The 5 O’Clock Club: Late-June initial 53-man roster projection (2024)

It’s 5 o’clock somewhere…

The 5 o’clock club is published from time to time during the season, and aims to provide a forum for reader-driven discussion at a time of day when there isn’t much NFL news being published. Feel free to introduce topics that interest you in the comments below.

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Here’s a look at the full 91-man offseason roster

Here’s my projection for the Week One 53-man roster

Notes:

I struggled with this more than last year because it’s hard to evaluate the level of commitment this new front office and coaching staff will have to past decisions.

• Phil Mathis, for example, hasn’t done anything in his 2-year career, but the organization spent a 2nd-round pick on him. I wouldn’t be shocked to see him traded in late August, but I ended up putting him in the 53.
• I’ve put Javontae Jean-Baptiste, drafted by Adams & Quinn, on the practice squad with KJ Henry, drafted by Rivera, on the 53. Obviously, if DQ & AP prioritize their own draft picks, JJ-B is more likely to make the 53. If Jamin Davis lines up as a pass rusher often enough, it’s possible that they keep only 4 true DEs, but I don’t really expect that to happen.
• In the end, I went with just 4 linebackers and 11 DBs. I’m assuming that we may get a number of 2-LB/3-safety looks. I also expect Wagner & Luvu to be on the field for nearly every defensive snap. Again, if Davis lines up at DE more than I expect, they might want to keep one more LB; I’m guessing that would be Pittman.
• I’m confident in the top-4 wide receivers, but I think at least one of the remaining WR spots will be decided by punt/kickoff returner skills (which could also affect RB/CB). I’m betting against Jamison Crowder holding onto the punt return job — he simply wasn’t that good last year — in favor of a younger player, but I think we’ll need to get into the preseason games before we get much understanding of who the return men will be. I’m very squishy on who the 5th & 6th receivers will be.
• I wanted to keep Cole Turner on the 53-man roster, but I don’t see the team keeping 5 TEs and I opted for Armani Rogers. Training camp and preseason could change my view of the TE room entirely.
• On the OL, I don’t’ have a lot of confidence that Deiter and Paul make the 53-man squad, but I didn’t have any more confidence that anyone else would beat them out.
• I’ve defaulted to Ramiz Ahmed at the kicker position since he’s the only one on the roster, but I wouldn’t be shocked to see a change at that position before the Week 1 game against Tampa Bay. A lot of teams with 2 kickers will be cutting one at the end of August.