The less a defense can lock in, the more dangerous an offense becomes

Wes Hodkiewicz

Zak from Huntington Beach, CA

What's the biggest question this draft created for you, Packers-related or otherwise?

How soon until the opener?

Mike from Orange City, IA

Who was your favorite draft pick this year?

I predictedMatthew Golden, so I think it's gotta be him, right? Picking anyone else would be like getting what you asked for on Christmas morning and saying, "You know what? I prefer socks instead."

Craig from Appleton, WI

We've all talked about the potential in the WR room for a couple of years. Did Brian Gutekunst just tell the receivers it is time for potential to become actual production with this draft?

You can view it however you want, but I see a deep room getting deeper and that should only push the returning wideouts that much harder.

Izzi from Raleigh, NC

Did I miss something, or did Gutey actually go a whole draft without making any trades, up or down? Inconceivable!

It's not feasible to have 12 or 13 draft picks each year unless you're moving back those first two days. I felt Gutekunst maximized what he had.

Dave from Gwinn, MI

I saw a video where the guy saysAnthony Beltonwould make a good tackle, but an excellent guard because of his run-blocking. He's huge and looks like a tackle. Is there such a thing as being too big to be a guard?

That doesn't really seem to be a thing anymore. This past year, Philadelphia moved Mekhi Becton (6-7, 360) to guard and assembled one of the biggest offensive lines the NFL has ever seen in front of a 6-1 quarterback. It just depends on the player and the scheme. What's encouraging about Belton is he has the footwork and size to live on the edge, but those traits could translate to clogging up the interior, too. Anthony Belton is a big man with massive upside.

Monty from Velva, ND

Hey Wes, with minicamp coming up, how much stock does the team put into who stands out the most?

There's opportunity for rookies and returning practice-squad players to stand out, but rookie minicamp is like passing out books and the curriculum. The goal is for rookies to get up to speed and contribute in a productive way once the veterans are back into town.

Tyler from Stetsonville, WI

I know we have a long way to go, but on paper how exciting does this offense look? Not includingChristian Watsoncoming back hopefully towards the business end of the season! IfJordan Loveis healthy, this offense could be fun to watch. I am hoping for exciting things from the defense as well, we just seemed to focus more on the offense in the draft. I don't want to rush the fall season only having 18 holes of golf in thus far...but it's tempting.

Eighteen more than me. But the less a defense can lock in, the more dangerous an offense becomes. The Packers already had a bevy of receiving options and now add two more wideouts with enticing skill sets. Who's to say what form this offense will take in 2025, but there's a whole lot to like right now.

Paul from Beaver Dam, WI

Hey guys, theBarryn Sorrellpick intrigues me. His measurables compare to other players who were all drafted in the first and second rounds in previous drafts. Also pass rushers, a high-value position, are normally drafted very high and coveted by teams. Did the Packers just smash on a super-high value guy who may have fallen through the cracks?

I don't know why Sorrell was available in the back end of the fourth round. I'm just happy he was there because Sorrell has everything you look for in an NFL edge rusher (as Spoff outlined well on Wednesday). Sorrell didn't have the sack numbers that pundits salivate over, but he does the little things well and has burgeoning pass-rush skills. It wasn't just Sorrell who fell, either. Nic Scourton, Jordan Burch, Jack Sawyer and Bradyn Swinson all lasted longer than I thought they would going into the draft.

Bill from Menominee, MI

IsIsaiah SimmonsEric Wilson 2.0? Looks like he has a history of similar utilization and talents. That didn't take long.

There's an opening as a core-four special-teamer, for sure, but Simmons is younger, faster and rangier than Wilson as a linebacker. Give credit to Wilson for the NFL career he's carved out as a former college free agent, but Simmons was the eighth overall pick in 2020. Athletically, he's one of those top 1% guys to which I was referring earlier this week.

Bryan from Spartanburg, SC

As a diehard Clemson and Green Bay fan, I am thrilled about the signing of Simmons. Simmons can play a multitude of roles on the defense. I know he can immediately play on special teams, but where would you predict he will fit in on our defense?

That's a question for Jeff Hafley whenever we next speak with him. Simmons didn't see a ton of defensive playing time in New York but made an impact on special teams for the Giants the past two years. His size and speed are optimal. It's just been a matter of finding out how to best utilize those tools. That journey continues in Green Bay.

DRAFT CENTRAL

Dan from Northfield, MN

Greetings Gents! I was wondering ifXavier McKinneymight have suggested Isaiah Simmons to the decision-makers, or maybe they sought input from him on Simmons? Does that ever happen?

I can't speculate on that, but certainly Gutekunst and the scouting staff are aware of past player connections.

CJ from Marion, IA

Since Shawn started the comp pick discussion, imagine IF the Packers don't sign Christian Watson,Malik Willis,Romeo Doubs,Sean Rhyan, andRasheed Walker. Think of the picks Packers could get for them. Can't sign all of them.

Don't rush the future, CJ. Also, teams can only receive a maximum of four compensatory picks.

Paul from Nevada City, CA

Inbox, rather perplexed as to any comments as to Gute utterly breaking the existing Pack draft model: Big rather than mobile, swift/shifty as opposed to big edge rushers. The Philly game showed it's a new world. Gute has adapted and needs a HUGE shoutout from Pack Nation! I think this year will be very entertaining and likely productive on the betting scale given my Nevada proximity.

I can't speak to the latter, but everyone is taking notice of what Howie Roseman has done in Philly. The Packers have always prioritized big/athletic players at their respective positions, but they took a fresh approach to that philosophy with the likes of Anthony Belton,Savion WilliamsandWarren Brinson.

