Inbox: That unity is what will drive the Packers forward

John from Saint Paul, MN

I am hoping special teams will be more productive with a kick returner and new coach. What do you think?

It's a new era for special teams and Skyy Moore gives Green Bay a 25-year-old returner with a second-round pedigree and his best football still ahead of him. The Packers needed a fresh start on the return units and having someone like Moore who can return both kickoffs and punts is major boon for Cam Achord's special teams. Plus, Moore has a versatile toolset that could help Green Bay's offense, as well.

Bruce from Jackson, WI

Wes, your “5 things learned…” article has given me more hope for this season to be a big year. I think many have felt our game-planning and play-calling has been stale recently. Be it the young team, Jordan Love getting his feet under him or Matt LaFleur having too much on his plate, his acknowledging this is important. With the new coaches and team attitudes around the NFC North, winning the division is no longer a certain thing. I'm looking forward to the fresh start and the excitement to come. GPG!

I think LaFleur and the Packers are in a good place right now. After talking with all the key decision-makers on Monday, it sounds like the Packers have a good understanding of where they fell short in 2025 and a clear vision of what needs to change in 2026. Everyone is aligned in that vision. More than anything, that unity is what will drive the Packers forward.

Jim from Mundelein, IL

The business side of the NFL is becoming increasingly important. So glad Ed Policy is aware of this reality. The second contract money for receivers seems to make drafting receivers a good business decision. Teams can sign a few receivers to second contracts but not many. I'm interested in your thoughts regarding the receiver position. I think your thoughts will provide insight into construction of the total roster. That Green Bay has an NFL team is freaking awesome.

Receivers are tricky and what I've learned during my time covering the NFL is it's difficult for teams to afford paying a receiver and running back high-value contracts at the same time. It's no coincidence Green Bay paid Aaron Jones and Josh Jacobs during this post-Davante Adams window. The price keeps rising on top wideouts, though. If Christian Watson and Jayden Reed produce, I assume both will get what's coming to them like Romeo Doubs did.

Julian from Gastonia, NC

Which game last year do you think sticks the most in Brian Gutekunst's mind during the 2026 draft? The losses to the Bears come to mind, but I don't think so because of their bizarre nature. I'm looking at the home loss to the Ravens and how Baltimore ran the ball. I think Brian will, as well. That means multiple picks to shore up the run defense, early and often. Thoughts?

I didn't ask Gutekunst that question directly on Monday, but the addition of Javon Hargrave and Zaire Franklin obviously is an indication of that emphasis. Both guys are heavy-hitting thumpers at their respective positions who will buoy the run defense. One can only assume that emphasis will be carry into next month's draft, as well.

Mary from Scottsdale, AZ

Which offseason move do you think will have the biggest long-term impact?

I'm excited for Zaire Franklin to join the Packers' linebacker room, especially after hearing Gutekunst talk about how the Packers tried to acquire him in the past. Frankin is a former team captain, Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year club winner and an NFLPA executive committee member. There's a lot of knowledge Franklin can impart to Green Bay's young linebackers while also still playing the game at a high level himself. That's big time.

Richard from Caledonia, WI

Which additions so far this off season present the greatest opportunity for overall team improvement in the upcoming season?

As it relates to 2026, it's gotta be Hargrave for me. I feel like he adds to the defense what it lost when Kenny Clark was traded to Dallas.

Scott from Saint Petersburg, FL

I apologize if this question has previously been asked and answered, but do you see any scenario, given this year's projected first-round prospects that the Packers would look to move up to the first round?

I don't see it happening. They spent their next two first-round picks on Micah Parsons, a generational addition but it leaves GB light on premium picks at the moment, and I don't see Gutekunst parting with his 2028 first. You have to give something to get something, though, and Parsons has been the ultimate return on investment.

Derek from Sheboygan, WI

Are we going to make any moves in free agency before this draft?

It's gonna be pretty quiet now unless there's a released veteran (like Hargrave) that the Packers have interest in. If Green Bay signs an unrestricted free agent between now and the draft, it would jeopardize its fourth compensatory pick – the sixth-rounder the Packers likely will receive for losing Kingsley Enagbare. So, I'd expect the Packers to stand pat for the moment.

Ray from West Des Moines, IA

In the upcoming softball game, does Bo Melton play for the offense or defense?

Yes.

Daniel from Lakeland, FL

In your response to Benjamin of Bear, DE, you note, the NFL "is drafting contingency plans that would allow the league office to review any egregious calls if replacement referees are needed." Would that not have the potential to doom games to an agonizingly slow pace?

Pace of play is everything to the NFL, so I don't think it'll come to that…or at least I hope it doesn't. But the league does need to put legislation in front of the owners in case of that emergency. That's what it's doing.

Jeff from Milwaukee, WI

Coach LaFleur mentioned that some players may have been unhappy with their roles. Is that something that you guys can ever pick up on through interactions after games as you view parts of practices or anything else?

