Inbox: The runway is clear for takeoff

Gary from Norfolk, VA

New league year started, free agency hit with a bang and lasted it allotted week. On to the draft. Bring it on. What do you do during filler time!

You mean other than clearing snow out of my driveway four times?

Steve from Wabasha, MN

Have you dug out from the blizzard yet? We got 20 inches, but I saw you were in for up to 30.

We got all of 27 inches in my neck of the woods. That blizzard was something else. The 2018 one was bad, but this was relentless for most of 36 hours. Between this snowstorm and the minus-50-degree stretch, I'd say this was one of the worst winters of my lifetime. Call me George because I'm dreaming of spring.

Jimi from Weeki Wachee, FL

Do you think the Packers should look at a free agent like Darren Waller? I know he has an injury history, but could you imagine him and Tucker Kraft in the red zone?

I think they're good with Kraft and Luke Musgrave. What the Packers need is a blocking tight end. John FitzPatrick sustained a significant Achilles injury at year's end, and they need someone to take the in-line load off Kraft. Maybe it's Messiah Swinson, who returned at the end of the 2025 season. Maybe it's a draft pick. Maybe it's a second-wave free agent. But the Packers need a blocking tight end.

Jeff from Athens, WI

Looks like the first frenzy-filled wave of free agency has run its course. Now we move from the splash signings (people like to get wet) to the savvy signings. In my opinion over the years, this has been a strength area for Brian Gutekunst. Everyone can have a good year or a bad year now and then but seems like Gutey has done well over the years and reasonably consistently. What do you think?

You gotta win in the narrow margins of this league, whether it's Day 3 of the NFL Draft, undrafted free agents or the late wave of free agency. Anyone can pay big money for big names. Can you find talent where others aren't looking? That has been an area of strength for Gutekunst, and Green Bay will need to dip into those waters again to offset some of these losses in free agency.

Sean from Boulder, CO

I get the feeling a lot of Packers Nation is upset at the loss of Emanuel Wilson. I agree we never knew what the Packers offered or what Wilson wanted but I think Chris Brooks is the better back. It was clear, after being a distinct third option earlier in the year, the coaches had more faith in Brooks over time. For every splashy play Wilson made, Brooks had the down-to-down reliability I think coaches seek. He was always moving forward, exceptional in pass pro and not keen on dancing in the backfield.

To me, the timing was right for the Packers and Wilson to go in different directions. Wilson has a prime opportunity to compete for more playing time in Seattle while the Packers can shift their focus to developing a long-term running back whether it's MarShawn Lloyd or an incoming draft pick. In the meantime, Brooks is a great complement to Josh Jacobs. He's a reliable third-down back who has experience playing with Jacobs in the two-RB looks.

David from Janesville, WI

With Wilson leaving, I'm hearing murmurs to keep an eye on Damien Martinez. I believe he was a late-season addition to the practice squad before signing his futures deal. Do you have any observations on him? Second, what is your pick for the Brewers' rotation to start the season? Sounds like Big Woo and Priester may be delayed. Lots of young, unproven (at least at the big league level) arms to watch.

I'll save the Brewers question for Spoff if he wants to answer it, but I wouldn't rule out Martinez. Look no further than Wilson and Brooks as relative unknowns who became key players in the Packers' backfield when preparation met opportunity. Martinez's late-season signing also reminds me of Bo Melton in 2022. Both were former seventh-round picks by Seattle who spent time on the Seahawks' practice squad before making their way to Green Bay.

Jim from Hudsonville, MI

Do you think the "pay scale" for offensive linemen will start to even out from position to position? With the (seemingly) decline in the desire to give huge contracts to tackles, along with (seemingly) the willingness to pay interior folks a bit more, perhaps their value will no longer favor one position over another?

Call me old school, but I still favor the prioritization of franchise left tackles. There's good reason they were the first to break the bank. It's an essential position, especially with a right-handed quarterback. That's not to say you can't pay guards and centers top-tier contracts, but NFL teams need stability and security at left tackle, or the house of cards quickly falls. Walker helped Green Bay stem the tide from David Bakhtiari. Hopefully, Jordan Morgan can be the next guy.

