Inbox: Is that even a question?

John from St. Albert, Canada

Hi Wes, I saw an interesting take regarding "What's the best stadium?" Ranking every NFL, MLB, and NBA stadium/park/arena by average rankings on Yelp, Google, Trip Advisor, and Facebook, No. 1 is (drumroll) … Lambeau Field. AT(someone's)RWCBW, nothing more to debate.

Is that even a question? There's no better stadium in professional sports than Lambeau Field – the history, the amenities, and gameday experience are all second-to-none. Soon, it'll be home to the NFL Draft, as well.

Tom from Grayslake, IL

Is it a done deal that the Aaron Banks signing means he will play guard and Elgton Jenkins will move to center? I hope not. Jenkins is widely considered as the better guard and is a great one at that. Why not keep him where he is proven and have Aaron Banks compete for center rather than the other way around. What am I missing here? I hope we'll see a competition between the two for both spots in training camp and then let the best combination win.

I'll wait for Matt LaFleur to comment on the construct of the 2025 offensive line before speculating any further on where all the pieces will fit. But I can't imagine the Packers would've signed Aaron Banks – a left guard his entire career – without consulting Jenkins, who is a two-time Pro Bowler but also a darn good center in his own right.

Jeff from Indian Lake, NY

This draft seems way deeper at edge rusher than at cornerback. With that in mind seems we should look for help in the secondary with our first pick. I'd imagine Will Johnson will be long gone, but if Shavon Revel or Benjamin Morrison is there who are you taking? Morrison might last into the second, possible trade-up target?

I don't see Johnson making it out of the top 10, but Morrison and Revel are among several corners who could go in the late first or early second round. I like Morrison, a strong and smart press-man cornerback out of Notre Dame. Revel has it all as a cornerback but is coming off a torn anterior cruciate ligament. Carrington Valentine's former Kentucky teammate, Maxwell Hairston, also has my attention after clocking a 4.28 40 with a 39½-inch vertical. What's crazy is they're both 2003 birth years.

Scott from Seattle, WA

Greetings II. In one of yest responses this week, you mentioned what could lead to a long-term solution. I'm wondering since every year in the NFL is different and with all the change, what constitutes long term? Four years? Six years? More? Is it really ever possible to find all long-term solutions?

It depends. Historically, NFL teams always viewed premier players as "10-year" guys. In the free agency era, however, I'd consider any player who signs a second contract with the team that drafted him a "long-term solution."

Tyler from Cross Plains, WI

Hey guys, I agree that slow starts weren't the problem last year, I think we got off to some good starts, but as soon as something went wrong(fumble/interception/penalty) and we lost momentum, it was difficult for us to get back on track until desperation time. I know everyone is sick of the youngest team in the league narrative, but I feel that is where our youth may have reared its head.

That's where the Packers hope experience, maturity and learning from past mistakes will benefit the team in 2025 and beyond.

Ben from Pittsfield, MA

Love reading the II. My question is, with the 2025 NFL Draft in Green Bay, do the Packers gain any advantage from hosting the draft?

From a football perspective, I don't think there's much to be gained other than potentially getting to meet their first-round pick within minutes of drafting him.

Greg from Tosa, WI

Back in the Mike Holmgren through Mike McCarthy era, the offense opened with a set of scripted plays setting the table from scouting the opposing team. Is that still a thing utilized by the Packers' offense?

Oh yeah. The coaches aren't just rolling the ball out there asking the guys to make something happen. The "first 15 plays" rule may not be as rigid as it once was, but that's still part of developing game plans for attacking the opponent.

Paul from Ledgeview, WI

Wes, if you had to win one game, would picking the coach or the player be more consequential? Whom would it be?

I would say the player. Vince Lombardi could be standing on the sideline, and it wouldn't amount to a hill of beans if I'm playing quarterback. Indeed, he'd wonder, what the hell is going on out there?

Jean from Longueuil, Canada

Sorry if this question was asked before. Now that the free agency frenzy seems to be over: Daniel Whelan, Emanuel Wilson and Bo Melton are on the exclusive-rights free agents list. What are the rules with this category? Timeframe to have them on our 90-players list? Any news on any of them? Whelan a priority? Thoughts?

Nothing to worry about. It's all procedural. The Packers tendered all six exclusive rights free agents, which keeps them on the 90-man roster for 2025. Since there is no bonus money involved, most ERFAs don't sign tenders until they report for the offseason program in April. Coincidentally, tackle Kadeem Telfort signed his Friday.

Dave from Arlington Heights, IL

With the draft about a month away, I'm getting the impression I didn't win the lottery for tickets. Are they allowing walkups to attend? I did that on Day 3 in Chicago a couple of years ago and it was awesome to go through the NFL experience!

There's still time. The NFL OnePass registration has been open since the beginning of the month. Click the link for details, including options for onsite registration.

John from Stevens Point, WI

How do the Packers stack up with the rest of the NFC North after the first wave of free agency? There's a growing feeling they're falling behind, but maybe the rest of the division had to catch up, given the players they lost to free agency. Regardless, looks like NFC North will be very competitive again with the Bears greatly improved, at least on paper.

