Inbox: There's no shortage of formations

Randall from Grand Junction, CO

Mike, I take it you're a fan of The Police. You remember how he got his name Sting? I do.

I don't, but I heard he was an English teacher for a brief time and I've always loved how he worked literary references into some of his songs.

Pepper from Rochester, NY

Miiiiike! Appreciate the heck out of II. The inside jokes and movie/song references are a hoot – see your final comment to Roxanne yesterday as recent proof. My question: When will see updates on our new coaches and get some insight on their qualifications, flair and what they bring to the Packers?

I can only surmise LaFleur is still finalizing his full staff for '25. It was recently reported that offensive assistant Myles White took a job at Syracuse, so filling his role might be the last step before everything will be announced.

Matt from Greensboro, NC

Regarding Crosby not having the most consecutive starts because he wasn't on offense or defense. But he was the starting kicker even if we got the ball first. Same way Favre was the starting QB if the opponents got the ball first… from Crosby kicking it to them. What am I missing?

Statistically, the NFL counts "starters" as the players on the field for a team's first offensive snap and first defensive snap. Right or wrong, that's just how the league does it.

Jim from St. Pete Beach, FL

I ask this only half-jokingly: Is No. 2 a first-ballot Hall of Famer? Crosby had an amazing career with the Packers and I'm happy he's retiring with us.

He's a first-ballot Packers Hall of Famer in my book, and I would expect he'll go in as soon as he's eligible. He scored almost 900 more points than anyone else in franchise history. That record is going to last forever here. As for Canton, which many have asked about, sorry, it's not happening. Crosby sits currently just outside the top 10 on the all-time scoring list (with 1,939 points, 22 behind No. 10 Robbie Gould). The only kickers ahead of him in the Hall are Morten Andersen and George Blanda, while Adam Vinatieri (No. 1 on the all-time scoring list with multiple Super Bowl-winning kicks) should get in eventually, though he was passed over for the '25 class. Gary Anderson kicked for 23 years, retired in 2004 as the game's all-time leading scorer (2,434 points, currently third), was a four-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro and hasn't even reached the semifinalist stage of the process, to my knowledge. So, no.

Thomas from Cedar Rapids, IA

Open the flood gates to the Joey Bosa submissions in three...two...one...

I'll defer to Andy Herman on this one. He pointed out on X/Twitter right after Bosa's release Wednesday night that Christian Watson has played more snaps over the last two seasons than Bosa has played over his last three. Buyer beware. Now Trey Hendrickson is apparently available via trade, too. The edge rusher market keeps growing. I don't believe the Bengals are just going to give Hendrickson away, though.

Ken from Oceanport, NJ

I cringe every time I see the names Darrell Thompson and Tony Bennett. Why? Because it reminds me that Dallas traded up to one pick in front of these two Packer picks and picked Emmitt Smith. What were the Packers front office doing or not doing? Not saying that Smith would have done as well in Green Bay, but the optics were pretty bad.

That 1990 draft is fascinating when you look at the first-round running backs. The Jets chose Penn State's Blair Thomas at No. 2 overall, and then nobody took a running back until the Cowboys traded up to get Smith at 17. Then the Packers took Thompson at 19, the Falcons took Washington State's Steve Broussard at 20, the Giants took Georgia's Rodney Hampton at 24, and the 49ers took Florida State's Dexter Carter at 25. Six first-round running backs, and the only one to even make a Pro Bowl aside from the Hall of Famer Smith was Hampton. At least the Packers redeemed themselves that year by finding LeRoy Butler in the second round.

James from Chicago, IL

Do teams have to prorate signing bonuses? Or can a team that finds itself with extra cap space choose to absorb a signing bonus all in one year?

Signing bonuses are prorated for cap purposes. But guaranteeing a larger Year 1 salary is a way to take a bigger cap hit up front if the player agrees to the structure.

Scott from Snoqualmie, WA

ESPN reported that the Browns are getting some cap relief because of an insurance policy on Watson where they get a payout because he missed so many games last year. I can see how the organization could receive money on an insurance policy, but can teams really use private insurance to get cap credits? That sounds incorrect. Vic taught me that if you pay it, you cap it.

There are provisions for cap credits if teams take out insurance policies on player salaries and then those policies pay out due to injury. The Browns gave Watson a fully guaranteed, five-year deal and insured it, so they've gotten cap credits when he's missed games as the insurance has covered those portions of salary. It gets confusing now, though. My understanding was the Browns had most of his 2025 salary insured as well, and would be in line for cap credits in '26 if he can't play in '25 due to his Achilles injury and the insurance pays out. But now they've restructured his contract, converting most of his '25 salary into a bonus to create cap space for '25 and push more cap charges down the road. So I would imagine they've lost those potential cap credits for '26 because his '25 salary is no longer the big number it was. But I honestly don't know exactly how that's going to work now.

