Packers' Positional Battles to Watch This Off Season

With the draft out of the way and training camp just a few weeks away, the Packers roster is starting to take shape. Even though we have months until kick off, that doesn't mean there isn't anything entertaining to watch. All you have to do is look at several positions and you'll see the competition shaping up.

Here are some positional battles to watch.

Punter - Ken DeBauche versus Jon Ryan. Ryan is the incumbent and has been consistent enough for the job to remain his. However, rookie free agent DeBauche impressed coaches enough to get a contract and all indications are he will have a legitimate opportunity.

Long Snapper - J.J. Jansen versus Thomas Gafford. Long-time snapper Rob Davis is retired so this position becomes an area of need for the first time in a decade. Gafford has NFL experience but the rookie Jansen may be the better player.

Running back - Kregg Lumpkin versus Vernand Morency, Noah Herron, DeShawn Wynn and Brandon Jackson. Ryan Grant is the starter (assuming they can get him signed to a new contract). The back up situation behind him is a bit murky. Herron was injured last season and Morency has also had a nagging injury history. Wynn and Jackson were decent in some games but disappeared in others so the un-drafted Lumpkin may be able to find a place on the final roster.

Cornerback - Patrick Lee versus Will Blackmon, Jarrett Bush, Tramon Williams and Joe Porter. Al Harris and Charles Woodson are the starters but the team has always had issues at the third cornerback spot. Second-round pick Lee looks to be the early favorite but Blackmon, Bush and Williams could make their case too. Porter, a 1^st-year free agent, is a long-shot.

Wide Receiver - Jordy Nelson and Brett Swain versus the field. The Packers currently have 13 wide receivers on their roster. At most, they'll keep 5 or 6 and 6 is probably unlikely. Nelson was their first pick in this year's draft so he's pretty much assured a spot along with starters Donald Driver, Greg Jennings and probably James Jones. The remaining one or two spots will likely come down to Swain, Koren Robinson and Ruvell Martin unless one of the remaining players shows something in pre-season.