Mike from West Allis, WI

Good morning. In regards to Dave from Germantown's question about 40-yard dash times: if the ol' noggin skills are correct, even with a 5-yard head start, DB will "only" have gained 1.74 yds on RA at 40 yards; (DB would win a 40-yard race, but with a 5-yard head start, RA would be ahead by "only" 3.26 yards). Assuming all variables are constant at this point, at 50 yards, DB has closed the gap to 2.17 yards, or would still be trailing RA by 2.83 yards. Touchdown! Or last-second leap-of-faith tackle by DB?

After reading Monday's Inbox and now reading your submission, I can already feel my noggin-ache returning.

Barb from Marengo, IL

Just curious…what does your little corner of Lambeau Field look like during the draft? Do you have your own big board? Do you watch all the picks for all the teams or just for the Packers? Do you work late until the draft ends each day? And by the way, Marengo is only 30 minutes from the Rockford/Rockton area. Thanks for all the great information and entertainment!

Spoff builds his own draft board at his desk, which gets annoying because of how difficult it can be to get around. Other than that, the NFL Draft is one of my favorite events to cover. It's a must-see event that always delivers. The days are long, but it's great seeing where all the prospects end up and how teams react to picks. I watch every selection on the first day, but it's strictly Packers the last two days. There's simply not enough time to give a hoot about who the Bills picked in the fifth round.

Dan from Kenosha, WI

The draft is exciting because of two distinct types of prospects. Those that have masked their inferior physical traits by exceptional instincts and football acumen and those who have incredible physical tools but, as yet, undeveloped acumen and instinct. The former often gets exposed by NFL talent and the latter may never realize all that potential. Being a GM is HARD!

Before every rookie minicamp, I look out at the draft picks, undrafted free agents and tryout players during pre-practice warmups and pause for a second to appreciate what I don't know. I don't know who's going to be a Pro Bowler, who won't pan out and who's going to surprise us all. But the answers will come in the hours, day, weeks and months ahead. To me, that's exciting. Some stories end immediately. Some last forever. But every NFL journey begins that day.

Larry from Chubbuck, ID

I would encourage Packers fans to not get caught up in the name recognition trap if a draft pick is a good one or not. I know I get all excited if the pick is a name I recognized. If the Packers' first pick is Treylon Burks, I'll be thrilled. If it's Joe Blow from Mars, I won't. We just have to trust the process. We don't have another choice.

Household names don't make for a successful draft. Never forget that. Some of the Packers' best first-round picks have been players nobody was talking about. *Cough* Kenny Clark *Cough*.

Ray from West Des Moines, IA

With all the discussions on the need for more wide receivers, I have read nothing about Malik Taylor. He had great preseason and his 40-yard sprint time is only .09 seconds slower than MVS. He has had an entire season to become acquainted with the offense. We saw Allen Lazard advance from undrafted, practice-squad rookie to being a starter. Is Taylor a viable option for a Packers receiver?

Well, then you didn't read my response to a question about Malik Taylor and his speed two weeks ago. Do not to sleep on Taylor. He's been in the system for two years and is going to push the incoming rookies for snaps this summer.

Mark from Pitt Meadows, Canada

Much appreciated your reply to my question about Amari Rodgers. Follow-up question if the Pack draft one of the top WRs in the draft, do you think that extra year of experience Rodgers has trumps the high draft pick used? In other words, does a first-round WR automatically put him a bit higher on the depth chart and gets him more reps with the ones at the start of training camp? Sort of a see-what-we-got situation? Cheers and Go Pack Go!

That's entirely up to Rodgers and any young receiver who gets drafted. I've seen rookies come in, work with the starters early on and fall back. Meanwhile, Pro Bowlers such as Jordy Nelson, Eddie Lacy and Aaron Jones all had to wait their turn during their first summer in Green Bay before getting an opportunity. If Amari and the returning wideouts take a noticeable step, they'll play. It's as simple as that. But if nobody shines early on, that's when you might see a rookie get a chance with the starters like Royce Newman did last summer. But you couldn't ask for a better situation as a young wideout than landing in Green Bay.

