Matt from Waunakee, WI

The weeks leading up to the draft are my least favorite of the II year. I think it's the abundance of hypotheticals.

Dunk tanks, raindrops and Cracker Barrell gift shops just aren't doin' it for ya, huh?

Becky from Sausalito, CA

What if receiver A actually makes that left turn at Albuquerque? Thank you for the II.

Looney Tunes seems an appropriate destination for this conversation.

Chris from Milwaukee, WI

Rich Bisaccia's media session was fun to watch. Having looked forward to meeting him with some anticipation, what did you learn about him that you didn't know before?

It wasn't what I learned about him, but what I sensed, which is a combination of total command and understated humility. It's an uncommon mix but it appears genuine, and successful for him.

Chris from St. Louis, MO

So I've been seeing in a lot of mock drafts and in draft simulators of Devonte Wyatt falling to the Packers' range at 22 or 28. Now if Jordan Davis falls to the Pack at 22, I hope they run to the podium to draft, but I'm not so sure on Wyatt. He's a great DL prospect and is probably high on a lot of boards if they're okay with his age, but would he fit well in the Packers' scheme? What do you think of him or even Davis as a BAP acquisition?

At 6-3, 304, with 27 QB pressures in 14 games last season as an interior rusher, Wyatt has the build and ability that points to maybe, I stress maybe, another Kenny Clark. Yes, he just turned 24, but he's also played in 49 college games at a big-time program. I think teams know exactly what they're getting with Wyatt.

Jason from Austin, TX

Insiders, when a team makes a draft-day trade in the middle of their time to pick, does the team that receives said pick get a new clock or do they have to make their selection before the remaining time runs out? You'd assume the trading partner had someone already in mind when they made the trade, but there's likely paperwork or a phone call that needs to be made before making the selection, right? What if the trade happens with 30 seconds left on the clock? That's when you need that 40 time!

There's no new clock. Both teams must call in the trade to the league and provide matching parameters. If the time is tight, I believe the team receiving the current pick will mention the player being selected when it's called in.

Scott from Albertville, MN

How many times have the Packers picked an offensive lineman in the first round?

Going back through the Wolf-Thompson-Gutekunst era(s), I counted five times: Aaron Taylor ('94), John Michels ('96), Ross Verba ('97), Bryan Bulaga ('10) and Derek Sherrod ('11).

Sal from Hailey, ID

Coach Clements mentioned that there is a difference in the offseason quarterback program from when Aaron Rodgers was entering the league versus now, and that the current situation isn't ideal. What was the old program? Was this change part of an NFLPA agreement or something else?

Offseason time with players was significantly cut with the 2011 CBA, which reduced the amount of work during McCarthy's old "QB school." Offseason time was reduced a bit further in the most recent CBA, though not by nearly as much as it was a decade ago. That was a major shift.

Mark from Savannah, GA

When I was young, I used to hang out at Miami Dolphins training camp, even their first one on St. Pete Beach. It was a time when players were accessible. A couple years later, Paul Warfield signed an autograph for me his first year with the Fins and told me his secret was to get the CB off-balance and make your cuts while the CB was on the wrong foot to turn and go with you. "Better than being fast" was the quote I still remember. Hands and separation, not speed, make a WR successful.

There's certainly plenty of truth to the technique and timing Warfield mentioned. But don't be fooled now, he was no slowpoke. The guy was a sprinter and jumper in track at Ohio State, and he averaged 20 yards per catch for his entire NFL career. You can't average 20 yards per catch over 13 years without having some legit speed.

Mike from Austin, TX

The NFL Draft is BOTH art and science, like many other things. The science is driven by the numbers/data, while the art is human interpretation and contextualization of that data. This is why there are so many differences of opinion – we all have different experiences (I call them context layers) for our individual art of decision making. This is also true when it's fourth-and-3 from the 50. The numbers provide baseline; humans add to it to make decisions.

Sorry, but I can't handle a nuanced, reasoned, deep-thinking comment like that (context layers?!?) with the draft barely more than two weeks away. That doesn't work here. Another one and I'll have to ban you. I suppose you like to wait at least a few years before you grade a draft class, too? Sheesh, who invited this guy?

Ryan from Carmel, IN

Has there ever been a prospect who didn't have the athleticism coming out of college, but once given the resources and fitness technology of an NFL team, was able to, I don't know, "level up"? Maybe a "high-motor" or "high football IQ" guy who was able to gain the physicality to match?

He's not an exact match to your description, because there was nothing wrong with his college program or athletic ability, but the guy who came to mind when I read your submission was Aaron Kampman. He was a fifth-round pick out of Iowa in 2002 who was quiet for a few years while steadily developing his body and his game. Suddenly, over a three-year span (2006-08), he racked up 37 sacks and was named second-team All-Pro twice.

Kenton from Rochester, MN

IMO a big reason why some draft picks succeed while others fail (even though their "talent" seems comparable) has to do with attitude. If player A's attitude is "I've made it to the NFL, game over, time to enjoy my success," while player B's attitude is "I've made it to the NFL, game just begun, time to ramp up the effort," guess who's more likely to succeed? The main problem is, how does a GM tell which attitude a potential draftee will come in with?

That's what the interviews are for, and the behind-the-scenes digging that can include chats with everyone from a middle school track coach to a kindergarten teacher. No one ever knows for sure, because the money these high picks come into is instantly life-changing, but you try to learn as much about the person as you can.

Scott from Milwaukee, WI

Have you ever looked back at mock drafts after the draft to check how accurate they were?

Nope. I figure if one ever really nails the first round, we'll all hear about it.

