As is often the case during training camp, the Green Bay Packers are busy churning the bottom of the 90-man roster. General manager Brian Gutekunst made four different roster transactions between Tuesday and Wednesday this week.
The Packers released rookie tight end Camren McDonald, rookie offensive lineman Chuck Filiaga and outside linebacker La’Darius Hamilton and signed center Cole Schneider and receiver Dre Miller. The team also claimed linebacker Arron Mosby, but the addition wasn’t official as of Wednesday.
Many moves this time of year are made out of pure necessity. Injuries can’t be avoided, and teams need enough players at certain positions to hold productive training camp practices.
Let’s break down the four moves made by the Packers this week:
Release TE Camren McDonald
Although the Packers aren’t deep at tight end, McDonald — a pre-draft visitor — started camp on the NFI list and was stuck behind a bunch of other young players who need reps. The Florida State product isn’t blessed with elite size (6-4, 237) or athleticism (2.52 RAS) at the tight end position, complicating his path to a role on the 53-man roster or practice squad. The Packers like what they have at tight end, and Henry Pearson — another undrafted free agent — has flashed in the fullback/H-back role.
Release OL Chuck Filiaga
Opportunity just wasn’t there for Filiaga, an undrafted free agent guard out of Minnesota. The Packers have two established starters at guard in Elgton Jenkins and Jon Runyan Jr., plus one experienced backup (Royce Newman) and another developmental prospect (2022 third-round pick Sean Rhyan). In solid shape at guard but in need of help at center, the Packers cut loose Filiaga, who played all his snaps at the two guard positions in college. It wouldn’t be surprising if Filiaga caught on elsewhere and spent the 2023 season on a team’s practice squad.
Sign WR Dre Miller
With Grant DuBose on the NFI list and Dontayvion Wicks still recovering from a concussion, the Packers needed an extra body at receiver. Miller was a big-bodied collegiate receiver at Maine who transitioned to tight end after signing with the Giants as an undrafted free agent. The Packers are listing him back at receiver. His athletic tools at his size (6-2, 224) are intriguing. Maybe the Packers see him as a developmental big slot option, possibly in the Allen Lazard mold? Miller is now the biggest receiver by weight on the 90-man roster.
From the Packers: “Miller (6-2, 224), a first-year player out of the University of Maine, was originally signed by the New York Giants as an undrafted free agent on May 13, 2022 and spent some of the 2022 season on the Giants practice squad. He played 38 games in four seasons at Maine after spending one year at Husson University. As a Black Bear, Miller totaled 104 receptions for 1,848 yards (17.8 avg.) and 14 touchdowns. He will wear No. 16 for the Packers.”
Sign C Cole Schneider
An easy one to solve. Jake Hanson is dealing with an elbow injury, and the Packers need more depth at center. Brian Gutekunst claimed James Empey off of waivers from the Titans earlier in the week, but Schneider gives the Packers another option, and the benefit here is that Schneider (a 47-game starter at UCF) was in camp with the Packers last year and should had a higher baseline knowledge of the offense. He suffered an ankle injury and was waived in mid-August but went to the USFL this spring and impressed with the Birmingham Stallions. If healthy, Schneider will get a chance to push Hanson for a backup interior line spot.
From the Packers: “Schneider (6-3, 309) returns to the Packers after spending the offseason and training camp with Green Bay in 2022. In 2023, he played with the Birmingham Stallions of the United States Football League, appearing in nine games with one start and helping his team win the USFL title. Schneider played at the University of Central Florida from 2017-21, appearing in 49 games with 47 starts for the Knights. He was named first-team All-AAC in 2018 and 2020 while earning second-team honors in 2019 and honorable mention in 2021 from the league’s coaches. In 2021, he earned second-team All-AAC honors from Pro Football Focus and Pro Football Network. Schneider will wear No. 61 for the Packers.”
Release OLB La'Darius Hamilton
Hamilton, who was signed off the Buccaneers practice squad in 2021, ended up playing in nine games for the Packers, including three games as a practice squad elevation last season. His release reflects the incredible depth at the top of the Packers’ depth chart at edge rusher. In fact, it’s possible Hamilton was no better than seventh or eighth at the position at this point in training camp, with little chance to rise given the players ahead of him. The move might suggest Rashan Gary will be ready for Week 1, or Brenton Cox Jr. has a decent shot at making the team, but it was most likely just time for the two sides to part ways. Churning the bottom of the roster is something all general managers are doing this time of year, and the Packers clearly see something they like in Arron Mosby.