Dean from Leavenworth, IN

When looking at the Packers' needs over the next two seasons, there aren't many positions that wouldn't qualify as a "need." With the Packers' five picks in the first three rounds, which positions on offense and defense are the Packers least likely to address with those five picks?

There are needs and there are opportunities. That's why this draft is so critical. Because one playmaker at a position that wasn't perceived as a "need" can be the difference. It sure was in 2010 when the Packers drafted Bryan Bulaga to develop behind Chad Clifton and Mark Tauscher. I'm sure running back, defensive line, inside linebacker and defensive back aren't positions on the minds of most fans, but the right rookie at any of those positions could go a long way.

Joe from Liberty Township, OH

During this season of mock drafts, I treat them as a tool rather than a predictor of the Packers' draft picks. Many, if not most, mock drafts fail to recognize the Packers' draft tendencies. If I see a guard or ILB (and previously WR) mocked to the Packers in the first round, I know the author likely doesn't know what any teams' tendencies are. But it does give me a sense for where players will slot in the draft, and therefore who might be available when the Packers' pick comes up.

Before I dive into a mock draft, I first look at position and then size of the player the Packers are projected to take. If Green Bay's scouting tendencies match up, then I keep reading. If not, I move on. I'm not reading this stuff for entertainment. I want information and analysis.

Kerry from Lakewood Ranch, FL

Would you take any of the QBs in this draft over Jordan Love?

I don't think so…but please don't turn this into, "GREAT. WHAT CAN THE PACKERS GET FOR LOVE?"

Bob from Ventura, CA

Science is a process which involves making a hypothesis (theory) and testing it. Lather, rinse, and repeat. I know teams gather data and have metrics which they think relate to performance but in no way is the draft a science. Maybe if we stopped calling it that and used "art" instead people would understand what's going on here.

The NFL Draft is an inexact art.

Marty from New Orleans, LA

"...Packers are biding their time for the prices on the market to return to sanity." There's no coming back from this. The WR market has been reset permanently.

Nothing is permanent, Marty. On a long enough timeline, everything is destined to change.

Sal from Hailey, ID

The absolute slander of the prized Hod arm! Maybe stick a sardine in your sandwich and leave it somewhere enticing. Thanks to Mike for the Chris Olave primer. He really sounds like someone who could take over the role MVS vacated. He seems to have as many contested catches as he does catches made in open space after great separation, and playing for scrambling QBs means he's ready to keep the play alive. What's his experience like on special teams?

Not much, but that's not why he's going to be a first-round pick. As a receiver, Olave is the total package. The only thing missing is the size the Packers often covet in their receivers. But he has the speed and big-play ability Green Bay wants to take the top off the opposing defense like MVS. Olave is also a fluid route runner who can line up inside or outside. I'm not sure of Green Bay's level of interest, but I'm a big, big fan.

Kent from Appleton, WI

How many prospects from your Prospect Primers for previous seasons became Packers?

I think Jeff Query was the most recent one. We sure know how to pick 'em.

Tim from Champaign, IL

I've found myself becoming frustrated with this column over the last month concerning inaccurate claims about WR quality vs. draft round. Cherry-picking data is not a sound form of analysis, so I did a quick and dirty survey. From 2011 to 2021, draft round, number of WRs picked, number of WRs who made a Pro Bowl at WR. (I counted Ty as a RB.) Results: Rd 1 – 41/9 (22%), Rd 2 – 53/11 (21%); Rd 3 – 41/5 (12%). Interpret this as you will, but at least it's not cherry-picked. What conclusions would you draw?

It sounds to me like somebody woke up on the wrong side of the mock draft.

Jayson from Fayetteville, NC

Mike, in response to Jake from Decatur, GA, you listed cornerback as one of your needs. I'm curious as to why? Eric Stokes, Rasul Douglas, and Shemar Jean-Charles are locked up together for the next three years not even accounting for the possibility of Jaire Alexander's potential contract. I definitely got the reasoning behind the other position groups you listed, just not CB.

