By Chris Havel

GREEN BAY, Wis. – Quay Walker and Devonte Wyatt will trade their Georgia “G’s” for Packers “G’s” as Green Bay’s “D” just became more daunting, with perhaps another Georgia peach – receiver George Pickens – still on the way.

The Packers added scheme-specific defenders in Walker and Wyatt, who starred on Georgia’s national championship defense in 2021.

In fact, they joined a trio of ex-Bulldogs selected in the first round of Thursday night’s 2022 NFL draft. The list includes: No. 1, Travon Walker, DE, Jaguars; No. 13, Jordan Davis, DT, Eagles; and No. 32, Lewis Cine, S, Vikings.

Meantime, Green Bay became the first team in the common draft era to select players from the same school in the first round. The Packers selected Georgia cornerback Eric Stokes with the 29th pick in the 2021 draft. Packers’ coordinator Joe Barry now has an ex-Bulldogs defender at every level of his defense.

“Oh man, that’s crazy,” Walker said of joining Wyatt and Stokes in Green Bay. “It’s a reunion, man. I can’t even really say nothin’ – I’m gonna start crying all over again.”

Jaquavian Jy’Quese (Quay) Walker started 15 games for Georgia’s national championship team in 2021. He registered 67 tackles, 5 ½ tackles for loss and 1 ½ sacks in addition to three pass breakups.

Some scouts had another Georgia player – inside linebacker Nakobe Dean – rated as a better pro prospect than his teammate, Walker. However, Dean (5-11, 229) is a fast but extremely undersized inside linebacker. Utah’s Devin Lloyd, the other top inside linebacker prospect, was selected by Jacksonville with the 27th pick.

Walker, at 22, makes sense in hindsight.

Think of Walker as a rookie version of Packers All-Pro inside linebacker De’Vondre Campbell, who was instrumental in elevating the defense’s play. Campbell led the team with 146 tackles (102 solo), five passes defended, two sacks, two interceptions and six tackles for loss.

Campbell (6-4, 232) and Walker (6-4, 241) are nearly clones.

Campbell ran a 4.58 40-yard dash with a 34-inch vertical jump at the NFL combine. Walker ran a 4.52 with a 32-inch vertical leap. Their ability to read and react against the run, coupled with their skill in pass coverage, makes them a potentially formidable interior duo.

Packers GM Brian Gutekunst said he didn’t think Walker would be on the board if they waited to draft him at No. 28. He said Walker’s tackling ability, impact in the passing game and exceptional skill when blitzing made him too good to pass up.
The Packers raised their talent level at inside linebacker considerably.

Krys Barnes, an undrafted linebacker from UCLA, started next to Campbell and played well last season. Barnes was third on the team with 81 tackles (58 solo), four tackles for loss, four passes defended, two fumble recoveries and a sack.

Imagine putting Walker – a Top 22 talent – next to Campbell. The heart of the Packers’ defense would be a pair of 6-foot-4, 240-pound rangy athletes who understand defense and love to impose their will.

The possibilities are exciting, to say the least. With all due respect to Barnes, there are physical differences between him and Walker that can’t be discounted.

“It’s been a while since we’ve been able to stay in certain packages with two inside ‘backers and handle everything in run defense and the passing game,” Gutekunst said. “This really gives our defense a ton of flexibility.”

Gutekunst sounded as if Walker will play right away.

“That makes it really tough on an offense,” he said of the dynamic duo inside. “(Walker’s) range and speed and explosiveness as a tackler were something that we couldn’t pass up.”

Walker played in 52 games during four seasons at Georgia, but he didn’t start full-time until 2021. He said he reshaped his body and rededicated his mind. The result is starring on a national championship team and being the 22nd player drafted.

“I became smarter,” Walker said. “I learned what everybody does around me. Way more smarts on the mental side. There’s a whole lot I need to get better at, but nothing I can’t get better at.”

Then there is Devonte Wyatt, the 28th overall pick, to consider.

Wyatt, 24, is older than most of the Packers’ preferred draft picks. However, this isn’t a typical draft (COVID-19 led to more experienced players being available in this draft) and the Packers need immediate help in their Super Bowl quest.

Some NFL scouts believe Wyatt is the best player at his position in the entire draft.

Wyatt (6-3, 304) was the most disruptive force on the Georgia Bulldogs’ dominant defense. He carried that through at the Senior Bowl, where he led everyone at the position in “win rate” during the one-on-one pass rush drills.

The better the competition, the taller Wyatt stood.

He became a full-time starter at Georgia in 2020 (25 tackles, 2 TFLs) and developed into a dominant player in 2021 (39 tackles, 7 TFLs, 2 FF, 2 ½ sacks).

Wyatt’s proponents are enamored of his interior pass rush ability.

The Packers could line up Wyatt next to Kenny Clark on Day One and be better.

As a “three technique” Wyatt would line up in the “B gap” – the gap between the guard and tackle – to create one-on-one mismatches. The center is too far away to help, and the tackle is busy with Rashan Gary or Preston Smith off the edge. That leaves Wyatt single-blocked and highly dangerous.

