Inbox: It's wild how things can work out in this game

Cindy from Mesa, AZ

Is Melanie Marohl the inspiration for Jennifer Garner's character in "Draft Day"?

Ha. I think not, but perhaps she should've been.

Troy from Westminster, CO

How in the world is someone like Bob Harlan not in the HOF? There's a mad push lately to put billionaire owners in. Maybe I'm biased but it seems from where I'm sitting Harlan did more to impact the success, and historical revitalization, of a franchise than almost any owner who simply had enough money to buy a team. I know I'm oversimplifying it but what he did in Green Bay is nothing short of executive genius, leading to franchise success for decades on end. He deserves a bronze bust.

I won't argue, and Harlan's Canton bona fides have been discussed in this space before. But I'll say this: Knowing the humble man Harlan was, always first to credit others for the franchise's success, he would not be comfortable getting inducted before Mike Holmgren.

Randal from Suamico, WI

Currently we only have two statues surrounding Lambeau, Vince and Curly. Do you foresee in the future of us adding any additional?

No idea.

Dale from Prescott, WI

Love they are bringing Sean Rhyan back. Gives them versatility on who else they're going to sign, and at least we know for sure we have a center.

Also doesn't force them into targeting that position in the draft, and potentially reaching. They could draft a center anyway, but Gutey always works to avoid painting himself in a corner.

Vishnu from Santa Clara, CA

Saw the news about Sean Rhyan's extension. Seems a bit expensive, but it should allow some flexibility with how the Packers approach the O-line in the draft. Really happy for Rhyan, though. I remember last year, there was some news about him missing a salary bump by a single-digit number of snaps. I also remember he didn't play at all his rookie year. But he's turned into a keeper now, and I'm glad the Packers have done right by him. Hope he keeps on getting better.

It's wild how things can work out in this game. Rhyan was in a constant fight for playing time at right guard, had his ups and downs, and didn't seem all that likely to be retained when his rookie contract expired. Then the Packers needed him to step in at center when Elgton Jenkins got hurt, and he played his way into a lucrative contract to stick around.

Don from Boise, ID

How big a hole is the loss of Colby Wooden going to leave?

Wooden took a huge step forward in 2025, but ultimately he was a run stopper and not a pass rusher. As an old friend used to say, it's a game of replacement.

Jeff from Littlefork, MN

Does our acquiring Franklin assure that Quay Walker is leaving in free agency? (I'll be sad if the answer is yes.)

You'll be sad.

TK from Grafton, WI

Does the addition of Zaire mean Ty'Ron Hopper has no chance? Or is this more of an "adding competition" situation?

We'll see. LaFleur noted last year the strides Hopper made, so I'm not counting him out. But I wonder if the Franklin move goes back to what David from Janesville suggested last week, bringing in a veteran to help with the transition to the new defense, and it makes sense that player is a linebacker in the middle of it all, at a position the team is moving on from a pending free agent. Also keep this in mind: Gannon was the DB coach in Indy for the first three years of Franklin's career, so they're definitely familiar with one another.

Jeff from Monticello, WI

Hello II, since they traded for Zaire Franklin will he counter out the comp pick for Walker?

No. A trade has no impact on the comp pick formula.

Doug from Quakertown, PA

Looks like it was a mistake not to take the fifth-year option for Walker last year. He is being replaced by someone four years older who is said to be weak in pass coverage. I know this is a numbers question, but how do the cap numbers compare for having Walker for 2026 vs. letting him leave and making the trade for Franklin?

Franklin's pay for 2026 is around half what the fifth-year option would've been for Walker (roughly $7M vs. $14M).

James from El Paso, TX

A straight-up player-for-player trade? How rare is that in today's NFL? Can't remember the last one I heard of, let alone for our boys in green and gold.

It's been a while. Back in 2018, the Packers swapped QB DeShone Kizer for CB Damarious Randall with the Browns, but draft picks also were involved. Green Bay's last player-for-player-only trade I could find was in 2009 with the Ravens, S Derrick Martin for OT Tony Moll.

Dave from Anacortes, WA

Assuming Malik Willis is gone and the Packers wanted to explore backup QB options beyond what they now have, would you take a look at either Justin Fields or Trey Lance as low-cost, high-upside possible reclamation projects...or would you go elsewhere?

