Inbox: It'll be fun to find out

Jerry from Las Cruces, NM

Has the dust settled yet?

You tell me.

Jeffrey from Eveleth, MN

Mr. Spofford, you disappoint me. For your upcoming two weeks off activities, I didn't see crappie fishing mentioned.

That's in May for me, when they're spawning and in the shallows.

Josh from Seattle, WA

Mike, can you go on vacation already so that we can trade for a big-time pass-rushing DT? Man, I am not enjoying this messy middle of the offseason right now. This year feels difficult to see so many homegrown guys leave.

I can't say I'm surprised by any of the departures, though. Was hopeful one or two of those veteran guys might stick around, but figured most if not all would be gone.

John from Spring Hill, TN

I will miss Kingsley Enagbare as much as any of our losses. I hope he gets a shot at starting. I also didn't realize he played in all 68 games over the past four seasons.

He was one I was hoping the Packers would find a way to keep – a solid, reliable, durable role player. But more power to him to get $10M for one year. If the Jets are indeed the right opportunity for him, he could really cash in a year from now.

Ben from Cripple Creek, CO

People will scoff at the contract that Christian Watson could be in line for now with the Pierce contract. Some argue Romeo Doubs should get that instead and we let Watson go. I hope Watson gets that money from GB and stays. I know it's a hefty price for a player that has had some injuries (and hopefully they are behind him), but he's a quiet superstar that at any time can break a game open, and the offense just looks different with him on the field.

Couldn't agree more. What I'll remember most about Doubs is his two best games coming in the playoffs (at Dallas, at Chicago), but Watson is the type of receiver who'd be more difficult to replace.

Brendyn from De Pere, WI

With all of the moves the Packers have made in regards to shedding salary or cutting players to open up some space, what do you think they're gearing up for? Next year, Packers will have roughly $85 million in cap space. I was leaning toward some extensions being done this year with Tucker Kraft, maybe Watson, but with the trade for Micah Parsons last year, it seems like they may lean more towards an aggressive signing to push more into the Super Bowl window, so to speak. Your overall thoughts?

I think Gutey is leaving his options open, ready to react if the right acquisition comes along. They will need a lot of that space for pricey extensions of players I'm expecting them to keep, and when they look at the shape of the cap in the coming years, they can structure those extensions so the bigger cap charges hit when the room is available.

Dan from Columbus, OH

Well, now I see why you guys don't post things until they're official. Have you ever seen anything like this Crosby no-trade?

Failed physicals that nullify acquisitions happen all the time, but I can't recall one occurring in something as high-profile as this Crosby trade, and at the most active time to boot, with the bell for the new league year about to ring. Crazy.

Keith from Bakersfield, CA

All the player signing and trade announcements during the "tampering period" seemed ill-advised. Now the Raiders find themselves with a bunch of free agent commitments they can't afford since the Crosby deal fell through. What options do they have with the league year starting Wednesday? Will some of their FAs potentially look to sign elsewhere?

I honestly have no idea where this goes from here. Such a sequence of events is unprecedented in the free agency era. There are major cap implications now for the Raiders and any team that would want to re-engage them in talks for Crosby. The fallout could be fascinating.

Jeff from Indian Lake, NY

Are you surprised Rasheed Walker hasn't signed a mega deal yet?

Yeah. No news for two whole days on the top left tackle on the market is rather unusual.

Jason from Boyle, MS

Do I dare say we are in a rebuild?

Come again? Among the prominent players still here: Jordan Love, Josh Jacobs, Watson, Jayden Reed, Matthew Golden, Kraft, Zach Tom, Parsons, Devonte Wyatt, Xavier McKinney, Evan Williams, Javon Bullard, Keisean Nixon, Lukas Van Ness, Edgerrin Cooper, Daniel Whelan and the list goes on. This doesn't fit a rebuild to me. At all.

Josh from Playa Majagual, Nicaragua

Paul Bear Bryant once said, "When you make a mistake, there are only three things you should ever do about it: admit it, learn from it, and don't repeat it." Thankfully with the Nate Hobbs release Gute showed his ability to admit a mistake, now hopefully he learns from it and doesn't sign any more oft-injured, inconsistent, high-priced free agents with the plan of changing their primary position. $48K per defensive snap played for the Packers...woof!

The last two years have been a reminder that free agency isn't all that different from the draft relative to the level of uncertainty with the results. Two years ago, the Packers hit two home runs with Jacobs and McKinney. Then last year, the jury is still out on Aaron Banks, and Hobbs clearly didn't work out as hoped. There are just as few sure things with veteran players as there are with draft picks. Everything's just more expensive.

Julian from Gastonia, NC

Of course all the contracts being announced on Monday are designed to astound us. There are only a handful that are actually as good as they sound because of how they are structured. Essentially it's more a game of one-upmanship between agents. There will be just a few players that will actually perform well enough to see the end of those huge contracts. It's always fun to keep track though.

Indubitably.

Sandra from Appleton, WI

How much "dead" money is counted toward this year's cap for the Packers?