Ray from Phoenix, AZ

Does Gute have a love affair with Georgia football players? The Bulldogs have had great success recently but come on now? How many Georgia players on the roster right now?

OK, maybe not everyone

Mark from Muenchsteinach, Germany

Greetings from Northern Bavaria. I don't know if Gutey's background is German, Austrian or Swiss, but I do know that his last name translates in English to "Good work(s) of art." And I do think everyone will agree that Gutey and his staff created a good work of art in the "Big 8" from this year's draft. Now, how about a few words from the Pack's side about the first undrafted free-agent signings: Nazir Stackhouse and Jamon Dumas-Johnson? We're curious!

We'll find out this weekend, Mark. We have a full offseason to chat about rookies and college free agents. Let's wait till they sign their contracts and get on the field. But yes, on paper, it looks like a really strong UDFA class.

John from Fort Myers, FL

What has been the evaluation of the draft in Green Bay from the people responsible for evaluating it at the NFL? I haven't heard anything from the NFL perspective!

The NFL seems elated about how the Green Bay draft went based on a few informal and off-the-record conversations I've had with league folks. The event was obviously well attended live but also easily navigable for the NFL and its employees. There was ample space to bring staging in and out, which is still ongoing. I went into the draft thinking this might be a once-in-a-lifetime event but maybe, just maybe, I'll cover another one in Green Bay before my time at packers.com is over. We'll see if I last that long.

Bryan from Green Lake, WI

You mentioned the Packers could still sign a veteran cornerback. What are your thoughts on them possibly bringing back Rasul Douglas?

I don't know but I am stunned Douglas is still on the market, though Miami is reportedly interested.

Detlef from Breitenstein, Germany

Just saw the pictures from the draft event on our website. Looks like it has been awesome! I was wondering what the world map with thoseshiny buttons was all about. Did it represent where each of the selected draft picks is originated from?

It was from the Draft Haus experience, with patrons putting pins in the part of the world they came from. I obviously did my part and represented the 'Mico.

Caleb from Knoxville, TN

Which team surprised you the most in the draft?

Atlanta trading a future first-round pick to move back into the first round and take James Pearce Jr. Boldand risky.

Steve from Glenarm, IL

Hi, with the competition within the division, just curious in your perspective if the Bears have done "more" for Caleb Williams relatively speaking than the Pack did for Aaron Rodgers in terms of surrounding him with the tools needed for success be it draft or FA? It's probably apples to oranges to some extent based on the craft of the craftsman plying the tools. And if defense wins championships then maybe offense was never a problem.

That's not a real question, right? I know the fourth-best member of the Shield was getting all hyped about Williams and the Bears at the draft, but Chicago still won five games last year. The Packers did plenty for Rodgers and vice versa, leading to a legendary 15-year run together. Only one team can win it all at the end of the day. Objectively, Green Bay has done four times to Chicago's one in the Super Bowl era. So, I don't see a comparison.

Matthew from Madison, WI

How tempted do you think Gute was to take the Falcons' offer to move down 23 spots, but pick up a first-round draft pick in 2026? What did you think about the trade the Falcons and Rams executed?

I'd say the Falcons think they're a lot closer to Super Bowl contention than I think they are.

Kyle from St. Charles, MO

Mike/Wes, I'm only here for the baloney today. What are your thoughts regarding the recent debate setting the social media world ablaze? Do you think 100 men equipped solely with their bare hands could take out a fully grown silverback gorilla? I say yes. The gorilla would most likely get a handful of us, but the sheer mass of humans would overpower the strongest gorilla, right?

Wild hypothetical, Kyle. I prefer to keep it more realistic: Could 11 Wes Hodkiewicz-sized Wes Hodkiewiczs stop oneJosh Jacobson a football field?

Paul from Ellensburg, WA

Hey fellas, I'm a few days late on this, but knew it wasn't relevant with the draft questions. I loved the use of the word "donnybrook" last week. Have you ever looked up the etymology? I first heard the word in John Wayne's "The Quiet Man" and looked it up. Great fun to see the origin surrounding a raucous affair.

And here I thought it was just some random phrase Jim Ross once used during "Monday Night Raw."

Bob from Barnegat, NJ

As a shareholder of the Packers and a lifelong fan, what an outstanding experience it was to attend the NFL Draft in Green Bay with my two sons. Just want to thank the city of Green Bay, the Packers organization and the NFL for the wonderful experience. That was a bucket list experience, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Thank you, Green Bay!

I've heard many similar sentiments over the past few days. You love to hear it.

Larry from Hudson, WI

Just giving you a chance to reply with a link to a new "Unscripted." The boys are back in town and it's time to (finally) appreciate spring!

Next Tuesday. I promise. We gotta lotta catchin' up to do.

Jeff from Indian Lake, NY

With the draft in the rearview mirror it's time to turn our attention to...what? The dead zone? How about the Insider Inbox curators' summer plans? Any fun vacations planned for the PTO Spoff or Hod?

Oh, there's still plenty of work to be done. The offseason program is fully underway, rookie minicamp is coming up and the NFL schedule release is less than two weeks away. The fun hasn't even started.

Josh from Playa Majagual, Nicaragua

After setting a new standard for the NFL Draft, I hope the Packers' brass woke up on Monday morning and thought, "Wow. It only took six years. From now on, I'll write two letters a week instead of one."

I believe they're crazy enough.

HAVE A QUESTION?

ASK A QUESTION