It's an intriguing thought but it would absolutely depend on the price.

Lee from Cleveland, OH

WHEW! Glad to see Maxx Crosby is heading to Baltimore instead of Chicago as was pontificated by the rumor mill operators!

No complaints there.

Marshall from Mesa, AZ

Speaking of sports sounds, I was at the WM Phoenix Open about 10 years ago when you could watch the tee box at 17 from the Porta potty area off the 16th green. I watched Bubba Watson hit his driver (17 is a driveable par 4) after missing a makeable birdie putt on 16 (and getting booed). Sounded like a rifle on opening day of deer season. I have no idea how that driver head didn't explode.

Imagine if the Porta potty had been in the way.

Patrick from Ashland, WI

County Stadium was VAST. To hear that mitt hit from there is incredible. At AFF you can hear the bat crack from almost anywhere. What a difference.

I absolutely love AmFam Field, but I still miss County Stadium.

Richard from Madison, WI

Access to my favorite pickleball court is controlled by a four-digit door code, which I always remember by Packer jersey numbers. Today's was 4415, so Donny Anderson and Bart Starr. That got me to musing that 1966's "million-dollar backfield" of Anderson and No. 33 Jim Grabowski required two guys to hit those seven digits. What's the LEAST a single draftee can expect to make today, these 60 years later?

About $100K would be the absolute least. The final pick of the 2025 draft (No. 257) was DB Kobee Minor from Memphis, whose rookie contract with New England was worth $4.3M over four years, including a $101K signing bonus. But he didn't make the team and the signing bonus was his only guarantee. (He wound up on the practice squad before signing a new, shorter deal when promoted to the active roster in January.) In the context of Anderson and Grabowski as first-round picks, if you're asking the least a first-rounder would make these days, last year's final pick of the first round (OT Josh Simmons, Kansas City) received a fully guaranteed four-year, $14.675M deal with a $7.3M signing bonus.

Adam from Wausau, WI

Why don't more elite QBs sign shorter deals and move teams more often? For example, if Jordan Love and the Green Bay Packers go all-in the next few years, the cap will likely get tight afterward. Wouldn't it make sense for a top QB to finish that window, then hit free agency and sign with a team that has cap space and draft capital to start a new 3-4-year championship push? Why don't more franchise QBs follow that kind of cycle?

Because of the franchise tag.

Richard from Canton, GA

How does a retirement (Dalman specifically for the Bears) affect the salary cap? Is the spreading of the bonuses over a few years suddenly due in cap terms? Can a post-June retirement designation be worked out with the player to spread this?

Of Dalman's $6M signing bonus from his three-year deal, $4M now accelerates onto the Bears' 2026 cap. But because Dalman retired just one year into that contract, the Bears can try to recoup the $4M over the next two years. Up to them whether they want to get it back from him. If they do and are successful, the Bears would get cap credits of $2M in '27 and '28.

Pete from Hillsborough, NC

After seeing Jordan Morgan and Anthony Belton play last season, who do you think is best suited to play left tackle in the NFL and why?

Morgan. He's looked more comfortable there than anywhere else he's been asked to play. It's his natural spot, and versatility isn't for everybody. Belton settled in at guard nicely with limited exposure to the position, and while he could probably play left tackle at this level, he's not as nimble or agile as Morgan, and I like the idea of a 335-pound behemoth mauling away at right guard for the next decade here.

Richard from Greenwich, NY

Hi Mike, I was reading an Athletic piece about the unknowns involved in signing Mallk Willis to a FA contract because of his small sample size. The article mentioned his dismal stats with the Titans prior to being traded to GB. My question is, do you have any insight as to what the Packers saw in him?

Gutey was very outspoken about how he and his staff saw a QB who had developed and improved since his three rookie starts for the Titans. They were impressed with the growth displayed in his '23 and '24 preseason action, showing the rookie struggles were in the past.

Mike from Winchester, TN

Hi Mike, I'm afraid we've entered into the Click Bait Twilight Zone. I need to stay off the internet until it's past.

Feels more like if than when. Happy Monday.

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