Even a less-talented player such as Kingsley Keke managed to flash next to Clark. Imagine the possibilities of putting a disruptive weapon like Wyatt next to him? It’s a sure bet the Packers’ brain trust has done so.

Even Wyatt’s detractors have little of substance to offer.

They say his strength is “adequate” and he “struggles to withstand a second blocker.” For comparison’s sake, Clark’s strength is off the charts, but even HE struggles to withstand a second blocker. It’s a red herring, but it makes the point.

Lining up Wyatt and Clark together means an offense can’t double-team both. Something’s got to give – namely the pass pocket – and that means trouble for opposing offenses and quarterbacks.

Wyatt is an excellent choice at 28.

Now, it’s time to take a peek at Day Two.

The Packers’ defense deployed a third safety on 40 percent of its snaps last season. It is possible Green Bay will draft a safety on Day Two to replace the departed Henry Black, especially with Darnell Savage and Adrian Amos in contract years.

Green Bay had Penn State safety Jaquan Brisker in for a pre-draft visit.

Brisker (6-1, 199) was a second-team Associated Press All-American and first-team all-Big Ten Conference in 2021. He started 12 games and registered 64 tackles, a career-high six for loss, with two interceptions and five breakups.

NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlien wrote: “(Brisker) has the versatility to become a moving chess piece in a variety of coverages and has the size and talent to match up with both “Y” and “F” tight ends. … Brisker is an ascending talent with the NFL traits to become a long-time starter as a Day Two draft pick.”

The Packers hold the 53rd and 59th picks in the second round and the 92nd pick in the third round entering Friday night’s Day Two, which begins at 6 p.m.

It seems likely they will trade up to select Brisker, another safety, or perhaps a receiver they covet still remaining on the board.
Ok, it’s difficult to imagine the Packers NOT selecting a receiver in Round 2.

Georgia’s Pickens would be a gift from the football gods, but the Packers will have to trade up into the 30s to get him. That still leaves North Dakota State’s Christian Watson, Cincinnati’s Alec Pierce and Baylor’s Tyquan Thornton as possibilities.

Watson (6-4, 208) is an explosive, gifted athlete coming from a Division II program. He may take time to develop, but he is an accomplished return specialist and his 4.3 speed in the 40-yard dash will make him an immediate deep threat.

Pierce (6-3,211) was a deep threat at Cincinnati with his 4.41 speed in the 40 and an incredibly explosive 40 ½ inch vertical leap.
Thornton (6-1, 181) is a fluid route-runner with blazing speed (4.28 in the 40) and good hands. He also is a return specialist who has been compared to the Ravens’ Devin Duvernay, one of the NFL’s top kick and punt returners.

Also, look for the Packers to consider Colorado State tight end Trey McBride in the middle half of Round 2, or Iowa State’s Charlie Kolar or Virginia’s Jelani Woods as a mid-round alternative at tight end.

By Chris Havel

GREEN BAY, Wis. –The Packers have several advantages entering the NFL draft.

Their greatest asset is a talented, deep roster on both sides of the football. They don’t have to do the “Jacksonville Dance” and spin themselves into a seizure trying to decide which of a dozen or more gaping holes they should try to fill.

That isn’t the challenge in Green Bay.

The Packers’ needs are few and apparent. Their draft ammunition is abundant.

That is a testament to the collaborative success of GM Brian Gutekunst, head coach Matt LaFleur and the salary cap guru, Russ Ball.

Getting to this point isn’t easy, but it can be rewarding.

Just ask the New England Patriots. They had the coach (Bill Belichick), the quarterback (Tom Brady) and the GM (aka Belichick’s personal assistant) to make it work with late first-round picks year after year.

Occasionally, the Patriots would get multiple first-round picks and the rest of the league would moan and groan about the rich getting richer.

That’s where the Packers are at, or at least where they’re hoping to be.

The Packers (39-10 under LaFleur) have assembled a team that is only a few pieces away from completing the Super Bowl puzzle. For that reason alone this should be regarded among the most pivotal draft classes in franchise history.

If Gutekunst nails it, the Packers can set themselves up into the foreseeable.

The Packers’ needs are receiver (two), defensive line, tight end, offensive tackle and inside linebacker. In fact, that’s where I see them going with their top five picks (No. 22, No. 28, No. 53, No. 59 and No. 92) and a bit of wheeling-dealing.

So without further ado here are my Packers’ predictions for the 2022 NFL draft:

** No. 22 – The Packers may be tempted to trade up for a receiver, but they won’t.

It’s not their style. They have been making hay at the position with second- and third-round receivers even before they selected the Kansas farm boy, Jordy Nelson, in the second round of the 2008 draft.

Greg Jennings was the 52nd pick in 2006. James Jones was the 78th pick in 2007. Jordy Nelson was the 36th pick in 2008. The Packers also drafted Texas tight end Jermichael Finley with the 91st pick in 2008. That pass-catching quartet became even more lethal with the selection of Randall Cobb at No. 64 in the 2011 draft.

History is destined to repeat itself.

While Ohio State’s Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson, USC’s Drake London and Alabama’s Jameson Williams are terrific receivers, they won’t be Packers. The price is too steep, especially for the immediate return on investment.

