Inbox: Their instincts tell them where it might be

Kathryn from Greenville, WI

Wes, now that we know you were the jinx for replacement officials … stay away from asking Roger any more questions at this year's NFL Draft, please.

Wes left us hangin' there. I want to know what Roger's answer was.

Michael from Eagle, ID

I know we all like participating in Fight Club, but is it time to revisit the First Rule of Fight Club?

And how.

Markus from Aurora, CO

Gents, when will we get "Packers Unscripted" back?

Once construction is finished on the new studio. It's not done yet, but it's coming along.

Josh from Raleigh, NC

What do you think of a 4-point safety? My reasons – 1. Safeties are much harder to get than field goals and should be worth more. 2. We need more defensive-oriented rules. 3. Think of the comeback potential in a game, a safety (4) and a follow-up field goal (3) would equal a touchdown + extra point, giving teams more hope when trailing.

Ay-yay-yay. Note to self: Stop engaging in rules/scoring discussions. The draft can't get here soon enough.

Mike from Vancouver, WA

Pardon me if this has been covered previously, but I'm not clear on what specifically differentiates a "K-ball" from an ordinary game ball. Hasn't the league always reserved separate balls for field goals?

Exactly, and until a few years ago, those K-balls came pretty much straight out of the plastic wrap. Now, teams get to prep them (to an extent) and have them inspected, much like regular game balls.

Dar from Mansfield, TX

Count me as another fan of the new Prospect Primer format. Nice evolution. If you had to take a wild guess as to which position Gutey might double- or triple-up in this year draft, what would it be? He's previously hinted that DL seems deep this year, so that's my guess, although CB and OL certainly are also areas where the team could use more good players.

I could see any of those three you mentioned as possible double-ups. With only seven picks going in, though, a triple-up would surprise me.

Jeffery from Monticello, WI

Hello II, your answer about getting Dexter Lawrence saying Javon Hargrave, Devonte Wyatt and Karl Brooks are good enough now, they just need young guys to rotate. What about the two Georgia Dawgs, Warren Brinson and Nazir Stackhouse?

I think those are the guys Wes was specifically referring to, but they need to earn their playing time and prove worthy of being in the rotation. More competition for those roles could be coming, too.

Trevor from Seattle, WA

I agree with Dennis, we can't assume Skyy Moore is a special teams savior. But I think Wes is on point in saying having a natural returner play the return position should do wonders. I'm looking forward to watching someone who hits the hole hard and decisively (thinking of Josh Jacobs, minus the fumble).

I've long believed a dynamic returner can do more for a return game than the rest of the unit can do for him. That's not to dismiss the collective effort. But the best returners aren't looking for a hole in front of them, they're looking for a hole that's not there yet, and their instincts tell them where it might be, or where to take their best shot.

Kevin from San Francisco, CA

The talk of best available player drafting and Kirk Cousins going to the Raiders reminded me of an overlooked fact. Cousins was the second QB taken by Washington in the 2012 draft (Round 4) after taking Robert Griffin III with the No. 2 overall pick. Two starting QBs when teams struggle to get one. You like that? What a draft.

And the way the Shanahans tell the story, Washington was working on acquiring Peyton Manning that year until trading up to the No. 2 spot in the draft.

Steven from Birchington, UK

What's an underrated trait that Brian Gutekunst looks for when evaluating talent?

Love of football. Guys really have to love the game to put their bodies through what it takes to succeed at this level.

Ron from Mitchell, SD

I heard where the Vikings still have not hired a new GM? Can't imagine heading into the draft without Gutey in the chair. If true, this seems crazy to me.

They said from the beginning they weren't going to start their GM search in earnest until after the draft, though it sounds like the interim GM is a candidate for the full-time gig.

Blake from Marion, IA

Good morning all, the phrase "you can't pay everyone" gets used a lot. I am curious, can everyone get paid? Just because you leave one team, who isn't willing to pay, doesn't mean another team will or can pay. Every team deals with a cap, not just Green Bay. Go Pack Go!

Right, but every team's available cap space and roster needs are different, which impacts what they're willing to pay for a particular player.

Charlie from Waukesha, WI

Seems like it was just a few years ago both the Raiders and Dolphins were swimming in draft picks and cap money. Their futures looked bright. Are you surprised both teams are starting over again?

When you think you have your franchise quarterback, but really don't, all the draft picks and cap money in the world don't matter much.