Depending on which cap site is preferred, the Packers have something in the neighborhood of $35-40M in dead money for 2026, most of which is due to Rashan Gary and Kenny Clark, but neither of those players has any dead money carryover to '27. The number will rise some with the release of Hobbs, whose dead money is being split between '26 and '27 as a post-June 1 designation, according to reports.

Elrod from Menominee, WI

What do you think the comp pick will be for Malik Willis? Everyone was thinking 33 to 40 million a year, now it's around 22 mil a year.

I never believed all that talk about Willis getting $30M per year. He still landed himself a great deal, and from what I've read that contract will net the Packers' a fourth-round comp pick that could rise to a third based on playing time.

Troy from Westminster, CO

There have been few players who have left the Packers that I have had more of a rooting interest for than Malik Willis. Not sure why … he's only been here two years and was never the presumed starter at his position. But, there's something about him that just makes me hope the guy does everything he sets out to do with the Dolphins. He's handled everything the way I would hope someone in his situation would handle it and I'm hopeful the next guy who comes through the door does the same.

Well said.

Dennis from Parrish, FL

I saw Tua was signed by Atlanta, now giving them two left-handed quarterbacks. It got me thinking, when did we last have one of those sidewinders under center? Were Jim Delgaizo or Jerry Tagge left-handed?

Mark Brunell was a backup to Brett Favre in '94, and Jim Zorn was a backup to Lynn Dickey in '85.

Matt from Fitchburg, WI

Do you think GMs ever see other deals that get made, and in their head just swear at the other GM who made the deal? I'm thinking of the market-setting deals where it just makes everyone way more expensive for seemingly no reason.

I'm sure they curse one another at times, but then in the next breath they know they'll be the one cursed at eventually.

Sue from Three Lakes, WI

A way-too-early 2027 draft question. Will it be a deep draft class? Boy, I sure hope it's loaded with talent because it looks like we could have a boatload of picks.

Or enough mid-round draft capital to look at potentially targeting some players higher on the board.

Margeaux from Tallahassee, FL

When viewing the Robbie from Hingham, MA, query about compensatory picks my first thought was of the 2027 draft and the opportunity to package picks to get back into the first round. My research says it would take a second and a third to get into the back end. Does that sound right?

Ballpark, yeah, but not if those second and third picks are late in those rounds.

Craig from Los Angeles, CA

I've read a bunch of comments about people worrying that if we sign a top free agent, it will affect our compensatory picks. So what? Of course the picks have value, but they are also all Day 3 picks. If we can get a difference-maker at a couple key positions, I say pull the trigger. I'm not saying break the bank, but I wouldn't let concern for compensatory picks be my guide.

That's essentially what Gutey said at the combine. Third-round comp picks are Day 2, though, for the record. That said, the signing of St-Juste at corner will cancel one of the Day 3 comp picks.

Jeff from Edgerton, WI

Hello Mike. Now that it appears we have our five O-linemen, how do you feel about the starting five? I feel just OK but I bet with good health and playing together I'll feel pretty darn good by midseason.

I've said all along I believe the Packers' starting five will be fine, but depth is the concern.

Mike from Baraboo, WI

How will Pittsburgh even come close to what Green Bay was able to deliver for the draft?

I don't know, but it'll be fun to find out. The Steel City is a whale of a sports town.

Reed from Myrtle Beach, SC

Thanks to the Packers not having a first-round pick, I figure I'm getting back the dozen or so hours I would have spent reading mock drafts. Haven't perused a single one and have no plans to do so going forward.

Good advice for any year, not just this one or next.

Matt from La Crosse, WI

Often people like to criticize the decisions of management, but I think the NFL has made some notable improvements in the game and also increased safety. For example, it took a few tries, but the dynamic kickoff is better and safer than past versions. Expedited review sped up the process and helped refs get the right call. Others include concussion protocol, improvements in helmets and pads, and maybe in the future … laser goal posts. From your perspective, what evolution has been best?

I applaud the league for constantly updating and improving the replay review system, and the evolution remains ongoing. Much of it should've been done sooner and faster, though, in my opinion.

Davy from Watertown, WI

What's that you say? Difficulty coming to a deal with the referees' union? I'm glad we don't face the Seahawks this year, or I'd be getting nervous already.

We are six months from the start of the regular season, so there's plenty of time, but I can't imagine the league will get risky when push comes to shove, and I think the officials' union knows that. It's all posturing, as expected, right now.

Jake from Madison, WI

Every time I hear the two of you are still posting to X/Twitter, I die a little inside. That cesspool is immoral at best and downright evil in many ways. What would it take for you both to switch up your social media positing habits to consider a more ethical outlet like Bluesky?

I post on X/Twitter only to promote our website content, and I peruse it to follow breaking news. That's the extent of my social media activity.

Mark from Cape Coral, FL

Mike, I understand visiting Fenway is on your list, but Boston may not be. Just a reminder that JetBlue Park in Fort Myers, FL, has the exact same dimensions including the Green Monster and much better weather for a March visit including preseason games.

My plan is to see the Brewers play in Boston sometime.

Jeff from Janesville, WI

Waiting for the next season to begin.

The NCAA Selection Show is Sunday, and Opening Day in Milwaukee is just 15 days away. Happy Wednesday.

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