Kim from Hudson, WI

Related to the draft, it always bothered me when Eli was drafted by the Chargers and refused to go there. I was too young and "football dumb" to understand the reasoning for it but my thought was any kid coming out of college should be happy that an NFL team wanted him. My question is has that ever happened before or since and we didn't hear about it since it wasn't a big-name player?

It happened rather frequently in the 1980s with big-name guys like John Elway, Bo Jackson and Jim Kelly. The first two used baseball as leverage, the other went to the USFL. For the Packers, there was Bruce Clark, who went to the CFL. Eli's stunt in 2004 was the first high-profile one in a while, but it wasn't unheard of.

Mike from WI

Welcome to Insider Mathbox! I could toss some numbers around but I've been thinking about Rodgers returning knowing Davante wouldn't be with him. He's spoken about seeking new challenges, and I get the impression Rodgers truly enjoys being a team leader and teacher. You know him better than I do, do you think he's excited about the new challenge of replacing Davante's productivity?

I don't think Rodgers would ever say he's excited to no longer have Adams around. But I do think his desire for another Super Bowl and just his ultra-competitiveness in general will drive him to conquer the challenge.

Bill from Raleigh, NC

Monday's II discussed whether or not we will draft a RB and the RBs we have on the roster. I think a lot of fans were like me and wondered about Kylin Hill's ceiling before his injury. The RB that I'm excited about now is Patrick Taylor. In a game the improving Lions treated as their Super Bowl, Taylor showed power, speed, and savvy to get big yards. I think it's unfortunate he wasn't given the ball against the 49ers after AJ Dillon went down. I see "It" in Patrick Taylor. Do you?

Since the day I laid eyes on Patrick Taylor, I feel like I've been looking at the body of a prototypical NFL running back if it were sculpted by an artist. He sure looks the part. Given the long road back from his foot injury to finally get on the field last year, I'm curious to see what he does in 2022.

Doug from Neenah, WI

Good morning. Is this the year the Packers' streak of having an undrafted free agent make the 53 ends? With 11 draft choices to work with, including three in the seventh round, and a solid group of returning players it seems like long odds. But the Sunday after the draft usually brings almost as much optimism as the draft itself.

I've gone into training camp a couple of times over the years thinking the UDFA streak might end, but someone always emerges. With the expanded practice squad as a potential reservoir for late-round picks, it seems the chances are even better now a UDFA (or two) will make the active roster.

Brian from Trego, WI

I am truly excited about what this Packer defense can achieve in 2022! While our North Division foes try to figure out new coaches and schemes the second year in Barry's D could produce a top three defense. Why worry about adding an elite receiver when the D can hold other teams to under 14 points a game?

I'm all for the enthusiasm, but you do realize it's been 16 years since an NFL team held opponents to under 14 points per game? (Baltimore, 2006, 12.7). Just checking.

Terry from Green Bay, WI

Good morning II. All this talk about being desperately in need of receivers reminds me of the 2018 draft. Going in we needed receivers and drafted three with size and speed that we got all excited about. Now looking back, only one met expectations. Obviously, looking for better results this time but is it as simple as drafting receivers earlier?

Drafting three on Day 3 a few years back, odds were at least one wasn't going to pan out. Same with the running backs in 2017. Picks on Day 1 and 2 are expected to become core players for multiple years, no matter the position. Not all do, but a greater percentage should.

Ben from Fort Worth, TX

Mike, the 2018 draft wasn't long ago, and the Packers have only one player left. MVS had a decent four years but was probably overpaid in free agency. I doubt that the other few FAs signed to other teams were highly prioritized. That draft doesn't look so good four years later. I guess the one player left, JA (who hasn't signed an extension yet) makes up for it. How do you grade that draft?

The Day 2 picks in particular (Jackson and Burks) not developing into mainstays on defense sort of took the starch out of that draft. With 11 total selections, it wasn't good enough. But finding a Pro Bowler in Jaire Alexander, acquiring an extra first-round pick for 2019, and getting meaningful contributions from a fifth-rounder in MVS make it far from a "bad" draft.

Kevin from Park City, UT

Would like your thoughts on where the BAP has gone? I don't think I have heard it mentioned or seen it in the Inbox once this year? It was the mantra of the Wolf/Thompson eras. Is this because it is now a "win now" at all costs league? It seemed to serve us pretty well for a lot of years and I am curious if you think it been thrown out the window, or is it just not popular anymore?

It's become pretty standard practice that need is baked into the BAP calculations as draft boards are built. That doesn't mean value-oriented teams are suddenly reaching for needs. The best players are still going to rise highest in their rankings, and they aren't going to pass on anyone they believe is truly a generational talent. But need will influence close calls and break ties. Anyone who doesn't admit that is lying.

David from Janesville, WI

Insiders, this whole 40-yard dash speed/overcoming lead conversation can't help but trigger memories of a scene in one of the greatest baseball movies of all time, "Major League." Three or four loyal fans in the outfield bleachers (of old County Stadium actually) see a ball hit hard toward the outfield. One says it's gone, another says no, it's too high. If the DB can't turn and find the ball in the air, regardless we'll have the resulting input from fan No. 3, "Who gives a (blank), it's a TD."

Juuust a bit outside.

Lynn from Somers, WI

So let me see if I got this straight: We have chips in NFL footballs, but we don't have laser goal posts. We discuss grammar in the Inbox, but not math. We don't want science in the Inbox, but there is plenty of inexact science in the draft. And for what it's worth, I think it's smart for Biff to drink root beer, so at least he has a beverage at lunchtime.

Happy Wednesday.

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