Inbox: It's too competitive for anyone to just stay the same

Mike from Glendale, CA

I pray that the new Pope loves all NFL teams equally. We know what happens when Chicagoans believe they're on a mission from God.

Jake and Elwood to start my week. There are worse ways. Hope all the moms out there had a banner Sunday. Off we go.

Bob from Madison, WI

To Will from Milwaukee, it's players not prayers. Hold the door Will!

Please.

Ben from Luxemburg, WI

Spoff, inquiring minds need to know. What was your preferred walk-up song when you played baseball?

They didn't have walk-up songs in my high school or D-III days.

Kevin from Rockton, IL

Tony Gwynn was referenced in Friday's Inbox. I read he could have gone 0 for 1,000 after his retirement and still hit .305 for his career. Remarkable.

Indubitably.

Ed from Green Bay, WI

If signing Canadian QB Taylor Elgersma is true, would he be qualified as an international player (or whatever it is called) not counting against the roster total?

I don't believe Canadian players qualify.

Darrel from Pueblo, CO

II, have the Packers published any numbers on the economic impact the draft had on GB and the local area? With a reported 600K+ attendance, I suspect some pretty good numbers.

I do, too, but I haven't seen anything from the city or chamber.

David from Janesville, WI

Gents, an off-the-grass question. Mike made the comment about being okay with the SB in DC more so now that Snyder is gone. It made me wonder if the NFL has any say or vetting opportunity when a team is being sold? I mean, if I owned a team I would want to be able to sell to the bidder that makes the most sense to me and financials would play a significant part. Snyder seemed to be despised by many even then, would the NFL have the power to "encourage" that sale to someone more palatable?

Any club sale must be approved by three-quarters of the league owners. For the record, the sale to Snyder back in 1999, and his sale of the team more recently, were both unanimously approved.

Chuck from Sun Prairie, WI

Good morning, Mike. You referenced past owner Dan Snyder. When Washington gets awarded a Super Bowl, would you say Washington is finally "off the Snyde"?

So many people just begging to be pointed toward the exit these days.

Jake from Madison, WI

Wait, so suddenly wide receiver is a "position of surplus"? I'm as excited as anybody about Matthew Golden, but Christian Watson is likely to miss a bunch of games, Dontayvion Wicks, Bo Melton, and the others have shown flashes but aren't consistent, and who knows what Savion Williams' role will be. Can we please chill out?

Even though "position of surplus" was admittedly my phrase within the context of answering the question, your overall point is a more direct way of saying basically what I said on Friday.

Joshua from Milwaukee, WI

With apologies to our WR room, I think some Inbox readers need to tame the enthusiasm. With the exception of Golden, this is largely the same group some were so excited about last year. None of them has approached 1,000 yards yet. They are, however, still young and talented. I like the group. Is it fair to say it's a room with ample opportunity, tons of promise, and megatons to prove?

That, too.

Ross from Hudson, WI

It will be fun watching the competition at wide receiver this year. Is it unrealistic to expect to see a player of that position on the roster come fall who will be 90% return man and only 10% receiver?

If the Packers keep seven receivers, I could see one of the seven being almost strictly a returner. If they keep six, that becomes less likely to me.

Larry from Cumming, GA

In years past we talked about Green Bay having a swing tackle. Based on the draft, it appears we're headed toward a swing lineman able to play left and right tackle and guard. Is this how you see it also?

Maybe multiple.

Chris from Marshfield, WI

Which single player on defense has the most impact on the success or failure of the unit in 2025? I'm going to say Kenny Clark. We don't have much proven NT depth behind him if he gets hurt or can't stay in all the time.

I understand that perspective and logic, but my pick would be Edgerrin Cooper. He was a true difference-maker when he played down the stretch last season, and his impact might be most difficult to replace if he's not available.

Dan from Catonsville, MD

Hi guys: Do you think Isaiah Simmons could be the Packers' version of the Eagles' Zack Baun this year?

Barring injury, Simmons won't be an every-down player on this defense, and he has to make the team first anyway. I don't consider that a given.

Steven from Alexandria, MN

I noticed that Jamon Dumas-Johnson isn't currently on the website roster, did he ever actually sign with the Packers? I know a lot of us were excited that he was a reported UDFA signing, but curious if he wound up signing somewhere else.

He is listed on the roster as Jamon Johnson. I'm not sure what happened to the Dumas.

Patrick from Peoria, IL

Do you guys think the packers hired Covington because they are assuming if Jeff Hafley improves the defense, or at the very least it stays on the same level as last years, that he will more than likely be a head coach the following year and Covington will be their replacement assuming the D-line play improves?

No one knows the timeline, and nothing's guaranteed, but I think LaFleur recognizes the likely eventuality Hafley will become a head coach, and he's setting up a potential line of succession.

George from North Mankato, MN

What are your thoughts about the Texans fully guaranteeing a second-round pick's four-year contract? Seems like Pandora's box may have been opened to me. So many misses happen in the draft, I'm not sure this is a good idea. What happens if he is cut or released prior to the completion of the contract?

Things are trending this way with high draft picks. I believe last year was the first time all first-round contracts were fully guaranteed, and now it's trickling down to the second round. Stay tuned I guess.

