Quote:I thought they might want a young guy behind Jones and Charles as primary starters, but I now don't think they have room for a 3rd NT. ...instead I see them maybe keeping either Bennett or Lupeamanu as a 3rd DT behind Jackson and Day unless they opt to go DE heavy instead. ...they do sort of need an extra RDE spot for Lerentee McCray.

 

I think Nix may still be PS eligible.  That's your "third NT"  if so. 

 

Lerentee McCray is a DeCamillis signing primarily for ST and is a long shot see action at DE, IMO.  But of course they have to find room for him on the 53 if he becomes a core special teamer. 

 

If I had to guess at what it looks like just before final cuts, I'd say:

 

Strong DE:   Campbell, Smoot, Woodard (PS?)

NT:               Jones, Charles , Nix (PS?)

DT:               Jackson, Day, Bennett

Weak DE:     Ngakoue, Fowler, McCray

 

If they put Woodard and Nix on the PS they could conceivably keep 10 DLs if McCray makes the cut as a core special teamer. 

Smoot has some flexibility to play both sides and Fowler did some good work on the strong side at times last season, so there's flexibility in that group of ends. 

Of course Campbell will move around and Jackson has the ability to play strong end as well, so I think they can muster a number of looks and keep fresh legs with that group of ten. 

 

Odd men out in this scenario are Goodman, Phillips (PS eligible), and  Dimick (PS eligible).

 

If they keep only nine, then Bennett or McCray are likely on the chopping block. 

---