If replacing Davante Adams were as simple as trading up and selecting Olave with a top 15 pick the Packers might pull the trigger. But they won’t.

They will bide their time and wait to land receivers.

Meantime, they are thrilled to select Georgia defensive lineman Devonte Wyatt with the 22nd pick. Some NFL scouts believe Wyatt is the best player at his position in the entire draft.

Wyatt (6-3, 304) was the most disruptive force on the Georgia Bulldogs’ dominant defense. He carried that through at the Senior Bowl, where he led everyone at the position in “win rate” during the one-on-one pass rush drills.

The better the competition, the taller Wyatt stood.

He became a full-time starter at Georgia in 2020 (25 tackles, 2 TFLs) and developed into a dominant player in 2021 (39 tackles, 7 TFLs, 2 FF, 2 ½ sacks).

Wyatt’s proponents are enamored of his interior pass rush ability.

The Packers could line up Wyatt next to Kenny Clark on Day One and be better.

As a “three technique” Wyatt would line up in the “B gap” – the gap between the guard and tackle – to create one-on-one mismatches. The center is too far away to help, and the tackle is busy with Rashan Gary or Preston Smith off the edge. That leaves Wyatt single-blocked and highly dangerous.

Even a less-talented player such as Kingsley Keke managed to flash next to Clark. Imagine the possibilities of putting a disruptive weapon like Wyatt next to him? It’s a sure bet the Packers’ brain trust has done so.

Even Wyatt’s detractors have little of substance to offer.

They say his strength is “adequate” and he “struggles to withstand a second blocker.” For comparison’s sake, Clark’s strength is off the charts, but even HE struggles to withstand a second blocker. It’s a red herring, but it makes the point.

Lining up Wyatt and Clark together means an offense can’t double-team both. Something’s got to give – namely the pass pocket – and that means trouble for opposing offenses and quarterbacks.
Wyatt, according to scouts, also “lands his initial punch with pop,” “locates ball carriers quickly when two-gapping,” and “hustles around looking to make a play.”

Wyatt would be an excellent choice at 22.

With the 28th pick, the Packers will be faced with three options.

They could trade down and add a pick or two. They could stay put and select a receiver. Or they could stay put and select an offensive lineman.

The offensive line prospects at 28 come down to Mississippi State’s Charles Cross, Northern Iowa’s Trevor Penning or Central Michigan’s Bernhard Raimann.

Another possibility in the second round is Tulsa’s Tyler Smith.

This is where it gets tricky.

The Packers’ quest for starting-caliber offensive tackles – like every other NFL team – is a never-ending search. That’s why a tackle has to be in play.

One factor will be the number of receivers already off the board. Some mock drafts have as many as six receivers being selected in the first round. If that’s true it’s likely that Wilson, Olave, London and Williams will be gone by 28. It’s also possible that Penn State’s Jahan Dotson also will be gone.

That leaves Arkansas’ Treylon Burks or Georgia’s George Pickens at 28. In order to select either beyond 28, they would have to trade up from 53 or 59.

That’s why I see the Packers drafting Burks at 28.

Burks (6-2, 225) has been compared to the Tennessee Titans’ A.J. Brown, who has become one of the NFL’s top receivers entering his fourth season.

Burks, like Brown, shredded SEC defenses.

He had 66 catches for 1,104 yards (16.7 average) and 11 touchdowns in 12 starts last season. He also set the school record with six 100-yard receiving games.

Burks was clocked at 4.55 in the 40-yard dash and had a 33-inch vertical leap. For comparison, Nelson (6-2 ½, 217) ran a 4.54 40-yard dash with a 31-inch vertical.

NFL.com draft analyst Lance Zierlien wrote of Burks, “Big, smooth and natural … He’s a mismatch receiver combining size, strength and competitiveness similar to the Titans’ A.J. Brown … The tape is extremely exciting with real NFL skills jumping off the screen.”

Burks had eight catches for 179 yards and two touchdowns against Alabama. He is similar to Wyatt, the Georgia defensive lineman, in that the better the competition, the better he plays.
Fans should be thrilled if the Packers manage to land Wyatt and Burks in Round 1.

In the second round, the Packers are apt to select an offensive tackle or defensive lineman (whichever they didn’t get in Round 1). Ole Miss’s Sam Williams or Minnesota’s Boye Mafe would fit the bill as a second-round edge rusher, while Tulsa’s Smith still would be in play at offensive tackle.

Also, look for the Packers to consider Colorado State tight end Trey McBride in the middle half of Round 2, or Iowa State’s Charlie Kolar or Virginia’s Jelani Woods as a third-round alternative.
The Packers undoubtedly will select a second receiver to go with Burks.

Georgia’s Pickens or Penn State’s Dotson would be a gift from the football gods, but they’ll be gone no later than early second round. That still leaves North Dakota State’s Christian Watson, Cincinnati’s Alec Pierce and Baylor’s Tyquan Thornton as possible Packers.

Watson (6-4, 208) is an explosive, gifted athlete coming from a Division II program. He may take time to develop, but he is an accomplished return specialist and his 4.3 speed in the 40-yard dash will make him an immediate deep threat.

