Inbox: The Packers again have room to make the moves they want to make

Don from Swaledale, IA

I think Wes would look better golfing with Happy Gilmore.

Fair.

Jason from Mt. Prospect, IL

What does a perfect 1-2 punch look like at linebacker? Edgerrin Cooper looks like a potential star, standing at 6-foot-2, 230 pounds. He's super explosive and generates pressure really well. In a perfect world, what kind of athlete do you want next to him from a coaching perspective? Do coaches typically want a super lengthy, pass coverage guy opposite of somebody with traits like Cooper? I'm hoping to better understand the linebacker position. I would love to learn more about this from you guys!

That's a good question. I think speed is more important than size in today's NFL as long as you're a good, fundamental tackler. At that position, sideline-to-sideline quickness never goes out of style. Tampa Bay captured lightning with Lavonte David (6-1, 233) and Devin White (6-0, 237) for five years. This past year, Zach Baun and Nakobe Dean formed a similar pairing. The combination of Quay Walker and Edgerrin Cooper could make a solid 1-2 punch for the present-day Packers. That said, one of the added benefits of moving to a 4-3 was it created complementary roles for Isaiah McDuffie and Eric Wilson. When injuries occurred, both were ready to contribute on an every-down basis.

Harry from Milwaukee, WI

I will be attending the first few days of the draft this year in GB. Whom do you think are realistic options for the Packers would draft in the first few rounds? Do you think they will opt to trade for a known name or keep their picks and continue with the youth strategy they have followed the past couple years?

Brian Gutekunst has bounced around a few times in the first round over the years, but I highly doubt the Packers part with a first-round pick for a veteran player. That's just not how they operate. Daniel Jeremiah has the Packers taking Ohio State tackle Josh Simmons at No. 23 in his most recent mock draft after going with Texas A&M edge rusher Shemar Stewart in his first. Both players intrigue me. Marshall's Mike Green and Tennessee's James Pearce Jr. are also edge rushers currently projected in the latter portion of the first round, too.

Brett from Clifton, OH

I really like the film I see on Texas Longhorn CB No. 23, Jahdae Barron. What are the odds that Barron is available at pick 23 to replace Jaire Alexander No. 23? Have the football gods spoken?

Jeremiah has Barron going to Cincinnati at No. 17. Barron's five INTs certainly got the NFL's attention. If Barron's numbers hold up at the combine and pro day, he could be in play.

Chris from Waukesha, WI

I was looking at lists of pending free agents at nfl.com, and I noticed that the Packers list, though it contained a lot of important players, was a shorter list than several other teams. Given the projected available cap space, I am confident the front office will be able to make competitive offers to keep key players around if the players want to stay. It's nice to know the people making the decisions are really good football people, who don't have less knowledgeable people interfering.

As Rob Demovsky's article on ESPN.com outlined earlier this month, Gutekunst has a clear vision for team-building, and what the Packers look like today, tomorrow and a year from now. They ran into a jam with the cap for a couple years but again have room to make the moves they want to make.

Jeff from Indian Lake, NY

I read an article that stated this is the fourth consecutive year the NFL cap has increased over $10 MILLION from the previous year. It makes me almost afraid to ask, what was the cap 10 years ago? 20 years ago? I always knew the older generations made way less money than current players. But the growth of the NFL is just staggering and hard to truly comprehend. That's a lot of cheddar.

The salary cap was $143.2 million in 2015. It tells you how much the revenue has grown year-over-year for the country's most popular game sans the 2020 season.

Chris from Stratford Upon Avon, United Kingdom

Two things. Firstly, retiring a number is a sign of respect, but I also believe that wearing the number of a great is also an honor. Secondly. I feel so gratified that the only Packers game I've attended featured Sterling Sharpe, in the victory over the 49ers in November 1989. Sharpe was a hero to me then...and now.

Everyone considered it a great honor when Nick Collins was given No. 36, Ha Ha Clinton-Dix received '21' and Rashan Gary assumed '52' after Clay Matthews. To this day, Sharpe is the first person I think of whenever a player is assigned No. 84.

David from Elgin, SC

Other than the draft, is the NFL sponsoring any other events in and around Green Bay?

We don't have all those details yet, but the league always plans a series of events in cities where the draft is being held. Green Bay will be no different.

Paul from Northglenn, CO

I believe it would be hard to pass on a Marquez Valdes-Scantling return to fill Christian Watson's role. Big top-end speed and a willing accomplished blocker. If Pack makes a big swing, it's Maxx Crosby and not WR!

If you say so…but I'll never close the door on the Packers bringing a receiver back. There's a long list of wideouts who had a second act in Green Bay.

Jon from Willmar, MN

Looking forward to the draft. Very big event for the town of Green Bay. Did any new hotels, etc., get built for this? Other changes?

Quite a few hotels have gone up around the stadium over the past two years, including Lodge Kohler, the Legacy Hotel, a new Hampton Inn and a Home2.

Daniel from Allerød, Denmark

I've got two nice stamps from Canada when I crossed the border close to Niagara Falls, but then again, I am neither Canadian nor American, so that might be the explanation for it. Staying on international topics: Have the Packers ever employed a foreign player or coach?