Jackson from Wollongong, Australia

DK Metcalf has requested a trade, and the Packers were mentioned first as an option. Good fit? How much draft capital (picks) is reasonable for such a trade?

There are reports the Seahawks are looking for at least a first-round pick, plus more, and I don't see the Packers surrendering that much on top of signing Metcalf to an expensive, long-term contract, which would be the expectation as he heads into a contract year. But I guess we'll see.

Steve from Cedar Falls, IA

Just a comment on wide receivers. I know there are a handful of truly outstanding college receivers, but the way the college game is played, every team has one or two really good ones. It is just a case of trying to figure out if they can fit into a pro team's offense. So, my take is that the lower rounds are a good place to draft them.

I've been saying for years the college game churns out prospects at receiver more prevalently than any other position. That combined with the really high prices even mid-tier NFL receivers are commanding would always make me more inclined to build my receiving corps through the draft – high rounds, low rounds, wherever.

Mark from Westminster, CO

Mike, your "crapshoot" comment regarding first-round picks got me to thinking. Why not trade a first-round pick for a proven player that has been in the league if another team agrees? Between 2009-2020, the Patriots traded (4) first-round picks and were penalized (1) for Deflategate, and it worked. During those years, the Patriots appeared in five Super Bowls and won three. Based on our free agent success, I'd say this strategy could be warranted. Why or why not?

I don't mean to oversimplify, but you're referencing Brady and Belichick. That pairing, and everything they accomplished, is the exception and not the rule. Now it's Mahomes and Reid, and again, in a league of 32 teams, their level of success can't necessarily be duplicated simply by following a blueprint. They're outliers, and no offense to Love and LaFleur, but they aren't Brady-Belichick or Mahomes-Reid. Unless you have those specific people, chasing the way they do things feels like a fool's errand to me. Also, I'll point out during those years you mentioned the Patriots surrendered several first-round picks, there were two years in which they drafted multiple first-rounders.

Michael from Alpharetta, GA

I've always kind of liked the Buccaneers' creamsicle uniforms if only because they were so unique. But the uniforms I'd like to see back in regular rotation is the old Broncos snorting and bucking horse uniforms, which I thought were iconic. While they won two Super Bowls with the current edition, I still like the old ones better. Thoughts?

They've won three Super Bowls with their current uniforms ('97, '98, '15), but I always liked what I refer to as the classic John Elway look of my youth.

Shawn from Kissimmee, FL

Where do you think Aaron Rodgers will end up in 2025? AFC? NFC? Retired? Bonus if you get the correct team. I'd guess his ideal landing spot would be Minnesota, but my odds even though gambling is illegal at Bushwood, would be Las Vegas.

Honestly, I've somewhat lost interest at this point. But wherever he lands, I hope he plays well and can go out on a better note than if he were to retire now. For what it's worth, the gambling community seems to think the best odds are with the Giants, Steelers or Raiders.

Rich from Grand Rapids, MI

Lots of talk of “best five” linemen and moving people around, but I cannot say that I have read much about Rasheed Walker having a "backup" position on the line. If Jordan Morgan or someone else were to beat out Walker at LT, is he a candidate for an interior line spot or would he just be the swing tackle?

Walker is a tackle, and he's not likely to buckle at any competition thrown his way. As he enters the final year of his rookie deal, I think the larger question is whether the Packers will look to extend him at some point before he hits free agency, or let him test the market when the time comes. It may take all of the 2025 season, and evaluating Walker's play along with that of Green Bay's other young linemen – like Morgan – to get a feel for how this will play out.

Rudy from Rhinelander, WI

With Luke Musgrave healthy and Tucker Kraft with another year of experience, will we see more two-tight-end looks from the Packers this year? This would help an already very good running game AND be a nightmare for opposing linebackers, no?

I think the ideal would be for "12" personnel (one running back, two tight ends) to be a primary grouping for LaFleur, to see how the defense wants to match up with that type of personnel. Whether the defense plays base or nickel vs. 12 can dictate matchups to attack, and as such the Packers could vary whether the two tight ends line up on the same side, opposite sides, in-line, split wide, etc. There's no shortage of formations with two threatening tight ends on the field.

Jesse from Colorado Springs, CO

Do you guys think that free agents care a lot about weather, city size, and stuff like that? Because that would put us in a bad spot for some, but for some they might love the football town. Or is it fully on how the team is performing?

Diff'rent strokes for diff'rent folks. The market matters to some, the team more to others. Typically, the money does most of the talking.

Paul from Ledgeview, WI

Mike given the strength of the draft compared with the Packers' needs, do you see BG standing pat with eight picks, or trading back to get to more bites at the apple? If BG were to double- or triple-up at one position, would you expect that to be CB?

I think a trade back at some point – not sure when – is entirely likely. As far as multiple players at one position, let's see what happens in free agency first. It's almost here. Happy Friday.