Matt Rotheram graduated from the University of Pittsburgh and was signed by the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent in 2015, wearing number 74 for the Pack. He entered Pitt in 2010 when he took a redshirt his freshman year. In his first active season, he was featured in eight games while starting two at guard and tackle before suffering a season-ending ankle injury. From that point forward, he started every game in the next three seasons and finished his Pitt career with 40 starts on the offensive line. The Packers signed Rotheram as a guard immediately following the 2015 NFL draft in which he was not selected.

Rotheram spent the 2015 season on the Packers practice squad working along the offensive line, spending the majority of his time at the guard position. He was rewarded for his work ethic on the practice squad when he received a pay increase on December 10th, 2015. His salary was bumped up to around $25,000 per week, the equivalent to the league minimum for rookies on the active roster. The raise showed the Packers had plans for Rotheram in the organization moving forward because they were willing to pay him active roster money to stay on the practice squad. He was named to the Packers 90-man roster entering camp this summer and looks to gain a spot on the 53-man roster when the season starts this September.

Now entering his second season, the Packers have increased his responsibilities by having him also work as a center among the offensive line. The versatility to play essentially any position along the O-line, pending the experiment at center goes as planned, may prove to be his ticket to the 53-man roster when the season rolls around. The Packers battled the injury bug all last season among the O-line, with all five starters frequently named on the injury report, and some missing extended periods on the sideline. Moving forward, it would make sense to keep a backup on the roster who can cover any position along the line, and that could be Rotheram’s calling card when the final cuts are made in August. The move also shows the trust the team has in him with the increased responsibility that comes with the center position. While playing guard, he is used to responding to the centers call and acting accordingly. Now he must be the one to step to the line, read the defense, and make the appropriate adjustments of his fellow lineman. Rotheram has been compared to Jets fan favorite Nick Mangold in the past and says he will try to model his play at center after Mangold. Rotheram believes his time at the tackle position is over and he will move on as an interior lineman getting work at both guard positions and now center.

The Packers have been known to be a good judge of talent from their success of recent draft picks and free agent signings and it appears that they seem something special here in the Pitt grad. Rotheram seems to be on pace for a spot on the active roster this season, but only time will tell if he can prove his value to the offensive line and earn his spot on the 53-man roster.

Follow @ACAllAmericans for quality, up-to-date sports reporting.