Inbox: There's All-Pro talent to be found in any round

Al from Green Bay, WI

Welcome back, Wes! Over the next couple months, II discussion will mostly be in one of four buckets: 1) Free agency. 2) The NFL Draft. 3) Rules/officiating. 4) Random sidebars such as UFC/Brewers/laser goalposts. Which of these give you some real juice, and which of them give you abdominal pains?

Thanks Al. I can confirm I am back. Free agency gives me the biggest headache because most NFL fans have unrealistic expectations for their team. The biggest name doesn't lead to the biggest gain, especially as players get long in the tooth. Post-draft coverage makes it worth it, though. That's when the roster takes form and you get a better idea of what the 2026 squad will look like. As a writer, it's also fun learning about the new guys.

Paul from Ledgeview, WI

Wes, is there any data on the performance of first-round draft picks over time? How many true difference-makers are there in any draft class? My suspicion is that the talent gap is significant after the first 10 or 15 players are off the board.

I guess it depends on your definition of "difference-maker," but generally you know it when you see it. The beautiful thing about what John Schneider accomplished this year in Seattle is that he copied the same blueprint of how he built the Seahawks in the first place: Draft well and the rest typically takes care of itself. The Seahawks experienced a reset a few years ago, but they kept hitting on first-round picks. Even Jordyn Brooks, the 2020 first-rounder who didn't make a Pro Bowl in Seattle, fashioned an All-Pro season in 2025 with Miami. There's All-Pro talent to be found in any round of the draft, but it gets progressively more difficult to find as picks come off the board.

Nik from Moore, SC

If you can pick any position to have a unanimous All-Pro in 2026...what and who would it be?

Are we talking about the Packers or NFL? In Green Bay, it's Micah Parsons. What a story that would be. The debut was impressive. The encore could be legendary if Parsons bounces back from the ACL tear with an All-Pro campaign. Across the NFL landscape, the best bet is receiver and Jaxon Smith-Njigba. I feel like he's gonna be the face that runs the place for a minute.

Matt from Keswick, VA

Thank you Insiders for another fun season! Now that we have a full year of stats, what can be learned about the new kickoff rule? First off, were there significantly fewer injuries? Did the ratio of runbacks? Touchbacks change? Average starting position? Penalties? Returns for TDs?

I didn't see any firm statistics on injuries yet, but recent rule changes definitely brought the kickoff back into play. It's also enhanced the importance of kickers. Kickoffs no longer are just a long-drive competition. Placement is critical, as kickers try to drill the ball deep into the landing zone without a touchback. We likely won't see as many explosive returns but regularly starting near the 40 ain't nothing. It's a big part of the game.

Roger from McGrath, AK

Despite us getting burned by an onside kick, the recovery rate is still low. When the change was made, we expected "tweaking" and I have a proposal. Allow the kicking team to line up a skosh closer by defining offside only after the entire body is beyond the line of scrimmage (like a blue line in hockey or a QB throwing a pass from too far downfield). Any chance we see something like this or has there been too much water under the bridge for this topic to gain traction?

As I've stated in the past, I see no reason to change the rules surrounding the onside kick. There already are enough fourth-quarter comebacks in the NFL. The way the game is officiated today makes certain of that. If you want the best shot of a comeback, maybe don't fall so far behind.

Venny from Montgomery, AL

I think history will say Brian Gutekunst won the Malik Willis trade by a mile. A seventh-round pick for a handful of performances that lead to victories, and a fourth-round (possibly a third) compensatory draft pick. With a high likelihood of Malik leaving in free agency, which franchise do you see as the best fit for his services?

The best spot for Willis could be whichever team moves on from its franchise quarterback this offseason (e.g. Miami, Arizona or possibly Minnesota). We're still two months from the draft, but there is only one Fernando Mendoza, and he'll be plying his trade in Vegas. Even if Ty Simpson goes Round 1, I don't think you can just automatically plug him in as your Week 1 starter. In a league starved for quarterbacks, Willis is one of the few pending free agents with both youth and untapped potential on his side. He should have a great opportunity to get a true shot at QB1 this summer.

Mike from Baraboo, WI

Which receivers are you thinking we will lose this year?

Romeo Doubs is the Packers' lone unrestricted free agent at wideout, but it won't be cheap. The price of receivers is skyrocketing, and Doubs has been steady and available the past four years. He's gonna make some money in about one month's time whether it's here or a new city.