Pierce (6-3,211) was a deep threat at Cincinnati with his 4.41 speed in the 40 and an incredibly explosive 40 ½ inch vertical leap.

Thornton (6-1, 181) is a fluid route-runner with blazing speed (4.28 in the 40) and good hands. He also is a return specialist who has been compared to the Ravens’ Devin Duvernay, one of the NFL’s top kick and punt returners.

By Chris Havel

GREEN BAY, Wis. –The Packers’ goal isn’t merely to replace Davante Adams.

It’s to make the offense more potent despite his departure.

Green Bay’s top three receivers are Allen Lazard, Randall Cobb and the recently signed Sammy Watkins. Individually, none is in the same universe as Adams. Collectively, though, recent history suggests they can match Adams’ totals.

The three-year averages (2019-2021) for each receiver are as follows:

** Cobb has averaged 40 catches on 57 targets for 548 yards and 3.3 TDs.

** Lazard has averaged 36 on 52 for 481 yards and 4.7 TDs.

** Watkins has averaged 39 catches on 65 targets for 493 yards and 2 TDs.

That trio’s totals equal 115 catches on 174 targets for 1,522 yards and 10 TDs. Here are Adams’ 2021 statistics: 123 on 169 for 1,553 yards and 11 TDs. As crazy as it sounds Cobb, Lazard and Watkins can offset Adams’ absence.

That isn’t possible without Watkins, the third proven veteran, whom the Packers signed to a one-year, $4 million contract last week. Look for the experienced Watkins to begin as the team’s WR1 and play well in this offense.

Aaron Rodgers reportedly lobbied for Watkins so the hunch is he’ll do everything he can to make it work with the former fourth overall pick in 2014.

Granted, this may seem like putting green-and-gold lipstick on a Packers’ pigskin. But Adams’ exit, while a major loss, also is an opportunity to reshape the attack.

One obvious advantage of the three-for-one is that no single devastating injury can wipe out the receiving corps. That wasn’t the case with Adams as the top dog. Adams only missed one game due to injury, but the extended unavailability of Marquez Valdes-Scantling, and pesky injuries to Cobb and Lazard, took its toll.

Aaron Rodgers targeted Adams because he trusted him to get open and catch it. He also went to Adams repeatedly because whenever MVS, or Cobb, or Lazard were unavailable No. 17 WAS the only viable weapon at receiver.

I contend that Watkins, Cobb and Lazard can and will adequately replace Adams – and make the offense more diverse in the process – under two conditions:

** That Packers GM Brian Gutekunst drafts two receivers in the first three rounds, including one with the 28th pick, who can contribute immediately.

** That Packers coach Matt LaFleur can get what he needs out of the running backs and tight ends in the passing game. In other words, he needs to get more out of them than he did last season.

A.J. Dillon and Aaron Jones combined for 86 catches on 102 targets for 704 yards and eight touchdowns. Robert Tonyan, Josiah Deguara and Marcedes Lewis teamed up for 66 catches on 90 targets for 673 yards and four touchdowns.

With a healthy offensive line to pave the way, the Packers should be able to run more frequently and effectively than they did last season. That is going to be especially true in the red zone, where the Packers struggled a year ago.

If they weren’t scoring touchdowns in the red zone they were missing field goals. If a team can’t run it in the red zone – and they don’t have a monster target (a huge tight end or tall receiver) – quarters can get pretty cramped inside the 20.

The good news is that Jones and Dillon are among the NFL’s top running back duos, and that Deguara can hold the fort until Tonyan gets healthy.

That leaves the balance of the receiving corps to make or break the season.

A year ago, Malik Taylor, Equanimeous St. Brown, Juwann Winfree, Amari Rodgers and MVS managed minimal production. The five receivers combined for 49 catches on a whopping 106 targets for 645 yards and three touchdowns.

LaFleur can live with 13.3 yards per catch, but the 46 percent completion percentage when targeting those five is unacceptable.

This is where the upcoming draft and rookie receivers come into play.

Green Bay can get what it needs at receiver WITHOUT trading up or using the 22nd pick. A receiver such as Arkansas’ Treylon Burks or Georgia’s George Pickens would be a strong choice with the 28th pick. The Packers could add Cincinnati’s Alec Pierce in the late-second or early-third round.

This would allow the Packers to select a premier defensive player at 22.

And after listening to defensive line coach Jerry Montgomery last week, it sounds like there is sincere interest in drafting an interior defensive lineman with exceptional pass rush ability. It sounds like a job for Georgia’s Devonte Wyatt.

Wyatt, 6-3, 307, has been linked to the New York Jets with the 19th pick, and defensive-minded head coach Robert Saleh loves him.

However, Wyatt could be there when the Packers are on the clock at 22, and it would be difficult to pass him by.

Wyatt is built to play the three-technique in defensive coordinator Joe Barry’s scheme. The three-technique lines up on the weak side (opposite the tight end) between the tackle and guard, just off the guard’s outside shoulder.

The idea is to create a one-on-one matchup between the three-technique and one of the guards. The center is usually too far away to help, and the tackle generally has his hands full with the edge rusher.

