Inbox: It's really as simple as that

Gavin from Albuquerque, NM

All this talk of II checklists got me reviewing my past submissions that made it in. I found in my review that you, Wes, responded to my posts on May 16 the last two years. So, cue the Lumbergh quotes about working weekends. "Um, I'm gonna need you to go ahead come in [Saturday]..."

Keeping a log of past published submissions should be on the list…and might be worth a special Saturday edition this May.

John from Saint Paul, MN

Can the Packers find an edge rusher in the draft who can make an immediate impact?

Sure, but I also don't think it's mandatory with everyone Green Bay has coming back. It's possible the Packers start the year without Micah Parsons, but as I wrote earlier this week, there is a line of returning vets hungry for snaps. Have you seen the videos Barryn Sorrell has been posting? The guy is putting in the work this offseason and could easily be one of the young defenders who graduates to a bigger role in Year 2.

Joe from Swansea, IL

Astonishing, Wes, your note on how many old friends we're going to see on the opponent's bench this year. Got me to wondering: How many of our new guys will see their former employer this fall?

Surprisingly only Javon Hargrave, who will play Minnesota twice.

Paula from Apple Valley, MN

I don't understand the continued consternation about Matthew Golden or how the Packers used him. I must have watched a different season of games than everyone else. Great hands and impressive poise and maturity dealing with the pressures of his situation. From the looks of his social media posts, it appears he'll return bigger and stronger this year. Can't wait to watch him go.

It would be one thing if Golden struggled to catch passes or gain separation, but he checked both boxes and made plays. His catch-and-run in Chicago will go down as one of the most memorable touchdowns of the 2025 season.

Sean from Boulder, CO

Romeo Doubs getting the $72 million contract was not only a testament to his league-known talent (as we've seen the last few years) but also the Packers' ability to assemble a deep WR room. Continuing in Matt LaFleur's time, the Packers have historically had the most talented passing offense in the league. There is no blind side, or short-sighted approach; they are the envy of the league in finding pass catchers. When it's time to anoint a Davante Adams, they will do so. But why narrow the field inorganically?

Three of Green Bay's top four receivers and its top two tight ends are all entering contract seasons. It hurts to lose Doubs but paying what New England did for his services would've made it more difficult for Green Bay to keep its offensive core intact this upcoming year. It's really as simple as that.

Jeff from Littlefork, MN

How in the...heck...does the team that drafted Romeo Doubs and Davante Adams get dinged for their inability to evaluate receiver talent?

Again, I think this only becomes a viable argument when it's the Packers paying $72 million to sign a wide receiver off another team's roster and not the other way around.

Jon from Willmar, MN

With the high cost of WRs do you see the Pack drafting any this year?

I believe it would behoove the Packers to draft one every year if they can swing it. You saw what happened at the end of the Aaron Rodgers era after not drafting any wideouts in 2019-20 and then missing on Amari Rodgers in 2021. The Packers changed course in 2022, and it's made a world of difference. Gotta keep the cupboard stocked.

Benjamin from Bear, DE

I think I'm correct when I make this statement that teams face losing draft picks if they are not under the cap number by the new NFL calendar year. What's in place if a team would blatantly sign a superstar free agent that puts them over the cap repeatedly? I'm guessing a team would see losing a potential first- or second-round pick as a fair trade for signing in marquee free agent. So, what can the NFL do to ensure those kind of practices never start?

The NFL can block it. The league doesn't just process contracts on the transaction wire. It approves them. If a team doesn't have the cap space, it can't sign the player. It's like a bank. You cannot withdraw cash if there's nothing in your checking.

Larry from Carney, MI

What is the total number of players a team can have to start the preseason? How many do the Packers have signed now? I'm just wondering after seven draft picks if there's still available spots without making roster moves.

The offseason roster is 91 players (including an international exemption), all of whom are eligible to play during the preseason. Green Bay currently has 78 players on its roster. That leaves the Packers with five spots for undrafted rookies right now, but they can always create more room by releasing a "street" free agent they signed in January.

Sean from Palatine, IL

Good morning, Insiders! We don't need to differentiate between dropped or tipped or whatever INTs. QBs get full passing-yard credit for a 75-yard screen pass that was thrown behind the LOS. What I want to see is punters get full credit for yards starting where they kick the ball, like kickers get for their FG lengths.

Fair point. Puntin' ain't easy.

Ron from Mitchell, SD

What great photos of the Lambeau Field Atrium naturalization ceremony! It just seems so right to become an American citizen at Lambeau Field! Congratulations to all! GPG!

