The Packers group stacks up fine but has a little more to prove

Mike Spofford

Bryan from Madison, WI

I'm assuming Bushwood at least put in a bid to become the official Sportsbook partner of the Green Bay Packers. I mean, they must have...right?

And a new week is upon us.

Linda from Alameda, CA

Milwaukee only has the Brewers because the Braves moved to Atlanta; Milwaukee only had the Braves because they moved from Boston. Private owners will always make decisions based on what benefits them. That's what makes the Packers unique.

Among many things.

Lee from Sullivan, IN

Sounds likeChristian Watson's deal was four years. I believe he was already under contract for the upcoming season, no? So does that mean we have him five more seasons? How does the money work?

The four-year extension has Watson under contract for the next five seasons. If you combine the money over the five years, it's around $123M total, or $24.6M per (sorry, math). We'll have to see what the structure looks like to know cap charges and whether the Packers have any reasonable outs along the way.

Martin from Coeur d'Alene, ID

What is with the Watson contract? My armchair estimate of his production last year was in the 35-40 range of WR, yet this new contract pays him like a top 20 WR. I trust Gutey to have some off ramps for Year 3 and 4 of the contract with the injury history, but this feels awkward. Keeping Romeo Doubs feels like it would have been better value.

If you're asking whether I'd rather have Doubs at $17M per or Watson at $24M per, I'd take Watson in a heartbeat. The career yards per catch of 12.0 vs. 17.0 says a lot. I appreciate everything Doubs did in his four years here. He was productive and mostly reliable. But he doesn't tilt the field. Watson does.

Matthew from Racine, WI

Doubs was clutch, but out of the top three receivers from the last few seasons, I think they made the right choice to keep Watson andJayden Reed. But now that they've moved on from Doubs, who do you think with be the clutch receiver on third downs and goal-line situations like he was?

Any of them, and/orTucker Kraft.

JP from Geneva, IL

Mike's response to Andy from Boscobel, re: Watson's new contract is interesting. I agree with Mike that Watson's presence on the field forces the opponents to adjust and that is what Watson is being paid for. I disagree with Mike's argument that "all big contracts" require risk from the standpoint that Watson's injury history is worse than many others who sign big contracts. Therefore, the risk is greater than it otherwise might be. CW being paid like a No. 1WR, but he has not produced like one.

I thought I made it pretty clear the only reason the Packers got Watson for the price they did (well under $30M APY) is his injury history. That's built into the final cost, as far as I'm concerned. Also, regarding risk, when David Bakhtiari signed his big deal in Dec. 2020, he had missed a grand total of nine games in his eight-year career to that point. Then we all know what happened. Every big contract carries risk. It's a brutal game.

Adrian from Chula Vista, CA

II, with 9 signed, is it reasonable to hope for a similar article referencing 85 this summer? Or, will management want to evaluate 85 upon his return to full practice?

We'll find out soon enough. Watson got his initial one-year extension last fall about six weeks before he played in a game, but that was not the same level of commitment the Packers are presumably looking to make with Kraft.

Troy from Ninety Six, SC

Lots of handwringing about the Christian Watson deal, but I absolutely love it. It's below market for someone with his potential. Let's hope his injury woes are behind him and we're talking about him resetting the market for wide receivers two years from now after back-to-back All-Pro seasons.

Whoa, let's pump the brakes a little. If Watson stays healthy, I believe he'll outplay that contract, perhaps by a pretty significant margin. I'm just hoping for that. The rest is ancillary.

David from Oak Hills, CA

Mike said the receiving trio of Watson, Reed andMatthew Goldenis a "pretty good spot to be in." Where would you rank the Packers' receiving group compared to the rest of the NFC North? How about compared to the other 15 teams in the NFC?

I don't have time to look at every team in the conference, but in the division, here are the trios for the Bears (Odunze, Burden, open competition for WR3), Lions (St. Brown, Williams, TeSlaa) and Vikings (Jefferson, Addison, Jennings). Chicago's group ranks fourth. The rest are pretty close. Jefferson is the top WR1, it's a tight race at WR2, and I like Golden as the best WR3. Collectively, I think the Packers' group stacks up fine but has a little more to prove.

Steve from Cedar Falls, IA

The question and answer regardingBo Meltonbenefiting from the experiment at CB got me thinking. Don't the respective rooms already teach how to see tells on how to attack the opposing players?

Sure, but it's one thing to discuss it in a meeting room and another to actually experience it on the field from both sides.

Andy from Wisconsin Rapids, WI

You guys talked about Bo Melton at length on the last "Unscripted" podcast. With him switching to D last year and back to O so far this season, is it safe to say that he is simply "a football player"? I think his injury played a huge and under-covered role in the playoff loss to the Bears. Obviously everybody competes for a roster spot, but do you think he is a little safer than most special teamers?

I don't want to get into roster chances because those are so fluid, but I'll say this: When the coverage unit lost Melton and Zayne Anderson to IR at the end of the regular season, it showed up in the playoff game. The Packers had allowed an average of 10.6 yards per punt return with a long of 24 all year. Then Chicago's Duvernay had punt returns of 37 and 22 yards in the final game.

