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Mailbag: How many skill position players will the Packers keep?

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Each week, we'll take questions about the Green Bay Packers. They can be submitted via Twitter using the hashtag #PackersMail.

This week, we will discuss the following topics:

  • How many players the Packers will keep at each of the offensive skill positions.

  • The likelihood of a third running back.

  • Rookie John Crockett's prospects.

  • Damarious Randall at safety.

Let’s get started.

Demovsky: Three quarterbacks is a lock. There's no way they would cut Brett Hundley, their fifth-round pick, but there's also almost no way they'd feel comfortable with him as their No. 2 quarterback. Let's go with six receivers next. Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb, Davante Adams and Ty Montgomery are locks. Jeff Janis looks like he's made significant improvement over last season, and Jared Abbrederis appears to have come through his ACL surgery just fine. And even if Janis or Abbrederis falters, the Packers think they have their strongest group of undrafted rookie receivers. It would be a tad unusual to go with just four running backs, but I think that's more likely than keeping four tight ends, based on the group of tight ends currently on their roster.

Demovsky: If the Packers are dead set on keeping both fullbacks (John Kuhn and Aaron Ripkowski), it's conceivable that they could go with just two halfbacks. However, it would be unconventional to keep both fullbacks. If they don't feel like Ripkowski is ready or if they think Kuhn is washed up, then they would definitely need a third halfback.

Demovsky: First off, he will have to show that the ankle injury he sustained in minicamp is no longer a problem. Then, he will have to beat out Rajion Neal, who right now appears to be the favorite for the No. 3 running back job. Finally, he will have to provide a convincing argument that keeping the No. 3 running back is more important than, say, the sixth receiver or the fourth tight end. He's fighting a lot of battles.

Demovsky: The closest Randall will get to safety is playing in the slot in either the nickel or dime packages. At this point, the Packers appear set on playing their first-round pick at cornerback. They like the combination of Morgan Burnett and Ha Ha Clinton-Dix at safety. Plus, they want to get Sean Richardson on the field more, so he likely will enter the season as the No. 3 safety. And then there's Micah Hyde, who has proven he can play either cornerback or safety. What the Packers need more is someone who can line up on the perimeter and cover outside receivers. They hope that's Randall.