What a great event and kudos to our supremely talented social department for putting together an awesome recap video of the ceremony. Congrats to everyone involved!

Kyle from St. Charles, MO

There's subjectivity to what is and is not an error as well, though based on whether "a fielder fails to make a play with 'ordinary effort'." The stat remains. I hadn't thought about it, but I like Dave's suggestion. A pitcher's ERA, which is a much better indicator of success than say W/L record, shouldn't be affected by poor defense. A QB's stat column and earning potential shouldn't be negatively impacted by what's determined catchable with "ordinary effort."

I'm sure NFL teams and personnel departments grind the film well enough to know the type of quarterback they are investing in regardless of what the numbers say. It's just tough when outsiders look at a box score and draw conclusions without full context of what happened.

Stan from Jupiter, FL

I'm just a regular 60-plus-year old-school football fan. But now I hear about something called "off-ball" linebacker. Why the ever-changing naming and re-naming of positions in the NFL? Corner, nickelback, dime back, free safety, strong safety, middle LB, outside LB, edge rusher, nose tackle, DT, DE, and that's just a few and that's just defense. MLB teams have had nine players on the field for decades and you don't see constantly changing position names. P.S. Get off my lawn!

Ha, I'm sure you loved it when Jacksonville listed Denard Robinson as OW (Offensive Weapon) after drafting the former Michigan quarterback in the fifth round of the 2013 NFL Draft. I get your frustration, but the term "Off-ball linebacker" simply differentiates traditional linebackers from 3-4 outside linebackers who primarily rush the passer.

Joe from Pittsburgh, PA

I know it's a slow time of the year news-wise, but the media trots out a possible Tom Brady return after he "impresses" in a flag football game. Some genius writer in Pittsburgh even said the Steelers should forget about Rodgers and pursue him. He would last about 10 snaps behind that pathetic offensive line. One hit from a Micah Parsons type would send him back to the announce booth in a hurry. Why do we waste our time on such idiocy?

The same reason Logan Paul was "playing" in that game. While meaningless, it's a headline during the March dead zone.

Al from Milwaukee, WI

Good morning! I just have to share that I was recently talking about the Insider Inbox with my trainer (who is from Chicago and, naturally, a Bears fan) and he mentioned that they do nothing of the sort on their website. This submission being a friendly reminder that we absolutely ARE better than the Bears, beyond any measure of doubt, and it's partly thanks to you guys. GO PACK

Does that make us better or the Bears smarter?

Kurt from Sartell, MN

All this talk about stealing lunches brought back an old memory. Back in the 1970s, I worked at K-Mart in Racine, WI, and during a lunch break, a fellow stock boy opened his lunch, and someone had taken a bite out of his sandwich and put it back. He freaked out and the rest of us laughed. All these years later, I just want to let him know that it was me and I'll never do it again, honest.

Fifty years later, the truth is finally revealed.

George from North Mankato, MN

Hello Wes. Inquiring mind(s) have a few follow-up questions about your root beer preferences. How do you prefer your drink of choice? Plastic bottle, glass bottle, can, fountain, tap/draught? Frosty mug or do you add ice? How about floats? If so, do you go for custard, hand packed ice cream, or soft serve? Lastly, are root beer barrels or root beer bottle caps a non-beverage substitute? How many days until the baloney stops?

The only root beer I consume is root beer. I don't even like floats. I'm not a fan of melted ice cream and root beer has enough sugar as it is. For me, nothing beats a cold root beer in a frosty mug…and no ice, ever. Shout out to Culver's for staying true to that.

James from Appleton, WI

Now that I'm on the other side of 60, I work out differently. I am attuned to sugar and salt because eating right makes me feel normal and indulging makes me feel terrible. Veterans on a team prepare and do aftercare right not because the coach says so but because they have to. That's got to be a good example for a young team. Age makes converts of us all.

All success is successful adaptation, my friend.

Shannon from Ovilla, TX

How many other regular submitters read Derek's list and counted their accomplishments? Pretty proud to count six of them on my ledger. My one add would be, "Readers know you by your first name only," because you are legendary. Talking to you Lori, Margeaux, Dean, Derek, Dar, and Al.

And then proceed to wear your name on a T-shirt like Dar did at a Packers Everywhere pep rally in Tampa. Legend.

Chris from Kennesaw, GA

I recognize Doug from Neenah as a regular submitter here I believe. I had to laugh, though, thinking about someone submitting that question and being a newcomer had absolutely no idea what your response was about! Ha. This place is awesome!

With that, I'm off to cover the NFL Annual Meeting in Phoenix. We'll have coverage all next week on packers.com. Have a great weekend, everybody.

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