Mike from New Orleans, LA

Is there any system in the NFL similar to redshirting in college where a player's contract doesn't "tick" a year off? I'm thinking of a situation where a player suffers a major injury in the offseason or some other unforeseen circumstance and therefore will miss a full season.

You're referring to a contract being "tolled," or effectively frozen, due to specific circumstances. If a player spends a certain amount of time on the PUP or NFI (non-football injury) lists during the final year of his contract, it might be tolled. Also, a player placed on the reserve/military list due to military service would have his contract tolled.

Jean from Longueuil, Canada

With what is going on in college football (NIL, transfers, etc.) is it possible that a superstar in the making would be making more money at the collegiate level than his rookie contract? Has the NFL adjusted the pay scale of rookie contracts accordingly and then the salary cap? Thanks for all the information provided in II. GPG.

The NFL hasn't adjusted rookie contracts in relation to NIL money. The rookie contracts are based on the CBA and rise in conjunction with the cap. As to a superstar making more money in college than the NFL, it entirely depends on how high the player gets drafted. Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty (No. 6 overall pick) has $35.9M guaranteed over four years from the Raiders, and Michigan TE Colston Loveland (No. 10) is getting $26.6M guaranteed over four years from the Bears. The highest NIL valuation in college football for 2025, I believe, is Arch Manning's $6.5M from Texas (one year).

Peter from Wauwatosa, WI

It seems the Packers have started a new trend in drafting multiple players at the same position. Some years they doubled down at two or three positions dating back 2021. Do you think this strategy is intentional or a mere coincidence? I lean towards intentional specifically to increase the odds of hitting on a specific area of need and increase competition at that position.

I'd say sometimes it's intentional, other times it's how the board falls, with a player at a position they've already drafted standing out as the best available at that moment. I believe the latter is what happened with Savion Williams in the third round, after drafting Golden. But there are instances it's been intentional based on Gutey's comments after those drafts.

Roger from McGrath, AK

Typically, the 53-man roster includes names not yet on the 90-man roster when our river ice in Alaska goes out in May. What position groups are unlikely and most likely to see changes/additions between now and when we get our first frost in August?

I don't see any position group screaming out for numbers, especially with a couple highly regarded UDFAs brought in. But when they get a look at some of the young players during OTAs and mandatory minicamp they could move on and replace them. Nature of the beast.

Mike from Geneva, IL

Friday was a big day for me. Not only did I get the subheading below the lede, but Mike made this statement about my inquiry, "That may be the biggest hypothetical question of the last 25 years of NFL history." Thanks for the recognition! I may have to include those nuggets on my resume. My question: On paper who do you think has the best offense in the NFC North at this point? There were strong teams last season and lots of additions in the offseason for some.

The Lions hold that distinction until proven otherwise, and the big question is whether that unit can continue to produce as it has without Ben Johnson calling the shots.

James from Chicago, IL

The Eagles are the most recent team to crack the "how to win the Super Bowl" code. So, the Packers just need to copy the Eagles and they'll win the SB. Easy, right? But what if every other team also copies the Eagles? Gosh, I say it like that...maybe winning the SB isn't so easy?

Funny how that works.

Mark from Bellevue, WI

One of the things that occurred to me in regards to the job Coach LaFleur has done. While making the playoffs in five of his six seasons, the one year ('22) the team didn't make the playoffs, they were eliminated on the final game of the season. I think it is pretty impressive that the team has not played a meaningless game in six seasons (with respect to playoff position secured exceptions). Can't complain when my favorite team is always playing for something. Can't win it if you're not in it!

Bingo. There's plenty to be said for that. In my 19 seasons with packers.com, only three (2008, '17, '18) included playing-out-the-string games. I'm extremely thankful.

James from Muskego, WI

"Winning the Super Bowl is the only thing that matters." Been hearing that from buddies for over 50 years and is the same mentality as "if you ain't first, you're last." Then why are 31 coaches not fired after every season? My real question to you guys is what makes a successful season and team in your opinion?

Progress. It takes steady and notable progress to reach the ultimate goal. While the Packers made the playoffs last season, and I'll never take that for granted, I think we all know they didn't really build on the progress they showed in '23, for myriad reasons. I don't consider it a huge step back when you're still in the postseason, but it wasn't progress. You're either getting better or getting worse in this league. It's too competitive for anyone to just stay the same.

Josh from Seattle, WA

This Packers team is built so well! I want to offer a standing applause to Mark Murphy, Gutey, and MLF. They won the metaphorical and irrelevant offseason trophy. IMHO WCBW the biggest question mark for this team is whether Love and MLF will take the next step to play and call their best games when it matters most. There's no question about their ability, but my eyes tell me that what's on paper has not shown on the field in the biggest moments, yet. Will they get hot when it matters most?

Ultimately, your last eight words matter most. They showed the capability of doing so down the stretch in 2023. That wasn't repeated in 2024. Every season is its own entity, its own journey, its own grind. It's buckle-up time in just under four months.

H.R. from Henderson, NV

In my Inboxing career, I have now had the lead-off, gotten printed multiple times in the same article, held the tag line, and gotten mentioned by another Inboxer. Is my Inbox HOF resume complete? Or do I miss the cut if I never get the trailer? Inboxing minds may want to know...

The II HOF, at least as the honor is bestowed by me (rarely), is not the HOF you think it is. Happy Monday.