Green Bay Packers: Training Camp Roster Battles

May 28, 2015; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers linebacker Clay Matthews (52) warms up with defensive tackle B.J. Raji (90) during Rookie Orientation Camp and Organized Team Activities at the Don Hutson Center in Green Bay. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

4. Outside Linebacker

Options (9): Clay Matthews, Julius Peppers, Mike Neal, Nick Perry, Jayrone Elliott, Andy Mulumba, Adrian Hubbard, Jermauria Rasco, James Vaughters

2014 roster (6): Clay Matthews, Julius Peppers, Mike Neal, Nick Perry, Jayrone Elliott, Andy Mulumba

What to expect: For the sake of roster breakdowns, I am labeling Clay Matthews as an outside linebacker, his natural position. Although as any Packer fan can attest, the front seven often meshes together so it is more important to pay attention to functionality, rather than position (an argument for a different day). What some people may not understand is that Matthews lined up inside so often last season because it was a way to get the best 11 players on the field, not because he is a better inside linebacker.

In any case, it is nearly definite that Matthews, Peppers, Neal, and Perry all return to the gameday roster. Peppers isn’t getting any younger, which isn’t a knock on his skillset, but general manager Ted Thompson knows when to part ways before players begin to decline.

Perry was drafted to be paired up with Matthews as the future at the pass rushing position but injuries have significantly derailed that expectation. He is entering the final year of his rookie deal and will need to prove he is worth keeping around after this season. Neal is also in his final year of his contract and may be viewed as expendable because of his four million dollar a year salary. After those four, it really is anybody’s game.

My prediction is that those four players along with Jayrone Elliott make the team, with the final spot to be decided shortly before the season starts.

Next: Going Five (or six) Wide