John from Stevens Point, WI

Nice to see former Badger Nick Herbig get his. His stats have been trending up each season. Is he the Steelers' heir apparent at rush end after T.J. Watt? He isn't big for the position. Isn't that a lot of money for a situational/rotational player, or is that a reflection of the economics in today's NFL?

It's a curious investment in a player who hasn't been a starter, but it's a very forward-thinking move at that position. Watt turns 32 this season, Highsmith is under contract for two more years when he'll turn 30, and now Herbig is under contract for the next five years.

Mark from Westminster, CO

First, great news regarding CW's contract extension. Second, I watched over an hour ofTyrod Taylorhighlights, he's literally Malik Willis Sr. If I'm Gutey, I think I let out a major exhale when that contract was signed. There's no need to be concerned about our QB2, especially with our receivers. Check that box as complete. What's the next most pressing exhale position?

It's not so much a position as getting four of the roster's top 10 players healthy again.

Chase from Diamond Springs, CA

That later than usual Labor Day is playing to our recovering players' advantage.

Agreed.

Pat from Peoria, IL

SoMicah Parsonswon't be back 'til mid-October but if he starts the season on the PUP list he can start practicing after Week 2. So would he be cleared to practice after Week 2 or would he not be able to take advantage of the new rule?

Time will tell. Nine months from Parsons' surgery date falls after the Packers' Week 3 Thursday night game.

Steve from Phoenix, AZ

This question of playing zone vs. man coverage may be about DC preferences, team matchups and maximizing takeways but it seems to be to be more about your personnel. If you have the personnel who can match up in man, you can play zone but the converse is not necessarily true. We haven't had the kind of players befitting man coverage since we lost Jaire.

I get where you're coming from. Alexander could match up with anybody. I'd say recently the Packers have had the ability to play man situationally, but the inconsistency in generating pressure with four particularly in the 2023-24 seasons when Ja missed so much time limited the coverage options. If a four-man rush isn't regularly affecting the QB within 2.5-3 seconds, nobody can play much man.

Dale from Aurora, CO

When a rookie likeBrandon Cisselooks good early where he may be a starter, or at least be used frequently, is there a defense where he would be better suited for early on? Man-to-man or zone?

Depends on the guy and the pressure packages.

Ray from Phoenix, AZ

MarShawn Lloydwent west to meet with a specialist about his injuries. What did he find that the GB medical people did not see? What kind of different treatments are being done?

That was No. 3 inWess 5 things from practice earlier this week.

Derek from Sheboygan, WI

Starting line includingJager Burton?

I'm not going that far yet, even though Burton was getting some first-unit reps last week. Some of the line's interior depth (Jacob Monk,Donovan Jennings) was sidelined. But as Wes and I discussed on "Unscripted," snaps with the ones are not to be ignored.

Don from Minocqua, WI

"They're probably just planning to carry a bunch of dead money when their next QB is on his rookie contract." Gutey may have tried to do this but Rodgers put up back-to-back MVPs. Will Stafford do the same? That's why we watch.

And if it happens the Rams will have zero complaints, same as Gutey.

Monty from Velva, ND

There was a mention of Aaron Donald coming out of retirement with the excitement around the Garrett trade. Donald is two years removed from playing and 35 years old. Doesn't sound like a great combination to me. What are your thoughts?

Donald was a physical marvel for an interior D-lineman, to be able to do what he did at his size (6-1, 280). That's why 12 teams passed on him in the 2014 draft even though he won ever major defensive award his final year at Pitt and absolutely dominated the entire week of Senior Bowl practices, because many didn't believe he could do in the NFL what he did in college. So two years away from the game at age 35, I wouldn't put it past him to make an impact for 20 snaps a game, or something like that.

Carl from Blue Mounds, WI

With as much as NFL players put into offseason training, is there ever someone that shows back up to Green Bay that catches your eye on how they have put in offseason work? Diet and working out can make a difference. I'd imagine for some guys a full season with NFL training and diet could make a difference. Anyone catch your eye this year?

I always look at the previous year's draft class first every spring, and the two guys who caught my eye this year, physically speaking, were Golden andBarryn Sorrell.

Taylor from Hull, IA

I love Lambeau's grass field, but as new stadiums continue to be about generating revenue beyond the NFL home games, do you think that the Packers will one day have to consider going to turf so that they can host more events throughout the year? If revenue becomes a problem, would you prefer turf or selling the naming rights to the stadium?

I think the franchise is a long, long way from having to worry about either one. There's a reason they built a whole new neighborhood across the street.

Matt from Fort Worth, TX

What is your favorite thing about OTAs?

When they (and minicamp) are done, because then it's the dead zone, I can go full speed ahead on the Yearbook to make my deadlines, and then get some time away to recharge for training camp while inevitably missing a big story.

Chris from Philadelphia, PA

Perhaps instead it will be the Hamm-Bear-gersOK OK, where's the door?

I admit I was just glad to see someone make an attempt not including eggs.

Drew from Dubuque, IA

At the risk of having my Bushwood membership revoked, I'd be willing to wager a tall, frosty root beer that the Bears will never play a game in Hammond, Ind. I suspect the proper envelopes will be handed off before shovels pierce dirt in the Hoosier State. Is my skepticism warranted, or am I just cynical?

I'm with you 100%. I won't believe it until that stadium in Indiana actually gets built. Happy Monday.

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