Inbox: This is the weekend championship teams are built

Bob from Forest Junction, WI

Good morning, gentlemen. Work has been pretty quiet for me this week, and except for a couple of meetings coming up, I expect it to not change much. Do y'all have anything exciting planned for the rest of the week?

Oh, just a couple two, three things.

Reed from Myrtle Beach, SC

The Packers shock the world by trading up for the No. 1 overall pick tonight. Gutey decides he just has to have Mendoza as the backup to Jordan Love. Humor us – what would it take for Green Bay to make such a move?

All the king's horses, all the king's men and a conditional third.

Doug from Neenah, WI

Hi, I'm Doug and I'm a Packers draft junkie. There are countless Packers mock drafts out there on the electronic interweb but none of them have the faintest resemblance to mine. We're probably all wrong. Will Mike and Wes honor us with their picks for No. 52 and No. 84 in Friday's Inbox? Thank you.

I'm not going to make a pick for either the second or third round because it's too far away for me to project with any degree of accuracy who might be available at those spots. I will say Chris Johnson is my favorite Round 2 prospect (who could even hear his name called tonight). But if someway, somehow the Packers got the San Diego State cornerback, I'd run through the Atrium with enthusiasm.

Andew from Chino Hills, CA

Happy Draft Day, Wes. Chris Johnson is gone before the Packers pick. Is there another cornerback that you like in the second round?

It's sort of "Chris Johnson, no matter what." Malik Muhammad could be a fit at No. 52, though his ball skills aren't as prodigious. If neither of those two is available, I'd probably go offensive or defensive line and turn my attention to CB possibilities in the third round such as Ohio State's Davison Igbinosun, Washington's Tacario Davis or Daylen Everette (if the Packers want to dip back into the Georgia well).

Ray from Phoenix, AZ

No Romeo Doubs and no Dontayvion Wicks. That means Savion Williams has to be more than just a gadget guy out of the backfield. Right?

I'd say so. Williams has some dual traits, but he's also a 6-foot-4 receiver with good speed and solid hands. You want a guy like that affecting the vertical passing game.

Rudy from Rhinelander, WI

The Pack has eight draft picks. I hope at least six are 300 (or 320) pounds – and two DBs. No special order but "Where's the beef?"

I love an extra tight end and receiver, too. Maybe a quarterback if the Packers get an extra pick.

Nhoj from Waterloo, WI

I always have one guy that I attach to each draft that I know we most likely will not draft. Gennings Dunker is that guy for me this year. Just feels right and like he should play for the Packers. Plus, then any of us could run into him at a Culver's. Who would be that player for you this year?

Dunker is a remarkable story and interesting prospect, but I'm not sure the Packers need another interior offensive lineman at the moment. If Green Bay selects an O-lineman on Friday, I'd prefer it be a developmental tackle like Clemson's Blake Miller or Texas A&M's Dametrious Crownover.

Craig from Appleton, WI

Given the track record of the Packers keeping undrafted players on the opening day 53-man roster, would you expect agents of players at positions of need to nudge their clients our way?

That's how that UDFA game is played and why I'm so intrigued to see how the quarterback board falls Saturday. Because if Green Bay doesn't take a QB, I could see the top college free agent taking a long look at the Packers given how wide open the QB2 competition will be in GB.

Grant from Green Bay, WI

All these complaints about a lack of Pro Bowlers has got me guffawing. Here's a sample offense using only players who made the Pro Bowl within the last three years: Tua and Shedeur at QB. Joe Mixon and Raheem Mostert at RB. Jonnu Smith and Dalton Kincaid at TE. Amari Cooper, Jerry Jeudy, Courtland Sutton, and Brian Thomas Jr. at WR. Nothing against any of those guys, but no part of me would replace our starters with any of them. Let's find a new barometer for success, please.

The Packers need to get further in the playoffs. Nobody is disputing that. But it's absurd to act like Green Bay does not have a good football team. The Packers have drafted well. They've signed well. And they've extended well.

Jeff from Indian Lake, NY

I agree there is so much to like about Texas Tech's Jacob Rodriguez. My question is, how does a linebacker win the award for the best defensive lineman in college football? Maybe he should have worn 88? I'll see myself out, enjoy the draft everyone!

Rodriguez floored me with his stat line from last year – 117 tackles, seven forced fumbles, four interceptions, two fumble recoveries and a touchdown. Throw in the 'stache, a 4.57 40 and 38½-inch vertical…the guy's a straight-up buzzsaw.

Craig from Laramie, WY

Maybe we can't get into the draft room, but can we swing through Brian Gutekunst's office to look for a folded scrap of colored paper on his desk? ..."Jacob Rodriquez, no matter what."

We'll see if your Post-it note works out better than mine.

Richard from Caledonia, WI

Any updates on recovering Packers' anticipated return dates for team practices?

No timeline, but it's a good sign Tucker Kraft (torn ACL) and Zach Tom (torn meniscus) are both participating in the strength-and-conditioning portion of the offseason program. Those are two of the Packers' offensive cornerstones. If this team is gonna contend for a championship in 2026, Tom and Kraft will play a big hand in that.

Scott from Green Bay, WI

Since you've covered the Packers, who was the most surprising player to still be available that we've chosen after the first round? You may opine on several.

