Inbox: It's with multiple years in mind

Ian from San Juan, PR

I can't decide between buying a Matthew Golden No. 0 or Micah Parsons No. 1 jersey. It's a real binary choice!

OK, I smiled. But you can still see yourself out.

Samuel from Antigo, WI

Could you add a supplemental page to the 2025 Packers Yearbook?

Ha. It doesn't work that way and I don't see the publishing company doing a reprint. I'm already chuckling at the thought of someone revisiting the '25 book down the road and wondering, "Hey, where's Parsons?"

Jim from Boise, ID

Is this what is called GOING ALL IN?

Call it that if you wish, but as Gutey said, this is not a one-year proposition. It's with multiple years in mind, attempting to benefit from the prime of a potentially Hall of Fame-bound player.

Bob from Colby, KS

So, am I cynical, pessimistic or pragmatic when I write, "The jury's still out"?

You're a realist. Games aren't won with rosters, they're won with performance, and it's still a team game, albeit tilted by star players. Getting the most out of those stars is not a given, because opponents do everything they can to limit their impact. Maximizing on this is up to everyone involved.

Derek from Lexington, KY

I can't believe they gave him No. 1. Next thing you know, someone will be wearing 5. Dogs and cats living together! Mass hysteria!

'Preciate the humor and classic line. I have zero problem with the Packers giving away No. 1, and I'll outline why. Lambeau wore No. 1 only in 1925 and '26. He wore No. 14 in '27, No. 42 in '28 and No. 20 in '29. Yes, he's the only player in franchise history to wear No. 1, but he is also not really in Canton as a player. He's in more so as team founder/coach. He was a player only on the first of the six championship teams he coached, in '29. He's got a statue in front of the stadium that's named after him, a name the franchise has declined to sell just to make a few extra (tens of millions of) bucks. That's the most honor and deference bestowed on anyone in franchise history, and rightly so. I just don't think the uniform number is that big a deal, all things considered.

Clark from Henderson, NV

With the Pack acquiring Micah, where do y'all feel that he will be playing? Opposite of Rashan Gary or LB?

Eventually, I see the Packers wanting opponents to never be able to stop asking that question. But it will take some time to get there.

Luke from Port Alsworth, AK

Hi guys, with the addition of Parsons, whose job on defensive (can be multiple people) just got easier, whose job got harder/less of a role for them to play now, and whose job is put on notice?

I don't sense anyone being put on notice. Theoretically, the secondary's job got a little easier because it shouldn't have to cover as long with a more explosive pass rush, but offenses could also counter with more bunch formations and quick hitters to give the QB a fast read and easy outlet. It's always a cat-and-mouse game that way. As for any lesser roles, we just have to see. How often does Lukas Van Ness or Gary kick inside to rush on third downs, and what does that mean for others' opportunities? All TBD.

Brendon from San Antonio Tlayacapan, Mexico

Excited about Parsons, but nervous about how we stop the runs up the middle without our two best run defenders, Clark and Slaton. How do we prevent a replay of the 2019 playoff disaster vs. the 49ers?

Last I checked Devonte Wyatt, Karl Brooks, Colby Wooden, Warren Brinson and Nazir Stackhouse had either just started college or were still in high school in 2019. Maybe we should see how the unit performs before worrying about flashbacks?

Dan from Waupaca, WI

Interested how the Packers overcome the loss of Kenny Clark. Stopping the run has always been an issue for this team (*esp against good teams), Kenny often occupied two blockers. Who is that guy now? You have to figure that if they knew Clark was going away, they wouldn't have let Slaton walk.

Perhaps, but nobody knew when the Slaton decision was made that acquiring a player like Parsons was even a possibility, so there's no point getting hung up on it. Hafley didn't need any massive personnel overhaul to put together the Packers' best run defense in 15 years. I'll trust him to figure this out.

Scott from Holly Springs, NC

Did the Packers' decision to put Kenny Clark in the trade more about getting rid of a player while he starts to lose value, or is it more that Parsons is that great of a player that Gute was willing to give up one of the better defensive players on the team?

Definitely the latter. The way Gutey talked about it, Clark was a must in the deal from Dallas' standpoint.

Wayne from Plover, WI

What will Packer Nation and you guys do the next two spring seasons since we won't be able to debate who the Packers will take in the first-round mock drafts?

Discuss grammar? It's whom.

Mark from Apollo Beach, FL

Hey Mike, I am sure that the big cheeses there with you and Wes know much more than I, but I'm concerned with a player who missed training camp and preseason overdoing it and risking injury. Also, I am old school but like the idea of resurrecting Curly's number. Just beat the Lions!

Getting Parsons into game shape in order to play is a very real thing, and as poignant as his comment was about not sitting on the sidelines, LaFleur's words certainly indicate caution will be exercised.

John from McHenry, IL

Do you anticipate Parsons being a situational player for his first game with the Packers, or a full-time starter?

Lots of folks are asking what his role will be in the first game. What Parsons does best is rush the passer, so to me that's where it starts if he's not an every-down player. With a Thursday night game coming up right after the opener, his limited role may not change much in Week 2. But again, we just have to see.

Phil from Patis, IL

I know I may be getting ahead of myself with this, but this year may be our only chance to win it all with Hafley as our DC. If our defense plays like they did last year, or hopefully even better, he is definitely going to be getting some HC opportunities. I think deservedly so. Hopefully having a dominant defense takes some of the pressure off Love and the offense while they are figuring things out early in the year. I can't wait to see it play out! GPG!

I hear you on Hafley. If he wants to be a head coach in this league, he's going to get his chances, perhaps sooner than later.

Matt from San Luis Obispo, CA

Wait, Wes's answer concerning cap implications with the addition of Parsons caught me off guard. Is Parsons currently playing on a fifth-year option, and his Packers contract means four more years after this season? Surely, I misunderstood. (I know, don't call me Shirley!)

