Inbox: That’s what truly matters

The last couple of training camps it seems the defense has dominated the offense more often than not. Do you see a different dynamic this year, especially with the defense learning a new scheme?

Perhaps, though I’m not one to chart perceived wins and losses during practice. If both sides are learning and growing, that’s what truly matters. That’s how a football team prepares for Week 1. But yes, I would expect the offense to be further ahead this summer given Jordan Love‘s development and having so many key playmakers who are now a year wiser in the scheme.

Johnny from Nasawaupee, WI

II, lots of pre-preseason talk about the receiver room and who will take that next step. One name that doesn’t seem to get a ton of mention is Jayden Reed. If this young man takes a step up…look out. Looking back on his clutch catches in 2023, Reed made a bunch of them. How will the Packers get the most from Reed in ’24?

By just putting the ball in Reed’s hands, and fortunately there are countless ways to do that in Matt LaFleur’s offense. Reed has that “it” factor and unparalleled versatility. For that reason, I think Reed is gonna be even more electric in Year 2…whether it’s talked about it or not at the moment.

It just dawned on me. All four teams in the NFC North have QBs drafted in the first round. Jared Goff and Caleb Williams were both drafted No. 1. J.J. McCarthy was picked 10th overall. And our man Jordan Love was the 26th selection. Given Love’s rapid ascension, would you now classify him as a “steal” at 26, or must we wait to see how things shake out in the division?

I don’t think it’s too early to call a Love a steal considering how tedious it can be to find franchise QBs. Love isn’t a finished product by any means and must build on past success, but his performance last year alone proves he was a solid find in the latter half of the first round.

Ethan from Coralville, IA

Drafting Jordan Morgan has raised an interesting and much-talked about tackle competition this offseason. Has any indication appeared that perhaps Rasheed Walker or Morgan will move to the right side while Zach Tom is recovering from his injury?

For now, it’s Morgan rotating in at right tackle with free-agent pickup Andre Dillard. As I said on “Packers Unscripted,” this is valuable work for the rookie first-round pick to get to test drive right tackle. As we’ve seen so many times, any Green Bay O-lineman is one injury away from swapping posts. My expectation is Morgan will continue playing that swing-tackle post throughout the spring.

With Tyler Davis working back from injury and Tucker Kraft out until training camp, this is Ben Sims‘ chance to earn snaps. In college, he was known for route-running and running fast. Did his blocking progress in-season similar to Kraft’s improvement? I have hopes he can be what LaFleur had planned for Josiah Deguara to be.

Deguara and Sims are two entirely different tight ends, but I was impressed with how Sims handled being tossed into the fire last year as an in-line blocker. He has the frame for it. It’s funny you mention Sims as a pass-catcher. I probably saw Sims run more routes of 10 or more yards in last Tuesday’s OTA than I did all last year. This is a great opportunity for Sims, a waiver-wire claim days before the 2023 season, to get in all those reps he missed last summer.

Hello II, tight end isn’t looking too healthy right now. Do you think they will look to free agency to bring in one until Kraft and Davis get better?

I doubt it. The Packers have plenty of available options with undrafted rookie Messiah Swinson joining practice-squad holdover Joel Wilson and fullback Henry Pearson. Like Sims’ situation, OTAs and minicamp offer all those young tight ends a chance to show what they can do.

George from Kennebunkport, ME

Henry Pearson, a TE in college, is listed as a FB on our roster, but I cannot remember him being used on offense. Recently, Deguara has been the de facto FB. With Deguara gone, is there a chance we see Pearson or is it more likely we continue to use a player listed as a TE in that role?

That was a point I raised at the rookie minicamp. Pearson is the only natural fullback/H-back on the roster. He has to earn a spot like everybody else, but his skill set is fairly unique compared to Green Bay’s other TEs and RBs.

David from Janesville, WI

Gents – Happy Memorial Day! After a moment to honor the fallen, I’d like to point out how much I appreciate the slotted contracts for draft picks. While at the time I type this we still have two unsigned picks, there is no concern about them holding out and missing the early parts of the season like we may have seen years ago. I don’t remember when the league implemented the change, but it has been a good one.

The rookie-wage scale is one of the 2011 collective bargaining agreement’s biggest successes. It removed the headaches from negotiations, lopped a year off rookie contracts, protected veterans, and got draft picks on the field faster, which is what they need. I think it’s been a win for everybody.

Do you see the NFL ever implementing a quarterback salary cap based on a percentage of the entire cap? With Jared Goff now taking up 21% of Detroit’s salary cap, I would think owners would be on board with a cap so no player would take up more than let’s say 25% of the cap. I would think most of the players would vote for that as well so that there would be more money to go around for everyone.

I don’t ever see the NFL and NFLPA placing a cap on a player’s earning potential. As I’ve written in the past, those premium contracts for QBs also help league parity because it gives teams without a franchise QB a chance to win in other ways.

It’s way early, but do you have any insights on the Packers’ process for selecting the roster? Would the practice squad be an extension of the 53, or is that a process unto itself? Would it resemble anything like the draft, with a rank order irrespective of position, then a by-position depth chart with “need” as a tiebreaker? Outside of the specialists, including PR and KR, is “we-fense” established after the initial roster is put together? Thanks.

I don’t know Brian Gutekunst’s exact approach, but I view the construction of the 53-man roster and 17-player practice squad as two different processes. Having the flexibility to “call up” players from the practice squad has definitely impacted things. It’s enabled teams to protect draft picks and developmental prospects a little more while also creating latitude to hold onto a veteran special-teamer who might not play on offense or defense. To your final point, every team ranks everything.