I'm not Mike (but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last month). The Packers are loaded at cornerback with Jaire Alexander, Stokes, Douglas Jean-Charles and now Keisean Nixon. You can never have enough DBs. Last year was proof of that. Whether it's a corner or safety, I think the Packers take a swim in the DB pool sometime over those three days.

Neil from Tunbridge Wells, UK

Do we draft on versatility rather than specialty (e.g. a jack-of-all-trades or a one-position guy)?

I want a jack-of-all-trades player, but not a jack-of-all-trades talent. There's a difference. I want to see dominance from a draft pick, especially on the first two days.

Shawn from Stratford, WI

Hi Wes, I just finished Volume 1 of Cliff's "The Greatest Story in Sports." Great read! It seems to me that with Curly Lambeau's success as a player, coach and talent evaluator notwithstanding, he was kind of an egotistical jerk. Did you get the same vibe?

I don't disagree with anything Cliff has written on the subject.

Tim from Indio, CA

Aside from Vince Lombardi, what coach has had a greater lasting impact on the Packers?

See above.

Rich from De Pere, WI

I know I have to get over this and move on, but … do you know what factors into the NFL selecting draft cities? Detroit was dead last in attendance in 2021, barely averaging 50,000 per game. Is that really the city and fan base the NFL wants to "reward" by giving them the draft?

I gave my two cents on this last month and everyone jumped on me because a submitter said championships, instead of Super Bowls, when talking about Detroit's history. So, I'm not touching this one anymore. Maybe Spoff will humor y'all. Congrats to Detroit. For me, it's on to 2025.

Russ from Henrico, VA

In spite of months of expert prognostication, every Brian Gutekunst draft has me looking up info about who he actually drafted. It seems each draft has used picks (Darnell Savage and Jaire Alexander) for now and for keeping the team solid moving forward (Rashan Gary and Quadzilla). I get the feeling the experts are playing normal chess and BG is playing 3D chess ala Mr. Spock (with Russ Ball whispering in his ear).

Meanwhile, we're all playing chess outside of Cracker Barrel while grandma looks for stocking stuffers in the gift shop.

Stephen from Menomonee Falls, WI

My least favorite II days of the year are the Outsider Inbox. As an alternate, I suggest Wes and Mike pick the same 10-12 questions, answer them separately, and post both answers. I'd love to compare/contrast the answers.

Spoff does whatever the (heck) Spoff wants, but how about I post my responses to close this year's Outsider Inbox? Man, July 4 is quickly approaching.

Brian from Urbana, IL

First off, I took a long break from the Inbox midseason because I was in a real bad place for a while. I wanted to say thank you for staying a constant in an increasingly unpredictable world. Speaking of predictability: If you calculate their velocities using the distance-over-time equation, and then plug in 55 yards to the same equation to see the time to cover that distance, you'll find that DB B can cover the 55 in 6.04 seconds, whereas DB A covers in 6.32. So, DB B does catch up.

I hope you're in a better place. We're always here for you, Brian. Regarding your equation, I'm nodding intensely and acting as though I'm intelligent enough to comprehend what you said. It worked for me in geometry. I pray it works now.

Jeremiah from Madison, WI

How cool is it that Tom Grossi is now having his channel work on the Packers actually cited by major sports news outlets?

It's great. I'm so happy for Tom and his successes. The world needs more Tom Grossis (but not too many). The cool thing about this job is the unique people you meet along the journey. Tom, Andy Herman, Big B and Joey the Jaguar are just a few Packers content creators I've met in recent years who I'm proud to call friends today.

Jason from Austin, TX

Insiders, we can go deeper on the 40-time analysis, I think. If receiver A runs a 4.6 40 and DB B runs a 4.4 40 and receiver A has a 5-yard head start... but skipped breakfast this morning while DB B had bacon and eggs, would receiver A be able to hold his lead? Let's go deeper. If receiver A's ex-girlfriend was in the stands, would that give him enough to overcome the fact that DB B's mom and dad were in attendance? But wait, DB B accidentally had decaf coffee this morning! Who wins?

Now, you're speaking my draft language.

Dale from Minot, ND

You said there would be no math.

Never again, Dale. Never again.

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