Ray from Phoenix, AZ

I have submitted countless questions, which some have been addressed, about playing O-linemen at their normal positions. Gute says Jordan Morgan won the left tackle job out of camp last year but was moved to the other side because of injuries made me spit out my coffee! I have never agreed on the Packers cross-training their O-linemen to play other positions. If you move a player, the continuity needed on the O-line goes out the window. Moving Elgton Jenkins to center is another example. Please address this philosophy!

But you can't count on having the same starting five all year, Ray. Never mind the fact Walker was the Packers' starting left tackle for the previous two seasons, but he also hadn't played another position. It was left tackle or bust while one of the reasons Green Bay drafted Morgan was his positional versatility. To build the best "starting five," the Packers chose to keep Walker at left tackle in 2025 and move Morgan inside. But next season is a new season and an entirely different equation. I get why the Packers did what they did with Jenkins. He was exceptional when he was pressed into action at center and was picking up steam at the time of his injury. But tectonic shifts happen fast in the NFL and here we are.

James from Appleton, WI

If Morgan, Lukas Van Ness and Matthew Golden make big contributions this year, no one will miss the first-round draft pick. The draft-and-develop Packers really won't feel the gap in the pipeline until 2028 and 2029. Right around the time they'll have to start worrying about facing J.J. McCarthy.

Change is scary, but this is a chance for growth and improvement. The Packers had so many players outperform where they were drafted in 2022, aiding their rapid turnaround. But Van Ness, Golden and Morgan are elite prospects who projected as pillars. The runway is clear for takeoff. We'll see how high their collective ceiling runs.

Darrel from Pueblo, CO

II, maybe creating the schedule is a job for A.I. It could take out all the bias, determine lowest travel times and still keep the most desirable team matchups. Do you think that could happen?

It's something to consider, but A.I. struggles with context and rationality. At some level, you still need the human element driving these decisions.

Brad from Marion, IA

Gentlemen, more an observation than a question. Was watching highlight tapes of our newest Packers and was struck by Skyy Moore's willingness to finish plays and grind out a couple extra yards. Given the overall skill position depth the Packers have enjoyed for a while, I think a few more guys such as Kraft and Jacobs willing to make the defenders go to the ground, as well, will pay off in favorable late-game matchups.

Moore has a pedigree. He was a former second-round pick and anything Moore adds to the offense would be welcome. However, this move is really about special teams and providing stability on the return units. Savion Williams was solid on kickoffs last year but dealt with injuries and never was part of the punt plan. Moore gives Green Bay multiple options in addition to being a depth piece at receiver.

Steve from Las Vegas, NV

Regarding running backs on the roster, one of the beat writers had an article recently that suggested that Savion Williams may have an opportunity to compete as a backup running back. What are your thoughts on that possibility? GPG

Nothing against that beat writer's position, but I wouldn't do that with Williams. The moment you try to place a player like him in a positional box, you've lost part of what makes Williams special. I also don't know if I'd want a prospect who regularly battled injuries last year taking additional punishment as a down-after-down ball carrier.

Doug from Neenah, WI

According to the recently updated team roster page on your website, the Packers now have 11 interior defensive linemen including restricted free agents. That doesn't include the six edge rushers. With so much depth in that position group, would you still view it as a draft priority? Thanks.

Signing Javon Hargrave was a good start, but I'd still be looking for a run-stuffing nose tackle on Day 3. Last year proved you can never have enough depth in the middle.

Jon from Temecula, CA

I agree with Mike's answer to "who wins the North?" But for a different reason. The division went 83-52 over the past two seasons. I think the FA losses across the entire North make all teams less competitive. It's unlikely the Bears' D gets that many turnovers, I don't think Kyler Murray fixes the Vikings and losing David Montgomery hurts Detroit's run game. I feel the only place we got better in FA was D-line. Lotta holes to fill with seven picks. But games are still won on Sunday, so let's just play ball.

