Inbox: Then it's definitely him

Jesse from Colorado Springs, CO

How are the cover images chosen for the day's Inbox? Is it random? Is it depending on who's mentioned? If it's random, can my favorite player of all-time Jordy be in a cover? Thanks.

Sure, why not? I have two columns left before vacation. If there was ever a player worthy of a cover photo in a random February edition of Insider Inbox, then it's definitely him.

Tracy from Green Bay, WI

How can we correct the issues we had last year during the second half of games?

That's what the Packers are straining to find out. Brian Gutekunst talked about it again during his media availability in Indianapolis. Green Bay showed it could play with anybody last year, but the focus in 2026 needs to be on finishing the knockout when the opponent is reeling.

Ryan from Ripon, WI

With more and more injuries occurring around the league, is depth of a roster starting to become more important than a single superstar or few superstars?

The more superstars the better, but teams need a strong all-around roster to get across the NFL finish line. Look at Ty'Ron Hopper, who is ready in my opinion. However, his position group was pretty healthy last year. In the meantime, Hopper became a core special-teamer. If Hopper's number is called next season, I'm sure the Packers will feel better about it given everything he's put on tape the past two seasons. Conversely, Sean Rhyan was an understudy at center for three years before Elgton Jenkins' season-ending injury forced him to start the second half of the year there…and Rhyan was ready. I'd say it's never been more important to have the cupboard well-stocked with jars.

James from Asheville, NC

The foundational starters of this team are mostly set, but who do you see as the "down the depth chart" players that might move up a step or three? Are there any practice squad players that especially intrigue you?

Looking strictly at the practice squad, I want to throw a plug out there for Jamon Johnson. I liked him as a college free agent, and he played with his hair on fire in Minnesota. It wasn't perfect; plenty to clean up. But there is no hesitation whatsoever in that young man's game. Like Hopper, he's waiting in the wings. Isaiah Neyor intrigues me, too. He has that speed/size combo NFL teams covet.

Ray from Phoenix, AZ

There are several FA names that should be out there in the Packers' areas of need. If you are GM, who are you going after that could be a plug-and-play guy? I hope it is Tyler Linderbaum.

It's a strong pick, albeit a pricey one. You rarely see a three-time Pro Bowler at any position reach the open market at 26 years old. Linderbaum has a first-round pedigree and is still on the come. That upside could very well make him the highest-paid center in the game. The Packers will have some money to spend but must be pragmatic with their pocketbook with all the free agents they have in their own backyard.

Chris from Waukesha, WI

Good morning, II! My dad and I had a shared love of Jordy Nelson during his days here. We were disappointed seeing a new No. 87 being donned by a WR. However, I think Romeo Doubs has done a phenomenal job. So much that my dad now owns HIS jersey. Due to roster/cap limitations, there's a less than 1% chance he returns. Do you foresee any extensions being done with Christian Watson, Jayden Reed, and/or Dontayvion Wicks this offseason, as they'll all be FAs next year?

Less than 1%? Says who? I remember being so confident the Packers couldn't afford to re-sign both Bryan Bulaga and Randall Cobb in 2015 and voila…they were back. So, never say never until the dust settles. The Packers can't pay 'em all, but they can pay some. As far as 2027 goes, it's impossible to assess tomorrow unless we address today. Green Bay faces the tough calls every NFL team wants to make with its roster.

Joe from Bozeman, MT

With all the angst about Quay Walker leaving in free agency, why didn't the Packers exercise his fifth-year option?

It would've been a no-brainer when the fifth-year option was only guaranteed for injury but now it's a fully guaranteed (for injury and skill). That would have put the 2026 number at $14.7 million for Walker before he played 2025. Complicating matters was the Packers also having to make a call on Devonte Wyatt, another 2022 first-round pick who's now their undisputed DT1. His fifth-year option was in the same financial ballpark as Walker's.

Venny from Montgomery, AL

Do Pro Bowl and All-Pro nods factor into compensatory pick calculation or is it strictly based on contract value and playing time? While I'd like to see a few Packers UFA stick around, it appears Gute has the Packers set up to get several solid comp picks next year. Walker, Doubs, Malik Willis and Rasheed Walker are scheduled for some solid paydays and considerable playing time. Though, I have a feeling they may take a swing to keep Quay.

That's allegedly part of the formula but the contract still holds the most sway.

Scott from Noblesville, IN

Realizing few college players "fall through the cracks," I have a hypothetical follow up to the answer to the II answer to Gary from Tompkinsville concerning who handles the invites to the combine. If a team fails to see a college player on whom its scouts have strong interest, appearing on "that list" compiled by college personnel and the NF Scouting Inc., does the team A) try to hoard him to themselves OR B) add him to the list to see how he compares to others at the combine?

I suppose they could try to hide him, but there aren't many secrets in NFL circles. National Football Scouting and BLESTO scouting cover their bases, too. If a strong small-school prospect is identified, he's likely to get the call. Just look at Quinn Meinerz and Alex Cappa.

Jennifer from Middleton, WI

Hi Wes, Spoff's response about draft and development is fair in terms of rookie development. I must be misremembering because it seems like in the Ted Thompson years, he was criticized for re-signing "his guys" vs. improving via FA but we knew the contributors. Now I feel like due to always redrafting we are perpetually stuck in the uncertainty of asking which guy will make a Year 2/3 jump, which guy will play which OL position, who is the No. 1 spot by position, etc. This is apropos of nothing. Just how it feels.

