They have to get back to it

Mike Spofford

John from Stevens Point, WI

A free agent "Rolodex"? Really? Do they still use parchment and a quill to fill in the blanks on their draft board? Does the cap expert use an abacus to total the numbers and keep the Packers under the cap? Do the Packers still travel to Chicago by train? Does the grounds crew still use real chalk to line Lambeau Field?

And once again we're off, so we might as well get going.

Mark from Eureka, IL

"Do you throw all of today's questions out and start over the next day or do you hold over some good ones for a later day?" So again we break the first rule of Inbox? I'm noticing some lack of fundamentals. Time to get back to fundamentals. As Vince put it: "What the*going on out there?"

Wes's answer was sufficiently vague. I consider the spirit of the rule upheld.

Paul from Richmond, VA

So much for rinse and repeat, huh Mike?

I guess the wide receiver rumormongers finally threw enough spaghetti at the wall that something stuck. Congrats?

Scott from West Richland, VA

Mike, does going to a Brewers game count as vacation for breaking news to happen? Asking for a friend.

I was officially on PTO Friday afternoon, so I suppose.

Eric from Kenosha, WI

Swept by the Nationals? Quick! Somebody "lose" those hideous new uniforms.

I certainly picked the wrong weekend to spend at the ballpark. So it goes. While I expect the new city/state connect duds to grow on me a little, at the moment I wouldn't mind if they burned them.

Rudy from Rhinelander, WI

With Wicks being traded,Savion Williamsmust have shown some flashes? Right? The trade seems to indicate some confidence in Savion. I understand Gutey adding draft choices, it's his style.

Aside fromMatthew Goldenbeing the obvious, Williams is the other young receiver now in position for more snaps with Doubs and Wicks gone. They're going to find out what they got with that third-round choice last year.

Benjamin from Bear, DE

I'm thinking there's less than 50/50 chance you address this question, but I think it's worth asking. We continually heard "certain players were unhappy with their roles" and that created problems in the locker room. Can we now conclude Wicks was the locker room problem and that in part led to him being traded? The trade solves two issues. The locker room issue is gone and the Packers pick up valuable draft capital. Whatcha think?

I wouldn't make that assumption. I honestly don't know one way or another. Totally outside that context, I look at the trade as confirmation the Packers are more likely to targetChristian Watson,Jayden ReedandTucker Kraftfor potential contract extensions among pass catchers, while more opportunity is needed for Golden and Williams as mentioned above. So if all the Packers were going to (eventually) get for Wicks would be a comp pick in the '28 draft which could be canceled out by a signing anyway and Gutey was able to get two (non-cancelable) picks for him before '28, then it made plenty of sense.

Matt from Madison, WI

Would you go back and take Brian Branch instead of getting Reed, Wicks, andKarl Brooks? Crazy to think how many Packers-Lions game the trade affected.

Indeed, but those draft what-if games are never ending. I'll say no to your question, not only due to the 3-for-1, but also if the Packers draft Branch in '23, I highly doubtXavier McKinneycomes here in '24.

Jennifer from Middleton, WI

Prior to Davante leaving, we had 20 years of clear WR1/WR2's where the game plan revolved around them. Do you think there is anything to that allowing a more focused offense, guys in rhythm with the QB, and clear understanding of roles? While I understand the argument of lots of weapons giving options and keeping the defense guessing, I've been thinking with loss of Wicks/Doubs, optimistically, knowing who THE guys are, more reps, more pressure to deliver, may contribute to better consistency.

I get where you're coming from, but LaFleur made it pretty clear if players aren't understanding or buying into their roles, then those roles need to be communicated better. If communication is thorough and everyone's on the same page, having a plethora of options is not a problem.

Quinn from Iowa City, IA

All I've wanted since the end of the season was a CB to come in to a create a few turnovers. The last three months I've spent convincing others that a couple more turnovers with a talent like Love could be the missing piece for a Super Bowl. The number of CBs in our top 30 visits have affirmed our GM feels the same. So why will we end up trading up for Mike Washington Jr.?

Ha. I don't believe the Packers would trade up for a running back, at least not on Day 2, given the more acute needs on the roster. A guy they really like would have to fall to them. As far as turnovers, I'm not putting that on some rookie draft pick to come in and change the equation. With largely the same defensive personnel in the 2024-25 seasons (Parsons being the biggest change), the Packers went from 31 takeaways to 14. They have defenders who have generated turnovers before. They have to get back to it.

Brian from Pensacola, FL

I recently read an article about the best draft pick all 32 teams have made. It made me curious, if you were to break down the Packers a quarter century at a time, who is the best draft pick the Packers have taken each quarter century? For Outsider Inbox, who is the best draft pick in the last 50 years?

Well, there wasn't an NFL Draft until 1936. But if we take 1936-50 as the first segment, I'd go with Cecil Isbell or Tony Canadeo as the Packers' best pick. From 1950-75, the options are numerous. The Packers drafted nine HOFers in that span, but it makes sense to go with Bart Starr, and I'd list Paul Hornung next (the other HOFers drafted then were Taylor, Gregg, Nitschke, Adderley, Robinson, Kramer and Dillon). From 1975-2000, I'll take James Lofton, with LeRoy Butler second. From 2000-25, Aaron Rodgers.

