Inbox: You never know when you may need them

JD from Madison, WI

Mike and Wes, I hope you had a wonderful Easter weekend, and you are well-rested for this week's events. With the current CBA, how are the rookie initial contracts set up? Minimums based on draft order? Position group? Both? Are there limits on signing bonuses, etc.? Thanks to everyone involved with II. Love it. Go Pack Go!

It is officially NFL Draft week in Green Bay. I can't believe I'm writing that. It feels like yesterday Mark Murphy was unveiling the countdown clock in the Atrium (starting at 355 days). Now, we're just three days away. To your question, contracts for rookies are relatively straightforward these days. They're slotted for where players are selected, with base salaries and bonuses gradually increasing every year. The only hangup is guaranteed money, but rarely do rookies hold out during training camp anymore.

David from Janesville, WI

Gents, queue the post-draft massive overreactions in five...four...three...two...one...and GO!

Please David. Let me enjoy these last few days of peace.

Gary from Cross Plains, WI

I'm surprised by the comments about how much scouting/prep a team does for top-of-the-draft prospects when were aren't picking anywhere near the top. Of course, we're going to give all those players the same due diligence as those more likely to be available at 23 (or Round 7). One, you never know what trade opportunity may arise to move up. Two, all that research is kept and utilized down the road should that player become available again (waiver, free agent, trade). The more you know!

The other thing to consider is the Packers keep a catalog of their past draft reports on prospects, which they'll occasionally revisit. For example, Green Bay had Isaiah Simmons in for a visit last week. Although it was unlikely Simmons would be available when the Packers were slated to pick 30th in 2020, it's always valuable to have background on top prospects. Really, that goes for any prospect in any round. I'm sure the Packers pulled up their scouting reports on Aaron Banks and Nate Hobbs before signing them last March, as well. You never know when you may need them.

Mark from Dallas, TX

To the question of whether it's a "waste of time" studying players whom they don't expect to be there, even if there's not, there's value to validating your scouting by seeing what your evaluation says and then how a player ends up. If you expect a No. 1 pick to be fantastic and they're a total flop, worth at least asking where your evaluation may have gone wrong (while being thankful you weren't the one to make the mistake).

That, too. Refusing to learn from the past only dooms the future. Brian Gutekunst often talks about how the Packers will review their reports on past prospects to see where they might have missed, and others hit.

Mike from Racine, WI

What happens during a free agent visit? I saw the reports that Isaiah Simmons came to town, and this late in free agency it must involve more than a medical exam.

So much goes into a visit, though medical checkups are usually part of it. Simmons hasn't missed a game since his redshirt freshman year at Clemson, so I don't think that would be a major red flag. Sometimes it's just about getting to know the player a little more, what their potential role may be and then circling back later in the offseason.

Kerry from Canyon Lake, TX

Jordan Love's comment regarding keeping Jaire Alexander got me thinking. I get players have personnel opinions, but I've never been a big fan of them expressing them in the media. I remember later in Brett Favre's career when he started questioning personnel moves. What do y'all think?

Love was asked a question and supported his teammate like a good leader does. As we've talked about ad nauseum, the Packers' locker room loves Jaire. He's a great football player with a big heart. However, the NFL is also a business. Love understands that.

Stephie Rae from Flowery Branch, GA

Hi II! I was flabbergasted by the stat that only 17 draftees are attending the NFL Draft! Is that typical? Why are more not there? Are they first-rounders? I mean, this is their entry into the acme of the sport they have been working toward most of their young lives. Is it travel costs for themselves and family? Or would they rather be home surrounded by family and friends? Personally, I'd want to feel the energy in the room and walk, or dance rather, on that stage when my name is called! GPG! Thx

It's actually more than last year when only 13 prospects attended the Detroit draft. There were 17 in Kansas City in 2023, 21 in Las Vegas in 2022 and 13 who went to Cleveland in 2021.

Ray from Phoenix, AZ

Very interested on your thoughts on Brenton Cox Jr.? In your opinion, could he become a regular rotation edge player? When on the field his production is really solid. He seems to have the size and speed to be a top-four rotation edge. Can you explain why he has not gotten more opportunities?

Cox was getting more snaps at the end of last season and made them count. He tied for fourth in both sacks (four) and quarterback hits (seven) despite only seeing 160 snaps over seven regular-season games. Cox was a salient photo selection on Spoff's part for his "Pre-draft picture" story on the Packers’ defensive line. Regardless of whether Green Bay drafts another pass rusher, I expect Cox to play an integral role on the defensive line in 2025.

Paul from Ledgeview, WI

Wes, I did not see Georgia listed in the top 10 for Packers picks, but they must be among the leaders in recent years.

That's partly a product of the Bulldogs putting so many players in the pros during Kirby Smart's nine years in Athens. The Packers have drafted four players out of Georgia since 2021, but that still trails Philadelphia (five) and the Los Angeles Chargers (five) over that span.

