Green Bay Packers: Will Geronimo Allison make the cut?

Geronimo Allison has emerged from back of the Green Bay Packers receiving unit to surprise everyone. He’s such a surprise that he may yet make this team’s roster.

Paring down the roster is never an easy or painless process both for the team releasing players and several dedicated fans that watch every down of Packers preseason games.

Quality performers will be given their walking papers and some of them will be afforded the opportunity to use their skills to help another NFL organization.

Tuesday saw both John Crockett and Lerentee McCray getting dropped from the roster with the former being waived as a result of a shoulder injury and the latter traded to the Buffalo Bills for an undisclosed draft pick.

Both were among Green Bay’s standout performers in exhibition play and other valuable components are sure to follow them out the door.

One of the most prominent names on the roster bubble is rookie wide receiver Geronimo Allison, an undrafted free agent that wasn’t supposed to force the Packers into a position where they may need to consider keeping seven receivers on their final list of 53 players headed to Jacksonville less than two weeks from today.

The Tampa native has been singled out by coaches as the most productive wideout in practices and games over the past month.

Jul 28, 2016; Green Bay,WI, USA; Green Bay Packers rookie tight end Geronimo Allison (81) participates in drills during the training camp across from Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark Hoffman/ via USA TODAY Sports

More than anything else, Allison has gained the trust of both Aaron Rodgers and Joe Callahan due to his ability to run to the right spot in his patterns, his reliable hands and his athletic prowess to go up over his defenders and get the football.

The former Big Ten phenom may have made it darn near impossible for the front office to part ways with him with his scintillating exhibition versus the 49ers in which Allison came down with three receptions for 78 yards, all of which occurred on third or fourth down.

Prior to the contest, Mike McCarthy mentioned that he needed to see something out of his rookie revelation possibly as a way to justify cutting Allison if he failed to flash under the bright lights.

In addition to possessing great footwork and body control in coming down with a 10-yard sideline grab, Allison later showcased the ability to fight off his defender in going up for a 51-yard Callahan bomb in the fourth quarter.

The reviews on the unheralded prospect were mixed going into April’s draft with some scouting reports suggesting that Allison’s small hands, lack of speed and limited burst out of his breaks made him nothing more than a camp body at the next level.

So far, the long-limbed playmaker has demonstrated a veteran’s savvy in beating defensive backs and his much-maligned 4.67 speed is negated by his long strides that allow him to eat up ground on his opponents the farther he runs downfield.

A long line of suitors will be ready to pounce on Allison should the Packers decide to release him in their final wave of cuts.

May 6, 2016; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers receiver Geronimo Allison during rookie minicamp. Mandatory Credit: Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel via USA TODAY NETWORK

Then again, why not look for a way to keep him on the roster despite the team’s depth at wide receiver?

If nothing else, Allison would serve as an insurance policy in case Davante Adams continues his penchant for dropping catchable balls or in the unfortunate event of Jared Abbrederis, Jordy Nelson or Ty Montgomery succumbing to additional physical setbacks.

Let’s face it: The Packers are loaded with pass catchers that have significant injury concerns. Keeping seven of them at the expense of depriving another unit may be a necessity.

Also, keep in mind that Jeff Janis is probably making the team based solely on his special-teams contributions. The club he is now practicing with will prevent him from chipping in as a pass catcher.

Allison has more than earned his spot.