Michelle from Darlington, WI

Many Green Bay fans consider the Ice Bowl of 1967 to be one of the greatest games in NFL history. In your opinion, are there any Packer games that surpass this?

No, and it's not particularly close. As far as NFL history, it's between the Ice Bowl and the 1958 title game. I don't think I've ever seen serious football historians consider any others.

Mike from Socorro, NM

All the conversation regarding offense, defense getting tired during a game reminds me of Willie Davis. After any given play Mr. Davis would look as though he couldn't even stand, let alone rush the passer again and then he would explode as if shot from a cannon on the next play. I always thought he was conserving his energy between plays. Too bad they didn't keep stats on sacks during his time. I'm certain he would have been at the top of the heap.

For the record, Pro Football Reference now lists sack totals for all players from 1960-81, after working with the Pro Football Researchers Association to log all sacks in that time period via play-by-plays and game film. Pre-1982 sacks still aren't considered official by the NFL, but PFR has Davis with double-digit sacks five times, plus three other seasons with 9, 9 and 8, and a grand total of 99 in his 10 years with the Packers. His highest sack numbers came in 1962, with 13, and '64, with 14. But he never led the league. The Giants' Jim Katcavage had 16 in '62 and the Rams' Deacon Jones had 22 in '64. By the way, Jones' numbers are just insane. According to PFR, Deacon had 15-plus sacks six straight years, including 21-plus three times, and two other years with a dozen each. Mercy.

Will from UK

The question from Dar from Mansfield on doubling and tripling up on a position in the draft, does that not sound like thinking we are just one position player away from getting over the hump? I feel it's dangerous to think we are just one player away. (Based on the musings of a previous incumbent at packers.com!)

That's not what is meant by that or how I view it at all. Doubling or tripling up is hedging bets to increase the odds of truly filling a need. Thompson doubled up at backup QB in '08 and found Flynn while Brohm bombed out. He tripled up at RB in '17 and got two keepers Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams. Gutey doubled up at CB and tripled at WR in '18 and came away with Jaire and MVS. He tripled up at WR again in '22 and got a pair in Watson and Doubs. A need isn't filled just because a position gets drafted. The need is filled when the player proves he can play, and more options means greater chances of success.

Phil from Paris, IL

The 60-40 split got me thinking, for international games, is the gate still split that way in favor of the "home" team, or is that normally a 50-50 split for attendance?

I'm not sure if the process has changed, but a handful of years ago, the way it worked is the league would keep all the ticket revenue from international games and give the participating teams a stipend equivalent to what they would've received in a normal home/away arrangement.

Ed from Minneapolis, MN

Hey gents, I'm really enjoying the new Prospect Primer format. My question is with the portal for the college game have we lost identifying a player with a college? I think of Staubach and the Naval Academy, Walker and Georgia. Have we lost this kind of association as these players switch schools every year or two?

Pretty much. Being able to identify a player with his school is becoming the exception, not the rule.

Joe from Bozeman, MT

They don't award the Lombardi Trophy for accumulating the most compensatory draft picks. With all the coaching staff changes and losses in free agency I don't see how this team has improved. I guess the philosophy is that the Packers don't have to get better, the other teams just have to get a little worse.

As I say every year, this team's improvement won't come as much from any changes as from within. In addition to getting key injured players back (the Packers were 9-3-1 before losingMicah ParsonsandZach Tom, remember), it's about the players who've begun to establish themselves, but their best football remains in front of them. On offense, for me that'sJordan Love,Sean Rhyan,Anthony Belton,Jordan Morgan,MarShawn Lloyd, Reed, Golden and Williams, among others. On defense, it'sDevonte Wyatt,Lukas Van Ness,Brenton Cox Jr.,Evan Williams,Edgerrin Cooper,Ty'Ron Hopper,Javon BullardandBarryn Sorrell, among others. Not all will take major leaps forward. That doesn't happen. But if they're all the same players they were last year, then no, this team won't improve.

Jim from Rancho Cucamonga, CA

What will the referees' point of emphasis be in the upcoming season?

Hopefully improvement.

Randy from Bucksnort, TN

We harp on the NFL for getting things wrong replay review, K balls, no laser goalposts yet, etc. But they absolutely got it right with getting the draft out of New York and having host sites. Green Bay nailed it last year, but every host (gasp, even Detroit) has put on a great show. Kudos to the NFL for getting this one right. How long before we get the draft back in Green Bay?

Ed was asked that very question before departing on the Tailgate Tour yesterday morning. He said several teams are lined up to host the draft in the coming years, but at some point Green Bay will throw its hat back into the ring.

Scott from Lincoln City, OR

Hey Mike, I can live with the occasional slip of allowing math in the Inbox, but seeing "What say you?" twice in the same day is just too much. Nip that in the bud, will you?

The audience needs to self-correct there.

Bob from Pembine, WI

Good morning II! With the draft right around the corner, what are the chances that Gutey makes another "surprise" transaction?

Cue the spaghetti. Happy Wednesday.

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