Bay Packers' projected 53-man, opening-day roster.

Quarterbacks (3)

• Aaron Rodgers
  
  
• Scott Tolzien
  
  
• Brett Hundley
  

Noteworthy:The overhaul of Tolzien's throwing mechanics resulted in a quicker, more accurate delivery in offseason practices. Hundley has a long way to go, but the Packers will keep three quarterbacks because they know if they tried to get Hundley to the practice squad, another team likely would grab him.

Tough cut:Free-agentMatt Blanchardoutperformed Hundley in OTAs and minicamp, but the reality is teams don't cut draft picks like Hundley to keep a guy off the street.

Running backs (4)

• Eddie Lacy
  
  
• James Starks
  
  
• John Kuhn
  
  
• Aaron Ripkowski
  

Noteworthy:It's a risk going with just two halfbacks (and keeping two fullbacks), but Lacy and Starks proved to be durable last season. Kuhn could carry the ball in an emergency. Ripkowski could be a special teams dynamo.

Tough cut:Rajion Nealshowed ability as a runner last preseason before his knee injury, and rookie free agentJohn Crockettmight be able to play in the league, too.

Receivers (6)

• Jordy Nelson
  
  
• Randall Cobb
  
  
• Davante Adams
  
  
• Ty Montgomery
  
  
• Jeff Janis
  
  
• Jared Abbrederis
  

Noteworthy:The Packers sometimes keep just five receivers, and they could do the same again this year, especially if they want that third halfback. If that's the case, then Abbrederis could be in trouble. Janis is way ahead of him at this point.

Tough cut:The Packers love their rookie free-agent class of receivers, andRicky Collinsmight be the best of the group.

Tight ends (3)

• Andrew Quarless
  
  
• Richard Rodgers
  
  
• Kennard Backman
  

Noteworthy:Quarless and Rodgers will battle for the starting job but both will play quite a bit. Backman, a sixth-round pick, needs to catch the ball better than he did in the offseason practices.

Tough cut:Justin Perillowas promoted from the practice squad last season but will lose out to a draft pick (Backman).

Offensive linemen (8)

• David Bakhtiari
  
  
• Bryan Bulaga
  
  
• Corey Linsley
  
  
• T.J. Lang
  
  
• Josh Sitton
  
  
• Don Barclay
  
  
• JC Tretter
  
  
• Lane Taylor
  

Noteworthy:With only seven typically active for games, the Packers can get away with keeping just eight on the roster. Barclay can back up at both guards and right tackle. Tretter can probably handle all five spots, while Taylor can play both guards.

Tough cut:Matt Rotheramwas one of the most coveted rookie free agents, and the Packers would like to develop him.

Defensive line (6)

• Mike Daniels
  
  
• B.J. Raji
  
  
• Letroy Guion
  
  
• Datone Jones
  
  
• Josh Boyd
  
  
• Christian Ringo
  

Noteworthy:Guion could be suspended to start the season because of his offseason arrest. If that's the case, he would not count against the 53-man limit.

Tough cut:Thornton was the 85thoverall player taken in the 2014 draft. It's tough to dump a player picked that high so soon.

Linebackers (10)

• Clay Matthews
  
  
• Sam Barrington
  
  
• Julius Peppers
  
  
• Nick Perry
  
  
• Mike Neal
  
  
• Jake Ryan
  
  
• Jayrone Elliott
  
  
• Adrian Hubbard
  
  
• Nate Palmer
  
  
• Andy Mulumba
  

Noteworthy:Hubbard, who has earned praise from the coaches this offseason, and Mulumba might be fighting for one spot, but the Packers know they'll probably need depth given the injury histories for Perry and Neal.

Tough cut:Carl Bradford was the 121stoverall player taken in the 2014 draft.

Defensive backs (10)

• Sam Shields
  
  
  
• Casey Hayward
  
  
• Morgan Burnett
  
  
• Ha Ha Clinton-Dix
  
  
• Micah Hyde
  
  
• Damarious Randall
  
  
• Quinten Rollins
  
  
• LaDarius Gunter
  
  
• Sean Richardson
  
  
• Jean Fanor
  

Noteworthy:Gunter, an undrafted rookie from Miami, showed major playmaking ability in the offseason practices. Fanor, a practice-squad player last year, has a nose for the ball, too.

Tough cut: Demetri Goodson, a former college basketball player, could lose out to Gunter.

Specialists (3)

• Mason Crosby, K
  
  
• Tim Masthay, P
  
  
• Brett Goode, LS
  

Noteworthy:The only one with competition in camp is Masthay, who struggled late last season.

Tough cut:Street free-agent punterCody Mandellcould prove to be worthy of making someone's roster, but it probably won't be with the Packers unless Masthay doesn't rebound from last year's finish.

 

[CaptainD]

Couple thoughts they are not keeping 2 FB. So Aaron Ripkowski is going to have to beat out Kuhn. Agree with Gunter over Goodson, he just fits what they want to do on D better and is a better football player.

 

[Nerd]

If Thornton doesn't already know he's in trouble, he really IS in trouble.

 

[57packer]

^ Bingo, Thornton better have his act together or he's gone. A lot of guys for those 6-7 DL spots.

Bradford might make it in part because the number are a bit thinner at ILB.

I believe they can easily keep 2 FBs. TT kept 3 one season. He's not locked into position numbers as rigidly as some GMs.

6xWR, 3xTE, 8xOL, 3xQB, 3xRB and 2xFB is a very workable roster grouping on offense.

 

[ChampionshipBelt]

Good point, 57.

It all depends on ST's play. If Ripkowski and Kuhn play high level ST's, they will keep both of them.

 

[57packer]

Agree, the bottom line for keeping both Kuhn and Ripkowski has to be that both are effective special teams players, especially Ripkowski. In the past we often kept 4xTE for special teams purposes. Ripkowski could replace a TE in that role assuming he's the special teams demon he's been made out to be.