Brandon from Imperial, MO

Good morning, Mike's answer to Wes from Marengo, IL, was an eye opener. With all the Georgia picks recently, they didn't even register on the list. Also, don't a lot of fans take umbrage with the number of UW players the Packers have taken over the years? Is it recency bias or were most of the WI picks so long ago they might have a point? Lastly, is there any info about the former Packers (who are in town next week) having a meet-and-greet with the fans during the draft?

Be sure to download the NFL One Pass app for all the details and updates on that front. To your first question, the Packers hadn't drafted many Georgia players prior to the 2021 draft. In the previous 50 years, Green Bay took just three Bulldogs: DE Jarius Wynn (2009), DT Jermaine Smith (1997), and DB Daryll Jones (1984).

Andy from Kalamazoo, MI

Dear Insiders, reading Cliff Christl's excellent piece on Ted Thompson's drafts, I was surprised to see how media draft analysts influenced him to go back and review Aaron Rodgers' tape, though just to confirm his positive opinion. Do GMs respect some talking heads more than they otherwise let on? Do teams inevitably let opinions from outside the building influence how they approach the draft?

It was a transparent moment from Thompson. I'm sure most GMs and scouts pay attention to what some draftniks are saying, but I don't know how many would admit to that today given the "gotcha" media landscape we live in.

Markus from Aurora, CO

Insiders, done with tax season! Yay! Time to look forward to the draft! Which round do you look forward to the most? And why?

Round 7 for obvious reasons. I kid, I kid…it's gotta be the first round. Hope springs eternal for the entire NFL on Night 1. Each team hopes it has found a future Pro Football Hall of Famer. More often than not, at least one or two do.

Anthony from Southington, CT

I have also followed the Packers since the '60s. In 2006, all the mock drafts had the Packers selecting Ohio St. linebacker A.J. Hawk with the fifth overall pick. They certainly nailed that one and it worked out pretty well.

I mean, getting the No. 5 pick correct is sort of like sinking a three-foot putt in your weekly golf league, right? Congrats, but reset the pin and proceed to the next tee box. George's wife needs him home by six.

Dale from Aurora, CO

Your answer to Jerry from Fort Wayne's question about what the coaches expect from Malik Willis this season seems to enhance his value to the team. He will know the team more positively and be better equipped to be of greater value after a very good showing with so little exposure to the Packers' system. Would that not preclude Gute and Co. from offering him up as a trade asset as opposed to keeping him for at least one more year?

The Packers have been vocal about how much they're looking forward to having Willis back as QB2 this year. They wouldn't talk like that if they're open to trading a player. Before you ask, I highly doubt any team would offer what it would take to pry Willis away from Green Bay.

Richard from Greenwich, NY

Gentlemen, this time of year, when rosters are being built, always stirs up my memory of dismay when Jared Cook (the tight end responsible for the remarkable clutch catch for 2016 NFC Divisional win in Dallas) wasn't re-signed in favor of Martellus Bennett. Do you have any insights on why that happened? Cook was a Pro Bowl selection in 2017 and 2018, wasn't an aging player. Was Bennett cheaper, or seen as an upgrade? This has always bugged me. Thanks for any insights.

Free agency is a tricky beast. When all the dust settled, Cook wound up in Los Angeles and Bennett was in Green Bay. That game of musical tight ends certainly will go down as one of the Packers' biggest regrets of the 2010s, though.

Karen from South Beloit, IL

I read that Mecole Hardman likes to practice barefoot, including lifting weights, in the offseason. Would that be allowed in the Packers' facility?

I couldn't find anything in the employee handbook about footwear. If Hardman has made it this far without shoes, then I say a player on a streak has to respect the streak.

Shawn from Kissimmee, FL

Aaron Rodgers says he'll play for $10 million. How does a team not consider that? I know that means he also wants to start, so that still eliminates any team that has their guy. I think he might as well wait until a contender loses its man to injury, or until a team feels their guy isn't quite ready to be the starter. What are your thoughts?

I don't have any, other than wishing Aaron nothing but the best. He'll either play or he won't play. I hope whatever decision he makes brings him peace.

Bil from Stateline, NV

I think rhyming "Five" with "(202)5" seems like cheating. What do you guys think?

The gentleman doth protest too much, methinks.

Monty from Velva, ND

Hey Wes, after reading yesterday's Inbox, there was a lot of vitriol about Green Bay not getting a Super Bowl. Do fans really think the organization hasn't tried to get one?

The city of Green Bay is about to host the NFL Draft for what may be the only time in my lifetime…and here we are having a pointless conversation about Super Bowls.

Bones from Ripon, WI

I asked once before but it went unanswered. Can a player sign and play for nothing?

There's a reason it went unanswered, Bones.

Nick from Gresham, WI

All right, who's the pick?

Today, it's Matthew Golden but I'll probably change my mind by tomorrow. In the meantime, have a fantastic Monday.