Chris from Greenfield, WI

A lot of people still talking about late-game collapses last season and trying to find the fault. Doesn't this all come down to complementary football? So often we saw our offense not sustaining drives which adds pressure to the defense on less rest. Bad special teams digs holes too, once again limiting the margin of error for the defense. Even with a great punt, if the offense doesn't string together a few first downs the defense simply doesn't get the rest needed to play at a higher level.

Even when you've got the QB, it's still a team game, right?

Jack from South Jordan, UT

When will the shareholders meeting date be announced? I'll be in Sheboygan this July and am hoping the dates will align. GPG!

Last year the meeting date was announced in late May.

Mike from Winchester, TN

Hi Mike, is the NFL in danger of oversaturation or sensory overload with fans? 18-game season, three games on Christmas, games on Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Could the international games be a hedge against potential loss of viewers (revenue)? I understand how the league would want to expand in the European market, could we someday see the Super Bowl be played between NFL-USA and NFL-EU?

The TV ratings say the league has not yet hit the point of oversaturation, and the international games are no hedge, they're a push to grow the audience. Expansion into the European market would not mean a separate league. The NFL's long-term vision, so I've heard, is to have a full division of teams across the pond, once supersonic travel returns, making a flight to Europe no different (if not better) than a coast-to-coast U.S. jaunt. How far into the future are we talking here? Dunno, but somewhere between when I retire and when the good Lord retires me sounds about right.

Craig from Tulsa, OK

Are teams required to announce pre-draft visits of college players? Notifying other teams of your interest in a player could hurt your chance of signing a future good player.

Pre-draft visits are on the league's transaction wire.

Mike from San Diego, CA

Why is there so much buzz about moving on from Dontayvion Wicks or using him as a trade piece? Is that legit or just internet buzz? I get he has not lived up to the expectation of Davante 2.0, but I think there is still plenty of meat on the bone for him. I also don't think he would recapture the value of the potential upside I think he can still bring to the offense.

Doesn't this happen every year? A Packers receiver just automatically gets tossed into the trade rumor mill because the team always has more than it needs. It's been Doubs before. Or Lazard. This year I guess it's Wicks. Not saying such a trade will never happen, but this feels like rinse and repeat.

Jim from Hartford, WI

Hello Mike, I believe Jimmy Johnson came up with the NFL trade chart. Is this true? Why has it remained so intact these many years?

He came up with one of the first ones, apparently, but there are other versions. There isn't a ton of difference amongst them.

Bob from Wellington, CO

I enjoy reading the submitter's thoughts on questions being answered, where their question appears, who refers to it again, etc. But, with that said, who can claim the distinction of having their question addressed by Daryn Colledge (and, in my case, Clay Matthews) back in the days of Colledge's "talk show" on packers.com?

The Colledge Experience! Haven't thought about that in a long time. One of our early forays, with mixed success, into impromptu player interaction. Back then we didn't quite know what we were doing, but we were trying.

Scott from Escanaba, MI

Reading an answer today that referenced Adam Schefter's podcast made me wonder how the two of you consume sports content. I'm not talking clickbait, but rather the sort of content relevant to what you do for the Packers. Do you have go-to podcasts or other content like we all do with II or is it more scattershot?

I follow all the reputable national reporters on X/Twitter for breaking news, and I read just about everything produced by the regular Packers beat writers on a daily basis. With regard to this team I cover, I always want to know who's writing about what, amongst those of us that are here every day.

Jay from Meridian, ID

All the talk about ABS in MLB brought up a question on the golf course. Would Greg Maddux be a HOFer if he had to play with ABS?

Unequivocally. Maddux is a HOFer because he could put the ball exactly where he wanted and needed to in order to get strikes called. Commanding the baseball like a savant is why he's in Cooperstown, not generous umpires.

Balaji from Riverbank, CA

Hey Mike/Wes, we have a bucket list to see all 32 NFL stadiums. Every year we pick an away Packers game and try to go there. This year, we really want to go to New Orleans to watch Packers at Saints game. However, the Saints are hosting an international game and I pray Packers won't be selected for that game. It will be really cool to go to New Orleans and meet you guys there as well. Our second choice is the Patriots game. Wish us good luck. I appreciate if you can use your influence to make it happen.

Ha. My influence is between slim and none, and Slim's on vacation.

Jeff from Janesville, WI

Almost draft time.

Officially less than two weeks until the commish gets his annual fill of boos and hugs.

Edward from Sioux Falls, SD

Good morning, Mike! Congrats that Brewers have started 2026 out with eight wins. Have you been able to get to Milwaukee and see a game?

Heading down tonight. Happy Friday.

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