Gutekunst should be commended for opening a portal in Green Bay to unrestricted free agency. It can be a great avenue for player procurement, especially when you need to make significant changes (e.g. pass rusher in 2019 and safety in 2024) without asking incoming rookies to be an immediate change agent. The tie that binds the ideology of Thompson and Gutekunst is their shared desire to spend on homegrown talent. It's not only great for a team's culture to reward your own but also a good barometer for how productive an organization has been foundationally. It was no surprise Ryan Poles signed as many free agents as he did after being hired as GM in Chicago. The cupboard was bare. With a few productive classes, the Bears now have tougher calls to make. Meanwhile, these are the waters the Packers have been swimming in for the past 30 years.

Darrel from Pueblo, CO

II, with draft and develop and FA, do you have any data on how many Packer players blossomed after they left GB?

Of course. No team bats 100%. Sometimes it's losing a well-regarded player like Micah Hyde, who then becomes an All-Pro safety in Buffalo. Or it can be Lawrence Guy, a seventh-round pick who was years away from starting when the Packers drafted him in 2011. Guy played for four teams before finding his footing with New England. That's why the Packers' front office keeps digging for those hidden gems.

John from Hamilton, NY

A contract question. Let's say I am about to get a second contract, it's for five years, and worth $100 million. Can my contract be set up so I count $60 million against the cap in the first year, where there is plenty of cap room, then $10 million each of the next four years, to make the cap have more room those four years? Sorry for the math in the inbox.

I suppose that could work if you had an astronomically high base salary in Year 1 and a very modest signing bonus. But typically, guys signing as unrestricted free agents want bonus money in their pocket as soon as the ink dries.

Doug from Odell, IL

Will the Packers draft a QB?

I would say yes, but we should have a better gauge on that after the first month of free agency.

Jeffrey from Taylors, SC

If a player signs a futures contract, can another team steal them away with a better offer? Can they be traded?

A futures contract is an NFL contract all the same. It's simply a term used to differentiate a "veteran" who didn't have an expiring 53-man contract and is free to sign anywhere he chooses.

Al from Green Bay, WI

So, Chicago will have a domed stadium (in one state or another). Does that break with tradition? Sure? Is that a bad thing? Not necessarily. I'm looking forward to the Bears playing at home in a dome. GB will be the only remaining NFC North team playing in real weather. Doesn't that simply amplify our home field advantage?

I don't like it, but I get it. Chicago is a major market. Like Minnesota and U.S. Bank Stadium, I'm sure the Bears are looking to generate the most year-round revenue as possible. But it does hurt my heart. Like Green Bay, Chicago is synonymous with blue-collar, cold-weather football. It feels sacrilegious to think about George Halas' team moving to a dome, but money talks.

Sean from Boulder, CO

They need to make "Draft Day 2" so we can find out how Bo Callahan and Vontae Mack turned out. Sonny got the players he wanted, but were they the right ones?

What I really wanted was a sequel that picks up on Friday. Just imagine Anthony Molina running around the facility, frantically searching for Sonny after everyone remembers the draft is three days, not one night. With Weaver already in the Bahamas, Coach Penn and Rick the Intern make the team's third-round pick. CINEMA!

John from Jupiter, FL

Morning Wes. What in your opinion is the best striker vs. grappler match you have seen, and which NFL teams would you equate to more of a striker and or grappler? Thanks.

Not to sound like a casual but Khabib vs. Conor was one of the best matchups I've seen in terms of two high-level fighters who are stylistically polar opposites. Glover Teixeira and Jiri Prochazka was an excellent one, too, and ended with a huge curveball – Jiri submitting Glover. I would call the Los Angeles Rams strikers based on their pass-heavy offense this season and equate the defensive brilliance of Seattle and Denver to grappling.

Benjamin from Bear, DE

The Packers are on the clock, and the GM wants Player X. The coach wants Player Y. Both players fill a need and both players tested well at the combine. Time is running out. The GM and coach are unwilling to support the other's choice. Who gets drafted, X or Y?

In this hypothetical scenario, only one person is correctly doing his job. That would be the GM. Welcome to Green Bay, Player X.

Tom from Bismarck, ND

Let's just think about this for a second. Almost anybody that isn't a paid Packer employee is concerned that we may be letting our best QB leave the building. Imagine if we could trade Jordan Love and receive a similar package we gave the Cowboys. Now we have reloaded draft picks, added a very good player or two, saved lots of money, etc. Love's statistics look good, but our coach has been running an offense that he probably doesn't even like to protect Love. With Willis, sky's the limit.

"Saved lots of money" … Love's dead cap hit for next year would be $98.4 million if Green Bay were to cut/trade him. I also love this notion that "Well, Love's stats look good but…" Spare me. Also, count me curious how many of these "almost anybody's" in the peanut gallery also wanted the Packers to roll with Sean Clifford over Love three years ago. With Willis, don't cry because it's almost over. Smile because that really happened. But this is J-Love's team. Onward.

James from Appleton, WI

How about this for a Packers game in another country this season: Go back to the 80-yard field in Canada, but this time only use players under 6-foot.

My moment has arrived. Have a great weekend, folks.

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