Wyatt, in a one-on-one matchup, could be incredibly disruptive next to Kenny Clark and opposite Dean Lowry.

Wyatt gives great effort and his exceptional lateral quickness allows him to beat zone blocks. He became a starter in 2020 at Georgia (25 tackles, two for loss) before becoming a disruptive cog in the Bulldogs’ dominant defense.

Wyatt had 39 tackles, seven for loss, with 2 ½ sacks and two forced fumbles for the national champions.

He would be a nice fit in Green Bay.

If the Packers select a defensive player at 22, they can draft Burks or Pickens with the 28th pick, and nab Pierce at 59, and still have lots to work with at receiver.

Essentially, the Packers need to improve upon the 49 catches for 645 yards and three touchdowns. Either Burks or Pickens should be able to produce that as a rookie by themselves. Add another high-end receiver such as Pierce and the Packers’ attack just got more diverse and, just perhaps, more lethal.

By Chris Havel

GREEN BAY, Wis. – It’s always an interesting exercise to the play the pre-draft “What if?” game involving the Green Bay Packers.

For example, what if the Packers draft a quarterback in the first round? That wasn’t an oft-asked question going into the 2020 NFL draft, but it sure was afterward.

No one who’s been paying attention thinks there will be a Jordan Love-type pick by the Packers during the upcoming April 28-30 draft.

That doesn’t mean the possible “What if?” moments should go unexplored.

** What if … the Packers find a way to select the top two receivers, the top tight end and an unparalleled hybrid safety in this draft?

It could happen. In fact, it’s not even farfetched.

The Packers could send their 22nd pick and two fourth-round picks to the L.A. Chargers in return for the 17th pick, which they use to land Alabama wide receiver Jameson Williams. Before Williams tore his ACL in the national championship game, he was generally regarded as the best at his position.

The injury didn’t change his potential. It merely means he’ll be ready nine months later than the ideal scenario.

Without question the Packers would have their future WR1 in the fold.

Clearly, some Packers’ fans would be miffed because Williams doesn’t equate to immediate help. That’s understandable, but to them I would say, “Be patient.”

At 28, the Packers double down at receiver and select Arkansas’ Treylon Burks.

The 6-2, 225-pound receiver is one of the most sure-handed targets in the draft. He also is a menace after the catch and reminds NFL scouts of another former SEC receiver: Ole Miss’s A.J. Brown.

Brown (6-1, 225) was a player I absolutely loved out of college. He has gone on to be an incredibly productive NFL player. He has 185 catches for 2,995 yards and 24 touchdowns in his first three seasons. The Packers would be thrilled if Burks could match those numbers.

Burks was a first-team All-SEC pick in 2021when he caught 66 passes for 1,104 yards, a 16.7 average and 11 touchdowns in 12 starts.

Scouts and fans alike want to see how players perform against the best. In that regard, Burks passed with flying colors. He caught eight passes for 179 yards and two touchdowns against Alabama last season.

The only concern is that Burks may not be quite as explosive as Brown, whose vertical leap is 3 ½ inches higher and his 40 time is a half-second quicker.

At 53, the Packers use their third-round pick (the 92nd overall) and the 53rd to trade up and select Michigan safety Dax Hill at 39.

Hill (6-0, 191) was clocked at a blistering 4.38 seconds in the 40-yard dash to go with his elite 33 ½ -inch vertical leap.

One area scout for an NFC team told NFL.com, “(Hill’s) so fast and so athletic that it wouldn’t surprise me if a team tried to make him a full-time cornerback. I think he has that kind of potential.”

Hill was described by scouts as “rangy playing over the top, the eyes and burst to play in zone coverage, and the loose hips and length to shade big slot receivers in man-to-man coverage.”

Mel Kiper, Jr., rated Hill as the 13th best player in the entire draft.

This comment by one scout is noteworthy, “Hill’s sure to be a coveted target for defenses trapped in pass-happy divisions.”

At 59, the Packers add another weapon in the passing game: Colorado State tight end Trey McBride.

McBride (6-4, 246) was an AP All-American after ranking ninth in the nation with 90 catches for 1,121 yards (both school records). His only scoring reception of the season came on a 69-yard fake punt against Nevada in his final college game.

McBride’s ability and willingness as a blocker would appeal to Packers head coach Matt LaFleur. McBride’s precise route-running and sure hands – which remind some NFL scouts of the Ravens’ Mark Andrews – would appeal to Aaron Rodgers.

The consensus among scouts is that McBride is the best, most complete tight end in this draft.

If the Packers went this route in the draft they would have:

** No. 17 – James Williams, who is the best receiver in this draft and undoubtedly would have been unattainable for the Packers if healthy.

** No. 28 – Treylon Burks, who is a dynamic receiver with crazy after-the-catch skills, could step in and contribute immediately at a position of great need.

** No. 39 – Dax Hill, a versatile hybrid safety, is the chess piece defensive coordinator Joe Barry currently doesn’t have on the roster. Darnell Savage, Jr., is similar to Hill and could be his future replacement. Both Savage and Adrian Amos are working on one-year contracts.

Furthermore, the Packers didn’t tender a contract offer to safety Henry Black, who played on nearly 40-percent of the defensive snaps last season. Hill would represent a major upgrade over Black on Day One.