I couldn't find any recent full-time Packers coaches not from the United States. On the player side, punter Daniel Whelan was born in Ireland before moving to the U.S. Cornerback Corey Ballentine was born in Jamaica before moving to the U.S. when he was six. Two Pro Football Hall of Famers also played for Green Bay after being born outside the U.S.: linebacker Ted Hendricks (Guatemala) and Jan Stenerud (Norway). I'm sure there are more, but those are a few names.

TK from Grafton, WI

So, a team can cut two veterans TODAY and not have it count against the cap until June 1 (if so designated)? Every day I'm surprised at how little I know!

It's complicated and I probably could've explained the rule better. You can't just cut two veterans today and have them count entirely towards next year's cap. Teams split the cap hit between this upcoming season and the following year. For example, a portion of De'Vondre Campbell's dead cap will count on this upcoming 2025 cap because GB used the post-June 1 designation to release him last offseason.

Mark from River Falls, WI

Hey Wes, long-time first-time. I have been a green package ticketholder for many years and am curious if there is a noticeable difference in the stadium vibe between the green package fans and the gold package fans. Thanks for all you and Mike do for us.

Ha. You want to get me in trouble, don't you? Both green- and gold-package fans try hard and do a good job. If I were to offer some constructive criticism, the green-packagers do a slightly better job of holding onto their tickets and avoiding the wave when the Packers are on offense.

Justin from Thousand Oaks, CA

Donald Driver has a pretty big lead for all-time best Packers seventh-round pick, but if Rasheed Walker gets another contract at LT, does he move up to No. 2? Who else in the on the list?

Carrington Valentine is quickly climbing the list, too. Adam Timmerman, Mark Tauscher, and Scott Wells are other seventh-round standouts in the seven-round draft era.

Matt from San Luis Obispo, CA

I looooove Micah Hyde! One of my all-time favorite Packer plays is a play from one of my all-time favorite Packer games, Hyde's interception of a Tony Romo screen pass in that great playoff win against Dallas. What a player! My question is, what was the overall free-agent situation for the Pack after that that allowed Micah Hyde to get out of Green Bay? I can't recall, but in hindsight, it seems like an obvious error in judgment.

A lot had to do with a numbers crunch at safety with the presence of both Morgan Burnett and Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, who was an All-Pro the same year Hyde entered free agency in 2016. Hyde played both safety and nickel corner for the Packers, but it was apparent by the end Hyde's future was on the backend. He obviously went to Buffalo and became a two-time All-Pro himself.

Steve from Land O Lakes, FL

I have one more person to add to Brett Favre lustrous list of backup QBs: Jim McMahon who already won a Super Bowl.

Oh, good one.

Tom from Two Rivers, WI

I get the desire to protect the Packers two three-peats and their championship history. But claiming five titles in seven years is the greatest accomplishment in sports history utterly ignores the Celtics nine titles in 11 years. I'm no Celtics fan, but let's give credit where credit is due.

That's for y'all to debate. I'm just the admin.

John from Belleview, FL

Regarding the passport issue: The confusion comes from the fact that within the EU, they do not stamp passports. So, the example of USA to Italy to London would get stamps. However, if you go from France to Germany to Luxembourg, you do not get stamps. This was my son's experience when he attended the summer Olympics in Paris. Hope that clears things up a little bit.

And you know the rest of the (passport) story.

Bob from Kennesaw, GA

Wes, pizza suggestions for Kenosha: Infusion's on 39th Ave and Ruffalo's on 50th St, Renzo's on 52nd St for pizza turnovers & strombolis. Wells Bros in far SE Racine for thin crust pizza. For hand-tossed (slightly thicker) crust, DeRango's on 6 Mile Rd in Racine. There are several others as well. Danish bakeries in Racine: O&H on W Hwy 20 and on N Main St, Bendtsen's on E Hwy 20 (Washington Ave). In Milwaukee, Kopp's custard is world class, and their burgers and sandwiches are unbelievable. Eat up!

There's something poetic about a guy from Georgia giving a Wisconsinite recommendations for food and custard in his own state.

Markus from Aurora, CO

Daddy Wes, are we there yet? ... Are we there yet? ... Where are we actually going? ... We're headed to whatever is next on the NFL calendar, but: are we there yet? I agree Sundays without football are boring, but at least we have Six Nations Rugby.

Spoff heads to Indianapolis Monday. We're getting closer.

Jim from St Pete Beach, FL

Hi Wes!! You are crushing Inbox this week with Mike gone. Forgive me if I hear Charlie Brown's teacher when you answer questions about June 1 cap implications. In Ball I trust and I figure he and Gute do as well as any team in the NFL. As far as trips with your son, my best memories with my boys are trips to places like Yosemite, Arches, Yellowstone and The Grand Tetons.

You have set the bar impossibly high for me, Jim. I trust you and the kids made some amazing memories, though.

Ryan from Sun Prairie, WI

Regarding Ryan from Sheboygan Falls' question, this Ryan wants to know if we will win the Super Bowl next year?

That's a great question for a returning Spoff. Have a great weekend, folks.