Rich from Combined Locks, WI

Why didn't Paul Hornung play in the first Super Bowl?

Hornung's final NFL season was heavily curtailed by a pinched nerve in his neck. He carried the ball five times against the Los Angeles Rams in Green Bay's regular-season finale but couldn't go in the Super Bowl. He didn't play in another NFL game.

Steve from Bloomington, IL

A Montana linebacker was granted a ninth year of eligibility. A Tennessee QB is seeking his eighth. NIL money entices college players to stay longer before turning pro. Do you see a trend where rookies will be older and how will that affect their value when it comes time for their second contract?

I know nothing about either fella, but I'm guessing neither threatens a 53-man roster spot in the NFL. If you've spent the better part of a decade in college, playing the game at its highest level probably isn't gonna be in the cards for you.

Bruce from Jackson, WI

Welcome back Wes. How about giving a shout out to our Wisconsin winner of two Olympic Gold Medals (so far), Jordan Stolz. Man, he can fly on those skates. If Lambeau Field wasn't heated just think, what kind of a WR he would make on the frozen tundra. Salute Jordan!

A pretty darn good one. It's great to see Jordan and so many other Wisconsinites having success in Italy. Keep 'em coming.

Jeffrey from Eveleth, MN

Weston, have you been following the Olympics curling? It has been awesome.

Oh, I've been watching and glued to my seat the entire time. I must say, as a former curler, the trick the Canadians played absolutely affects the game. Once you throw the stone, nothing can contact it – not a hand, not a broom. If something does, the stone is considered "burned" and must be removed from play. Even the slightest nudge of your index finger can make a difference. Go U.S.A.

Laura from Arlington, VA

Who is the best cook on the team?

The hard-working men and women in Packers team dining.

James from Orlando, FL

Good morning, I saw an interesting item on the news. Seems Sam Darnold wound up losing money by winning the Superbowl. Apparently, California has a "jock tax", they charged him 3.5% against his base salary for the seven days he was there for the Super Bowl. His winnings for the Super Bowl was $178,000. So (pardon the math) he owes the state $249,000. Which means he lost $71,000. So, my point is, why would an NFL player want to play a Super Bowl in California if they are going to lose money by playing there?

Because they play to win the (big) game? Listen, if this was a real issue and not a Boomer Esiason-fed narrative, you can bet the NFLPA would've stepped in. Darnold and the Seahawks just won it all. I don't think anyone's losing sleep over their 1099s.

Randall from Manasquan, NJ

Not a question, just a thank you. While on vacation in Florida, oh to my surprise what do I see but a Culver's. While not having any in NJ and upon the recommendation of II, I had to stop in. What a treat! I can't wait to get to my next game at Lambeau and another Culver's stop.

Glad to hear it. I ate there myself on Saturday. If there's a better fast-food option in America, I've yet to patronize it.

Joseph from Schenectady, NY

When is the best time to visit Lambeau Field?

Anytime. But if you have the means, the night before a Packers home game is Green Bay at its finest.

Augustus from Eureka, CA

Wes, Spoff left you with quite the 80s Easter egg with the "Short Circuit" reference. If we're willing to move the pop culture up a decade, I'd propose that the Kenosha Kickers has a much better ring to it than the Chicago Bears of Arlington Heights/Indiana/Iowa.

Always love a good "Short Circuit" reference. I was raised on that movie (and its ill-fated sequel). It's great to see a submission from Eureka. I have family up that way. One of the most beautiful parts of our wonderful country. I hear Kenosha ain't bad, either, if there's any Bears prospectors out there.

Paul from Las Vegas, NV

Is Al from Green Bay an employee of II?

It's cute how many of you think I actually have any pull here whatsoever…let alone people on my payroll.

Herb from Mosier, OR

Hi Wes! Welcome back. When I was still working, this was the time of year I hated most. My boss would ask me to self-evaluate (which I thought was a cop out) and provide reasons for my wage increase. How are you and Mike evaluated? Is it based on number of responses? I'm a regular II customer but do not follow any other teams-so my biased grade is A-plus for both of you. Is there an area you feel you could self-improve? FYI, your work is absolutely appreciated, THANK YOU!

Same here, Herb. I wrote my self-evaluation before vacation and listed plenty of areas of improvement. Before I hit submit, however, I may need to tack on your submission at the end. Paul Heyman couldn't have written a better promo. Welcome to a new week, folks.

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