Eddie Lacy. My colleague, Pete Dougherty, is well-sourced and knew of the Packers' interest in the Alabama star running back. He even had Green Bay drafting Lacy in the first round. The Packers instead took Datone Jones and then traded back from No. 55 to 61 in the second round, passing on Wisconsin's Monte Ball in the process. Thompson stood pat at No. 61 and drafted the eventual NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. I also was surprised when Green Bay landed Rasheed Walker in the seventh round in 2022. After the 2021 draft, some draft experts had Walker projected as a possible first-rounder.

Jim from Kiel, WI

Good day II, Da Hod! How early can teams contact players they think will go undrafted to make them an offer? And in response to the question asked by Eric from Salida, could you agree that the Tucker Kraft injury was the beginning of the avalanche that brought the Packers to their knees? They could not recover from that injury. The Packers were at the top of the league standings and just started dropping and more injuries came and it got worse from there. Now the long-term impact is unknown.

Scouts are constantly on the phone in the seventh round, touching base with agents and gauging interest. I remember back in 2014 Jeff Janis had plans to sign with a different NFL team before the Packers drafted him. I believe the same thing might have happened with Anthony Johnson Jr. But once the draft ends, NFL teams cast their lines and see what they can reel in. The more players you can find, the more picks you just added to your rookie draft class.

Jeffrey from Eveleth, MN

Biggest prove-it year for a Packers player list needs to include MarShawn Lloyd, no?

I just want Lloyd to get a chance to show what he can do, so his NFL future can be decided on the field – not the training room.

Monty from Velva, ND

Is there a better non-sport, sporting event than the NFL Draft? Heck, there's even a movie about it. The drafts in the three other major sports in the U.S. aren't even close. The NBA could quit after pick No. 20, and MLB and NHL drafts are guys that won't play at the highest level in three years or more. The NFL Draft is pure gold!

Often imitated, never duplicated. First off, give credit to the NFL. The league realized it had something truly special on its hands and has done an incredible job of enhancing the spectacle of the draft every year. But part of the brilliance of the NFL Draft is how quickly fortunes can change in this league. You could be one pick away from a dynasty, whether it's Patrick Mahomes in the first round or Tom Brady in the sixth.

Paul from Northglenn, CO

Short of being over, what do you find most rewarding about covering the draft? Secondly, how does Packers' staff distinguish between truth or sabotage when the inevitable past horror stories appear on draft eve?

I love the draft. It's one of the most rewarding parts of my job. The days fly by and there is so much engagement on our website with fans hungry to learn about new players. As far as the second part of your question, I think it's sort of like preparing for a final exam. As long as you do your homework, nothing will catch you off-guard. Gutekunst and his staff have a process that will guide them through these next three days.

Lane from Hurricane, UT

Do you think there is a sweet spot for number of draft picks per year? For example, it's unlikely a dozen drafted players would make the team thus why not package a few to hopefully get a single, more highly-ranked player?

I think seven to 10 picks gives a team enough competition without jeopardizing how many rookies you can retain. Maybe you could nudge that up to a dozen if you're in cap trouble or rebuilding.

Michelle from Andover, MN

What Day 2 draft-night scenario would surprise you more on April 24: the Packers trading up inside the top 50, or selecting a non‑premium position early based purely on best player available and why?

Drafting a non-premium position would be more surprising because it seems like trading back would be the more prudent move at that point.

Tom from Southfield, MI

So, that's a no for a "What Say You" T-shirt?

If you make them, we will wear them, Tom.

Brianna from Broomfield, CO

Over the course of Draft Day 2-3, do you find a way to celebrate the annual event to compensate for extra work, say maybe getting prime rib delivered? Also, if you use "What say you?" 88 times in submitting, are you permanently banned from the box?

You know the answer to that, and who needs prime rib when you have all-you-can-eat Pack 'N Cheese?

Joe from Bozeman, MT

I expect that Jacob Rodriquez is selected in the first round. I guess we will know tonight. I promise henceforth to refrain from using "What say you?" if you and Wes (mostly Wes) stop using "at the end of the day." What say you?

Hmm…can you give me until the end of the day to think it over?

Dar from Mansfield, TX

Wes, Rod's mention of Roger from McGrath's passing, and their II-forged friendship, lends itself to a potentially powerful Outsider Inbox question: "Tell us about an interesting human connection you've made or strengthened because of your Packers fandom." I trust readers have some amazing, funny, and touching stories. It could make for the best kind of "onion-chopping" day. And skip me as the submitter; it would be more fitting to call it the Rod and Roger from Alaska question.

I jotted it down, Dar.

Sharon from Lakewood Ranch, FL

Just sent in a submission and forgot to edit the "OM" at the beginning that meant "Oh My!" Sometimes 500 just won't cut it when trying to get my "message" across. BTW, entering the best season – "Draft Day" til next February with my daily dose of packers.com for this soon to be 88-year-old fan! Blessed to be a Packer backer, no matter what! Thanks for being there! Hoping there's one more Super Bowl for this ol' gal to cheer for! Make it happen in '26 – Go Pack Go!

Amen, Sharon. Enjoy these next three days, folks. This is the weekend championship teams are built.

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