No, and I think that's really a credit to the Packers, the locker room and their culture. Those things don't play out in the media in Green Bay. It's addressed behind closed doors. I also appreciated LaFleur's comments on the matter. First, he took accountability and said it's up to him and the coaches to be clear with players about their roles and expectations. But it's also on the players, too. Since the beginning, Green Bay has been a place where players earn playing time through hard work and development. Nothing is given. Everything is earned.

John from Stevens Point, WI

I'm anxious to see if our '25 draft picks make a jump in Year 2. Which of those draft picks might be a "sleeper", someone that didn't do much in the '25-26 season, but could surprise and really help the Packers this coming season?

I feel like Savion Williams is the only answer to this question. The former third-round pick has game-changing ability if he can stay on the field.

Shadi from Amman, Jordan

Saw an Adam Schefter post on the status of negotiations with the NFL Referees Association. Replacement refs, to be recruited and start training on May 1. The silverling is he mentioned a sweeping set of replay enhancements to support the new refs? I just hope it's a meaningful set of enhancements. Had to double-check, no Seahawks on the schedule. So, we've got that going for us, which is nice?

Technological advancements and no Seahawks on the schedule…we're already light years ahead of 2012.

John from Belleview, FL

The "other" football league just had a 60-plus-yard field goal kicked for four points. I think this is wrong, and I hope the NFL does not adopt it. It is rewarding a team for NOT BEING ABLE TO DRIVE THE BALL DOWN THE FIELD. If anything, they should get fewer points for it. Just my opinion. Thank you for all you and your team provide us fans!

It's a fine gimmick for the UFL but now is not the time to start rewarding NFL teams for attempting/making 60-plus-yard field goals. Three points is enough, especially with all the recent changes in the preparation of K-balls.

Bob from Rome, NY

Gentleman: I sure hope the NFL votes to allow the onside kick to happen at any point in game. I was shocked to hear it was fourth quarter only when the rule was changed. Correct me if I am wrong (don't ask my wife) but it is currently the only play that is limited to just one part of the game. Thank you!

My hunch is that proposal will pass, but we'll find out soon and talk about it later.

Chris from Minneapolis, MN

Golden Tate has claimed that the Fail Mary play was officiated correctly. He believes he gained co-possession before M.D. Jennings' second foot came down, and co-possession goes to the offense. Do you see any validity to that claim?

And I thought my Bay View Middle School crush winked at me. Turns out she just had something in her eye.

Doug from Salem, OR

Hi I2. The fact that people keep track of their submissions (and others' too) speaks volumes of how important your column is to us Packer fans. I don't keep track of mine, but I do yell to my wife, "I got printed." She isn't very impressed. I had one question that I thought worthy but didn't get printed. Do you know how many submissions you get each day? It might make people feel better realizing how hard it is. Do I get to tell my wife, "I got printed?"

We get this question a lot (and the answer is a lot). Even in the offseason, there are hundreds of questions each day. I think there have been around 700 since Spoff went on vacation and we usually can answer only 20-25 each day.

Mike from Winchester, TN

Hi Wes, I've resisted boasting about my successful submissions, and I certainly don't have a spreadsheet like Richard (wow!). While I've been fortunate to have gotten the first post, I enjoy getting the last one of the day more. On two of those Spoff just posted my submission with no response. Your response of "MICHAEL!" was classic. My all-time record was when Mr. Murphy posted my questions on Murphy Takes 5 on back to back months!

Now you just need to sneak into Policy's Perspective…which has a new post this Saturday.

Josh from Nicaragua

While I have achieved many of the Inbox accolades (first, last, headline, referenced by another Inboxer), I would say those that I'm most proud of are more personal in nature. It's a toss up for my best between being congratulated on my wedding day and being told "I haven't laughed that hard in a long time" in response to my high school hot chicks submission. As someone who fancies themselves as funny, eliciting a good laugh brings me as much joy as it does for the person in stitches.

If you can make us laugh while writing this column, you've achieved one of the greatest feats an Inbox reader can achieve. It doesn't get much better than that.

Keith from Lincoln, IL

Instead of opening a refrigerator to swipe a lunch, you can step in and time travel back to any prior NFL owners meeting of the past. Which one do you attend and why?

Call it recency bias, but that 2023 owners meeting here at the Biltmore was an all-timer. Gutekunst stepping in front of the camera and saying he was open to trading Aaron Rodgers to the New York Jets was one of those "Where were you when?" moments.

Jan from Colgate, WI

What are the odds that Aaron Rodgers will retire as a Packer?

Someday…not in 2026.

Kurt from Sartell, MN

Wes is right, I wanted to send a message. This stock boy would bring fancy sandwiches and always talked them up. One time he brought something that looked like a pastrami on rye with cheese, lettuce and topped with what he described as a nice mustard sauce. While I suppose I could have just upped my own sandwich game, I decided to knock him down a couple notches instead. Didn't want to do it, felt I owed it to him…

Message sent. Message likely received.

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