Parsons isn't playing on the fifth-year option per se, but the Packers did sign him to a four-year extension that in effect replaced his 2025 pay with a huge signing bonus and has him under contract for five years total through 2029.

Jay from Fenton, MI

Where are we on the salary cap with the Parsons addition/Clark subtraction? Are we going to have to do restructurings or cuts to get under the cap? Will we have any significant room to do any more deals this season?

As Gutey and Wes noted, the cap charges for the first three years (2025-27) are friendly and shouldn't really hinder the Packers looking at re-signings and such as they normally do. Plus, not paying a first-round pick the next two years changes the equation slightly too (Golden's cap charge as a rookie is $3.2M and increases to $5.6M by Year 4). Parsons' cap numbers for the last two years of his contract strongly suggest it'll be revisited heading into 2028.

Mike from Lisle, IL

The splash trades I remember in NFL history tend to be ones where the team acquiring the marquee player ends up disappointed. John Hadl, Herschel Walker, Ricky Williams, Khalil Mack, and Aaron Rodgers had different levels of success, but never matched the initial optimism. Can you cite some examples where a blockbuster trade worked out the way the team hoped it would? (Although it involved a first-rounder, I don't remember Favre's trade as "splashy," hardly a marquee name at the time).

I don't remember how many high draft picks were involved, but most recently Matthew Stafford to the Rams and Christian McCaffrey to the 49ers have worked out for those teams. Turning back the clock further, Marshall Faulk to the Rams, Eric Dickerson to the Colts, Randy Moss to the Patriots, Steve Young to the 49ers, and Jerome Bettis to the Steelers were awfully successful trades. The Mack trade was huge for the Bears at first, as they won the NFC North, but they still didn't have a franchise quarterback.

Ryan from Chippewa Falls, WI

I don't want to take anything away from the excitement or splash of the Parsons trade, but this move got me thinking. What is the most bold trade the Packers have ever made? Was it Wolf trading for Favre? I can't remember what Wolf gave up, but Parsons was definitely much more of a proven commodity compared to Favre. Also, didn't Brett fail his physical or something, and RW was willing to roll the dice on him?

The failed physical is part of the story's lore. A brand new GM trading a first-round pick for a player drafted in the second round sitting third on the other team's depth chart was indeed a bold stroke. I don't know how to compare them, because QB moves rank above all else, but the financial investment in Favre was minimal at first. I've also always wondered whether Wolf makes that trade had he not possessed another first-round pick that year, at No. 5 overall no less. That had to make it a tad easier.

Gary from Hope Mills, NC

Do you think Rodgers is turning over in his Steelers uniform wondering why the Packers didn't try this hard to win a championship with him? The front office didn't seem to go out and trade for great talent in their prime from other teams, nor draft top echelon receivers like the Golden One or go after young free agents like Xavier McKinney and Josh Jacobs. In just a few short years they have provided Jordan Love with enough warriors to not just win a few battles but claim victory in the whole war!

There was undeniable reluctance at times on Thompson's part to make this type of move. No arguing that. But he did sign Woodson in '06 and Peppers in '14, and he may not have spent first-rounders on receivers, but he used plenty of seconds. With Gutey, he was going to trade for Mack in '18 and put as much on the table as the Bears, but the Raiders surmised Chicago's draft slots would be better. There's also been plenty reported regarding his interest in Justin Jefferson in the '20 draft, but he couldn't find a trade partner to move up high enough from 30. The Vikings were sitting at 22 thanks to their Stefon Diggs trade to Buffalo and got him, then San Francisco moved up for Minnesota's original first-rounder at 25 to take Brandon Aiyuk. So Gutey went and got his next quarterback. My point is just because certain things didn't happen doesn't mean the effort wasn't there.

Kevin from Westminster, CO

Surely two games in four days is never something to be enthralled over, but do you see any advantage to opening the season with it while everyone is fresh and as healthy as you'll be versus mid or late season?

I might feel that way had the Packers been healthy throughout training camp, but all the missed time by front-line players doesn't make me feel great about the two big home games right out of the gate. Hopefully the adversity can be overcome.

John from Del Mar, CA

I'm not sure I get the angst over adding an 18th game. Yogi Berra's response to concerns when MLB went from 154 to 162 games was "what's another six games over a long season." I'm thinking moving from 17 to 18 will be forgotten quickly, as was going from 16 to 17.

We need a day of Yogi answering Inbox questions. You're probably right. The TV ratings will tell the story. But once they get 18, the next question is how soon the owners will push again toward 20, because they will.

Paul from Ellensburg, WA

Hey fellas, the Inbox is full of words and phrases like "potential, upside, ascending talent, ready for the next step and had a great camp." It all reminds me of why we call this baloney season. At what point of regurgitation do you get that feeling of "Let's just see who wins Week 1"? Thanks.

I'm perpetually there, and prepared for all the overreactions to the Week 1 results.

Kevin from Bettendorf, IA

As great as Micah Parsons has been and we hope continues to be, a successful Packers' season still rests on positive developments to the questions we've had all summer. Whether it's Jordan Love, the offensive line, the wide receivers and cornerbacks, Luke Musgrave or MarShawn Lloyd, we'll have lots to talk about this year besides Micah Parsons.

It is indeed a team game. Always will be.

Josh from Pooler, GA

Can we start a community fund to send Mike on vacation more often?

Knew I'd find this if I looked hard enough. Major kudos to Wes for taking on the workload he did in my absence, and he penned a great piece on Parsons. I admit it wasn't easy to miss all the excitement of such a seismic happening, but I appreciate those for and with whom I work understanding family commitments. Happy Monday.

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