** No. 59 – Trey McBride, who is considered the best tight end in this draft, has to be a strong consideration for Packers GM Brian Gutekunst.

Naturally, some fans would gripe about the Packers not selecting an offensive lineman in the first four rounds. They also would be less-than-thrilled with the team using seven picks to acquire four players.

On the other hand, the Packers would be set at receiver and tight end for the foreseeable future. They also would add a Top 15 talent on defense with Hill.

That’s four first-rate, upper-tier players the Packers could add in as many rounds.

If that happens, the question should be, “What if?”

It should be, “What’s not to like?”

By Chris Havel

GREEN BAY, Wis. – A Packers fan’s journey to Mock Draft Land can be either exhilarating or exasperating depending upon one’s viewpoint.

Typically, a fan’s reaction is rooted in their perception of their team’s greatest needs, and which players they have seen or read about that tickle their fancy. If the player and the need intersect at a point that makes sense in the draft it’s a win-win.

If not, well, let the second-guessing begin. It’s that way with every draft because not even the NFL experts can agree on teams’ needs and players’ potential.

The closest to a consensus in the 2022 NFL Draft is Michigan edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson being selected by Jacksonville with the first pick overall.

Beyond that it gets crazy.

Bucky Brooks, the former Packers’ cornerback and current NFL.com draft analyst, is a shrewd talent evaluator. Chad Reuter, also a draft analyst for NFL.com, is another writer with impeccable credentials.

Brooks has zero quarterbacks being chosen in the first round. That hasn’t happened since the 1996 draft when St. Louis – back in the day when they still had the Rams – selected Michigan State’s Tony Banks with the 42nd pick.

Reuter has five quarterbacks going in Round 1.

Furthermore, CBS Sports draft analyst Chris Trapasso, another first-rate reporter, has two quarterbacks being taken in the first round.

Five quarterbacks, two quarterbacks or no quarterbacks. Take your pick … or not.

If the experts can’t agree on the number of signal callers taken in the first round, how can they possibly know what the Packers will do with the 22nd and 28th picks?

The short answer is they can’t unless a source within an organization tips them off. And even then sources can be wrong and circumstances can shift dramatically.

Some say the draft is an inexact science. I say it’s an educated guess, but it’s hardly a crapshoot because the more educated the team, the better the guess.

So what will the Packers do in the April 28-30 draft?

My best draft prediction – until further notice (aka next Monday) – is as follows:

** With the 22nd pick …

The Packers will be on the clock before the 22nd pick.

Green Bay will send the 22nd, 92nd and 140th picks to the L.A. Chargers in return for the 17th pick, which they will use to select Ohio State receiver Chris Olave. With the Davante Adams trade, the Packers need to find a legit WR1, while the Chargers can still get their offensive lineman at 22.

Meantime, Olave fits the bill for the Packers.

The six-foot, 187-pound receiver is a sure-handed, silky smooth route-runner who possesses a great feel for the game. Lance Zierlein, an NFL.com draft analyst, refers to Olave as “the quiet storm” of the Buckeyes’ receiving corps.

“His movements are fluid and easy from snap to the catch and all points in between,” he writes. “He’s fast but efficient and plays with bend and foot agility to uncover on all three levels. He’s an inside-outside hybrid appealing to offenses looking for a field-stretcher with the ability to take on a sizable catch load.”

Olave sounds like he’s exactly what the Packers need.

Clearly, no one player can replace Adams, but Olave’s skillset should enable him to come in and produce right away. He has the speed (4.39 in the 40-yard dash) to take the top off a defense, as Packers coach Matt LaFleur says, but also possesses great intermediate route-running and tremendously soft hands.

Olave’s speed will threaten defenses from Day One while he polishes his craft.

The Packers’ goal isn’t to replace Adams. It’s to find ways to improve the Packers’ offense as a whole. The scoring production slipped from 31.8 points per game in 2021 to just 26.8 last year. And that was with Adams.

Drafting a talent such as Olave is a critical first step in the right direction.

I also believe they’ll draft another receiver AND sign a veteran free agent.

I wouldn’t be surprised if Packers GM Brian Gutekunst already has a gentleman’s agreement with an unsigned veteran such as Will Fuller. The Packers have enough salary cap space to sign Fuller, but would be wise to keep it under wraps for now.

Strategically, the Packers can better hide their first-round intentions if nobody knows they’ve already got a veteran receiver in their back pocket.

** With the 28th pick …

The Packers select Purdue edge rusher George Karlaftis with the 28th pick.

Karlaftis (6-4, 266) was a first-team All-Big Ten and third-team AP All-American with the Boilermakers last season. Karlaftis had five sacks, 11 ½ tackles for loss and three forced fumbles in 2021.

Karlaftis did 26 reps at 225 pounds in bench press at the combine, and he flashed explosiveness with a 38-inch vertical leap and his agility with a time of 4.36 seconds in the 20-yard shuttle. He didn’t run the 40-yard dash at the combine, instead preferring to run outside in 30-degree temperatures at his pro day. He nailed it with a 4.71 40-yard dash time.

