Training camp has historically featured battles between two or more players vying for a starting position or a special role on the Packers. With the arrival of young talent at positions of need this offseason, jobs may on the line for several recent draft picks. Let's take a look at which of those Packers yet to bloom will be on the roster bubble this training camp.
Josh Jackson
Having been drafted just one round later than Jaire Alexander in 2018, Jackson has been wearing the bust label for some time now. To be fair, Jackson was a known gamble coming out of Iowa, with a draft stock elevated from his lone season as a starter, which included a three-interception game against Ohio State and a few other performances that flashed potential.
Unfortunately, Jackson has barely been a utility in a secondary that's lacked talent opposite Alexander. Aside from a few emergency backfills for Kevin King on the perimeter, he's contributed mostly on special teams. Given his many healthy scratches in 2020 and the additions at cornerback in April's draft, it may be worth trying Jackson at safety as a final spot for him to make an impact.
Equanimeous St. Brown
Drafted as a bit of a flyer in the 2018 draft, the Packers once salivated over St. Brown's high ceiling in an Aaron Rodgers-led offense. But, in three seasons as a Packer, St. Brown has failed to emerge as a regular contributor. In limited playing time, he's come up small in big situations, like his crucial drop on a two-point attempt late in January's NFC Title game that would have put the Packers within a field goal of the Bucs.
Where exactly does St. Brown set himself apart at an increasingly-crowded wide receiver position? The Packers already have height in Allen Lazard and Devin Funchess, downfield speed in Marquez Valdes-Scantling and special teams ability in Malik Taylor and Amari Rodgers. Worst of all, St. Brown hasn't shown much of an effort to course-correct, choosing to pass on optional mini camps in May, a move that could have him on the outside looking in come late August.
Oren Burks
At one of the most futile positions on the current roster, fourth-year linebacker Burks has a chance to step up. While Brian Gutekunst didn't add early-round talent at the position in April's draft, competition already began heating up last season with the emergence of undrafted free agent Krys Barnes and the in-season development of 2020 draft picks Kamal Martin and Ty Summers.
Last season, former D-coordinator Mike Pettine experimented with Burks at outside linebacker, which yielded mixed results at best. Should Burks be given an extended look on the edge, the opportunity for him to contribute meaningfully seems limited. If he reverts inside, he will need to outperform rookie Isaiah McDuffie during training camp on both defense and special teams.
Jace Sternberger
Sternberger's size and athleticism led the Packers to draft the former Texas A&M Aggie in the third round of the 2019 draft, with visions of the next Jermichael Finley. Unfortunately, he caught some bad luck in 2020, first being diagnosed with COVID-19 during training camp and then watching the offense take shape around Robert Tonyan.
Sternberger hasn't gotten off on the right foot in 2021 either, recently being charged with a DUI and suspended for the first two games of the upcoming season. Fortunately for him, the Packers are limited to role players after Tonyan. Veteran Marcedes Lewis has been used mostly as a blocker while Josiah Deguara will assume more of an H-back role in Matt LaFleur's offense. The opportunity to be Green Bay's every-down tight end still exists for Sternberger but the window is shrinking quickly.
Dexter Williams
Sitting behind Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams the past two seasons, it's been difficult for the former Notre Dame product to show much of anything since being drafted in the sixth round of the 2019 draft. And, despite Jamaal's departure in free agency, Dexter Williams will now have to contend with rookie Kylin Hill in training camp, behind Jones and clear No.2 back, A.J. Dillon.
To crack the final 53 this August, Williams will need to prove valuable in behind-the-scenes roles, such as in pass protection and on special teams. Though Williams should have every opportunity to make the team, the Packers may have already cast some doubt around his remaining time in Green Bay when they extended the use of his No.22 jersey number to rookie cornerback Shermar Jean-Charles.
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