Maybe so…but I've heard that last part a time or two over the years. The Packers are working to build their team to win as many games as possible in 2025, which obviously includes those six division matchups that make up 35% of the regular-season schedule.

Jessi from Sterling, KS

I wonder I'd those panicking about WR are breathing better...nah, probably already doomsday-ing something they didn't like in the bio. Thanks for getting us the official signing and “5 Things” (love those!). Does Hardman having SB experience benefit the mindset of a young(er) team like ours? Or is it just the "eye-catching" stat?

It's a big deal when you have a teammate who's been there and done that. In addition to catching a game-winning touchdown in the Super Bowl, Hardman is a tremendous locker-room guy from everything I've heard. I don't know if I've ever had more people reach out about a free agent than after Hardman signed with Green Bay. People loved him down in KC.

Richard from Canton, GA

With the "Smith Brothers" both remaining at edge/DE in the free agent class, I am amazed there hasn't been a click bait bring them home article yet. Maybe one for the OI, but what is the most outrageous clickbait Packers article you have seen?

It might have been this week – the one saying the Packers have talked to Clay Matthews about joining the coaching staff. There wasn't even any sourcing; just a rando posting it on their bogus Facebook page. Some people actually fell for it.

Ray from Phoenix, AZ

Will GB have the cap space next year to sign both Zach Tom and Rasheed Wallace? No doubt signing both starting tackles will cost a bunch. Could Jordan Morgan become the guy to take over at tackle if they cannot re-sign both?

I tackled (no pun intended) this topic a few weeks ago, but I'll just add cap space is never an issue for Green Bay. If the Packers found a way in 2021, they can make it through anything. The question they'll need to answer is what are they willing to spend to keep those bookends in place? Morgan is a good insurance policy, but we've also only seen him inside for a handful of NFL games.

John from McHenry, IL

I know it's early yet but when does Prospect Primers kick off?

Before Spoff departed for parts unknown, he left me an email saying the first primer is scheduled for March 31.

Tom from Yardley, PA

Love the Lions stepping up and recommending the change in playoff seeding. Realize it's not going anywhere but great to see some common sense.

It's a conversation worth having – no different than the "tush push." I know some folks on the East Coast are losing their minds over the Packers' proposal, but NFL owners can't talk about any of these matters unless someone proposes it. Green Bay stepped up despite having a fair amount of success stopping Philly over the years.

Jim from Franklin, WI

Thank goodness that the Vikings will not bring Aaron Rodgers on board…that would have been creepy.

If the Vikings didn't bring back Sam Darnold for a modest $33 million per year, I feel like the only play is to see what they have in J.J. McCarthy.

Damien from Manning, Australia

I'd love to see Cornelius Johnson get a chance in the absence of Christian Watson. Slightly different styles of receiver, but his height and size should make him a decent target.

If you're on a 90-man roster, you have a chance. For example, there probably weren't many Packers fans who predicted Arron Mosby making the Packers' 53 this past summer, but he earned his opportunity. Johnson was drafted, a seventh-round pick, for a reason last year. Both he and Julian Hicks spent the season on Green Bay's practice squad and will look to parlay that experience into making the roster this year.

Rich from Lakeville, MN

What age was the oldest Packer player?

Brandon McManus, 33 years young. I have never felt older.

Wayne from Stevens Point, WI

Which of these two do you think will have the bigger year for the Packers? Kingsley Enagbare or Lukas Van Ness. Last year their QB pressure successes per pass rush were about the same.

I make no predictions – a year ago at this time we didn't know whether Enagbare would even play in 2024 – but the Packers obviously need a big year from Van Ness.

Detlef from Breitenstein, Germany

Hi Wes, regarding the discussion about "fast starts:" the main thing is not the overall point differential in the first quarter over the whole season but rather those games where we fell in a hole early (Detroit at home, both Minnesota games and eventually the playoff loss) and could not come back from it. That to me was evidence on how important fast starts were for the 2024 Packers. They were clearly not built to play catch-up, it doesn't mean that 2025 will be the same story, though.

Like you said, that was 2024 and now the Packers must find a better path forward in '25.

Gretchen from Dousman, WI

I was sad to hear about the death of Bob Long. My dad helped him purchase his first Pizza Hut near the stadium and my whole family was invited to the exclusive opening night party. I think I was around 10. He instantly became a favorite player. Rest in peace, No. 80.

My deepest sympathies to the Long family. Who would've thought so many of the Pizza Huts around the state originated with the former Packers end. I've even been to a few.

David from Eau Claire, WI

It seems every year the officials are given a new point of emphasis, which leads to many penalties for minor infractions on nitpicky calls. Perhaps this year the point of emphasis should be calling a good game.

Blasphemy.

Brian from Arlington, TX

Why ban the tush push? Stop it. I was a HS coach in Texas. We worked vs. short yardage and goal line on a 45-degree hill. Offense on top going downhill and defense on the hill going uphill. It forced the D to get a jet in their (keisters) and attack with leverage and leg drive. In games, they marveled at how easy it was on level ground. Nobody ran short yards vs. us.

Um…congrats, I guess?

Pete from Hillsborough, NC

When will II learn it ain't over until all of Spoff's vacation is over?

The free-agency door is open until Mike Spofford steps back in the building.