Some fans may be less than thrilled with this pick, but the reality is he will develop into a starting-caliber edge rusher by Year 2. Meantime, he will be the perfect addition to Rashan Gary and Preston Smith in pass-rushing situations.

Some scouts have drawn favorable comparisons with former Kansas City and Minnesota edge rusher Jared Allen. That’s high praise for Karlaftis and is an indication of the high ceiling NFL scouts see for him.

** With the 53rd pick …

The Packers select Penn State receiver Jahan Dotson. If he is already off the board, they’ll go for North Dakota State receiver Christian Watson.

Drafting Olave along with Dotson/Watson would cement the receiving corps for years to come. It also undoubtedly would put smiles on the faces of Aaron Rodgers and LaFleur.

Dotson (5-11, 185) is a 4.3 speedster with arguably the best hands in the draft. He has a knack for beating defenses deep even when they’re in the correct coverage. He would be as explosive a weapon as the Packers have had in years.

Watson (6-4, 208) has exceptional body control and the explosiveness to outleap DB’s on contested catches. He is similar to MVS except he’s bigger, just as fast (he runs 4.3 in the 40-yard dash) and a more polished route-runner out of college.

Watson also has more reliable hands than MVS.

As a bonus, whether it’s Dotson or Watson, both are exceptional return specialists.

** With the 59th pick …

The Packers select Central Michigan offensive lineman Bernhard Raimann with the 59th pick. Raimann (6-6, 303) benched 225 pounds 30 times at the combine. He also was clocked at 5.05 seconds in the 40-yard dash, and a 4.49-second time in the 20-yard shuttle.

Raimann began his college career as a tight end, but moved to tackle in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and scouts say his transition is fairly remarkable. He is a very good technician at this stage and should develop into a starting left tackle.

Raimann provides the Packers’ offensive line with a quality tackle of the future.

** With the 132nd pick …

The Packers select San Diego State punter Matt Araiza with the 132nd pick.

Talk about a “boom or bust” selection.

Araiza, whose nickname is “Punt God,” has tremendous leg strength and the ability to flip the field. He may be the highest-drafted punter since Todd Sauerbrun went 56th overall in 1995.

Araiza had 18 punts of 60-plus yards last season, including two of 80-plus yards. He also can kick off and had 62 of 73 kickoffs go for touchbacks.

If it’s not Araiza with the 132nd pick, I see the Packers going for a tight end. Virginia’s massive Jelani Woods may be a possibility. Woods (6-7, 259) did 24 reps at 225 pounds on the bench press. He also clocked a 4.61 40-yard dash so he’s no speed burner by any means. However, his size and in-line blocking are similar to the Packers’ Marcedes Lewis.

Woods also is very good at using his body to shield defenders.

To recap, the Packers will strengthen their receiving corps by adding Olave and Dotson or Watson in the draft, plus the veteran Fuller. That gives Rodgers more than enough weapons to make the offense click.

Karlaftis is too good of a player at too valuable a position to pass up. Raimann will shore up the offensive line and eventually develop into a starting tackle.

I was only half-serious about Araiza. It’s something to consider, but it’s more likely the Packers will select a tight end or inside linebacker at 132.

By Chris Havel

GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Packers’ 13-10 loss to San Francisco in the NFC’s divisional playoffs 10 weeks ago was painful but instructive.

The offense was lacking despite deploying All-Pros at quarterback and receiver, and the special teams’ units were abominable.

Only the defense was stellar.

The Packers’ offseason moves have been a concerted response to that playoff disaster. They extended Aaron Rodgers’ contract, but traded Davante Adams to Las Vegas for the 22nd and 53rd picks in the upcoming NFL draft.

Clearly, the Packers believe they can replace Adams and still retain their status as a legitimate Super Bowl contender. The fact is they couldn’t get there with him, and his skyrocketing salary made it increasingly problematic to try again.

It’s interesting that going into the 2021 season many viewed the Packers’ offense as the unit closest to being Super Bowl worthy. Now, as Green Bay prepares for this season, the offense has the greatest number of question marks.

For Matt LaFleur, the special teams’ units were first on the “to do” list.

I’d not be surprised if he suffered with insomnia until it was fixed.

The Packers’ head coach fired Maurice Drayton and hired highly regarded Rich Bisaccia to fix the special teams’ woes. Byron Storer, a longtime assistant of Bisaccia’s, and ex-NFL return specialist Micheal Spurlock, were added to the staff. Well-thought of Rayna Stewart was held over from the previous staff.

The Packers parted ways with Oren Burks, Henry Black and Isaac Yiadom. It’s no coincidence that the Burks-Black-Yiadom trio had the most snaps on special teams last season. Frankly, they needed to be replaced.

The Packers also booted punter Corey Bojorquez and signed free agent and former Chicago Bears punter Pat O’Donnell to replace him.

Mason Crosby is expected to be the place-kicker, while the return specialist(s) identity is undetermined for now, although it’s likely to be Amari Rodgers or a dual threat receiver-returner selected in the draft.

Defensively, the Packers return everyone who was someone last season.