Like Spoff said, there is no clear-cut favorite in the division. The fact that all four teams have won an NFC North title over the past five years speaks to that. However, I do think Detroit and Minnesota are at inflection points. The Lions were getting older and had to reset this offseason. While Kevin O'Connell is a wizard, there are limits to his magic. Again, I like where the Packers sit. Green Bay lost a lot of big names in free agency, but as discussed, it also has in-house replacements with upside at most positions.

Dale from Prescott, WI

Sorry if this has been answered already, but what is the date when free-agent signings don't cost anything for the compensatory pick? I'm sure Gutekunst will pick some second-wave free agents up.

April 27, the Monday after the NFL Draft.

Brad from Tucson, AZ

Kudos on your answer to Joe from Boze – first time I've seen this appropriately stated by the media, and succinctly too! Orthopedic surgeon here – Ravens would have had all info such as operative reports, arthroscopic photos, MRIs, etc., prior to his "physical." Examining his knee eight weeks post-op wasn't likely to change anything. Ravens reneged and deserve all the scorn they receive.

I don't get what the Ravens did. It's not just pulling out of the Crosby deal, either. It's then spending big on a soon-to-be 32-year-old Trey Hendrickson, who's four years Crosby's senior. Strange, strange deal. I don't get it. But you know what's suddenly interesting? The offseason that the Raiders are having, especially once they make their No. 1 pick.

James from Chicago, IL

The "Over the Hill Gang" 54 years ago also had like six or seven players destined for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. I don't know as though there's much comparison to 2026. Also, Daniel Snyder tried that approach to building a team in the late '90s? And it didn't work all that well. Give me draft-and-develop any day.

That also came during a time when George Allen was hiding Mark Murphy in a van during the NFL Draft. Different era.

Ron from Mitchell, SD

Just a comment. Spoff's response to Matt from Fitchburg's comment also perfectly describes the current state of the news media in our country.

Conjecture becoming content is a real gremlin. It's one of the scariest things born out of the rise of social media.

Dar from Mansfield, TX

I'm spending time in 'Sconsin visiting family, and I'm enjoying (to a small degree) the blizzard y'all have provided me. What's your go-to winter gear when weather gets this tough? Mittens or gloves for those typing fingers of yours? Boots? I don't picture either of you, like Vic, shivering at the gas pump in a pair of khakis and thin shoes.

Your timing is impeccable for a generational blizzard, my friend. I go gloves over mittens (especially for clearing snow), Under Armour long johns and the strongest pair of Columbia boots on the shelf.

Kathryn from Greenville, WI

How much longer will the Tundra be frozen?! If there was a game scheduled at Lambeau, and Green Bay received 20-plus inches of snow, would the game be cancelled?

It would've threatened it or forced the NFL to push the game to Monday or Tuesday. This blizzard shut down Green Bay. It's a good time to shout out to all the public service employees and essential workers who braved the storm while I dug in for two days.

Tom from Keota, IA

Hey II. Drafting is often just praying. We have Matthew (Golden), Mark (Perry), Luke at TE, and a few Johns. Plus, a Micah and an Isaiah. So, here's my strategy... Round 2: Genesis Smith (S). Round 3: Malachi Fields (WR). Round 4: Jonah Coleman (RB). Round 5: Isaiah World (OT) to double up! Round 7: Ephesians Prysock (CB). Round 7: Roman(s) Hemby (RB). That's 11 books of the Bible covered. Round 6 is tough, but Bishop Fitzgerald (S) should be available. If we can give them all a Job, it would be a Revelation.

I appreciate time and effort you put into this, Tom.

Jeffrey from Eveleth, MN

"You are here only until I can replace you." Fitting quote for free agency.

And really every aspect of life.

Gary from Middleton, WI

"Don't confuse outcome with intent." I will be using that statement a lot during this upcoming golf season.

Me too, Gary. Me too.

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