Packers GM Brian Gutekunst retained all the key pieces in defensive coordinator Joe Barry’s unit, which opens the possibility of it going from “much-improved” to “highly dangerous.”

De’Vondre Campbell, the heart of the defense, will return at inside linebacker.

In-season acquisition Rasul Douglas also returns to join All-Pro Jaire Alexander and ascending second-year pro Eric Stokes. They are perhaps the league’s finest cornerback trio.

Gutekunst took it a step further by signing veteran defensive tackle Jarran Reed, who will team up with Kenny Clark to give the Packers a rugged and reliable duo up front.
Reed, the longtime Seahawk, will do what Kingsley Keke and Tyler Lancaster could not. He will give Clark a worthy partner in the trenches.

The only way I’d be tempted to spend draft capital on defense would be to acquire a high-end pass rusher. Generally, there are only two ways to land a pass rusher: To select one high in the draft, or to pay a king’s ransom in free agency.

If Gutekunst traded up to get a pass rusher, and allocated the remaining resources to receivers and offensive linemen, I’d be OK with it.

Otherwise it’s offense, offense and more offense in the draft.

The Packers have plenty of ammo with the 22nd, 28th, 53rd, 59th and 93rd picks.

They also have enough salary cap space – impossible as it seems – to sign at least one established NFL receiver to go with Allen Lazard, Randall Cobb, Juwann Winfrey, Rodgers and whichever receiver(s) the Packers draft.

Miami’s DeVante Parker may be available following the Dolphins’ blockbuster trade for wide-out Tyreek Hill. Parker (6-3, 219) possesses enough breakaway speed to be a replacement for the departed Marquez Valdes-Scantling.

Parker, 29, had 72 catches for 1,202 yards, nine touchdowns and 58 first downs with Ryan Fitzpatrick at quarterback in 2019. He isn’t that far removed from those numbers. Imagine what he might do with Rodgers throwing to him?

The Jaguars’ Laviska Shenault (6-1, 227) is another trade possibility.

Shenault has 121 catches for 1,219 yards and five touchdowns through two seasons. He is a versatile weapon that can line up wide, in the slot or out of the backfield ala the 49ers’ Deebo Samuel.

A free agent such as Jarvis Landry is another option.

Landry, 29, wants to be paid like the perennial Pro Bowl receiver who led the NFL with 112 catches in 2017 and had a career-best 1,174 yards receiving in 2019. The problem is Landry isn’t THAT GUY anymore.

Then again he never was a speedster. He ran 4.61 out of college. He is known for making difficult catches in traffic, and possessing a knack for getting open.

Landry and a receiver or two in the draft makes sense.

So where will the Packers go to find a receiver in the draft?

Here’s the answer and it rhymes: The Packers should draft Dotson and Watson. That’s Penn State’s Jahan Dotson and North Dakota State’s Christian Watson.

Dotson (5-11, 185) is a 4.3 speedster with arguably the best hands in the draft. Dotson doesn’t drop passes while finding ways to magically appear behind the entire defensive secondary. He would be as explosive a weapon as the Packers have had in years.

Watson (6-4, 208) has exceptional body control and the explosiveness to high-point passes. He is similar to MVS except he’s bigger, just as fast (he runs 4.3 in the 40-yard dash) and a more polished route-runner out of college.

Watson also has more reliable hands.

Of course, Gutekunst could pair the 22nd and 28th picks, move up to the eighth overall pick, and select Ohio State’s Chris Olave or Garrett Wilson. Both are speedsters in the 4.3-second range with exceptional hands and instincts. Olave is the smaller, more polished of the two, while some project a high upside for Wilson.

ESPN’s Mel Kiper has the Packers selecting Texas A&M guard Kenyon Green with the 22nd pick and Arkansas’ receiver Treylon Burks with the 28th pick.

I suspect fans would initially scoff at using the 22nd pick on an O-linemen. While I see it as unlikely, I wouldn’t be entirely surprised, either. The Packers lost Billy Turner and Lucas Patrick in free agency. They also are awaiting the healthy return of David Bakhtiari and Elgton Jenkins.

“If we didn’t add anybody to our offensive line, I feel really good about the guys coming back,” Gutekunst said earlier this month. “Obviously, Elgton’s coming off a big injury, but if you’re saying, ‘Hey, he’s healthy, ready to go,’ I’d feel really good about our group coming back.”

By Chris Havel

GREEN BAY, Wis. – The prediction remains unchanged.

The Packers will be better this season, and they’ll reach Super Bowl LVII.

General manager Brian Gutekunst’s decision to trade All-Pro receiver Davante Adams was a bitter pill to swallow. When a player of Adams’ undeniable talent and character leaves, for whatever reason, it’s going to hurt.

Painful as it was, Gutekunst’s decision was prudent and pragmatic.

The Adams trade doesn’t diminish the Packers’ chances to win the Super Bowl. It simply means they’ll have to do it with a new WR1, and perhaps a new WR2, depending on whether Allen Lazard and/or Marquez Valdes-Scantling return.

The key is they still have the quarterback.

The trade also means Green Bay will have a defense to reckon with.

The Packers’ defensive depth chart is a sight to behold.

The front seven features All-Pro defensive tackle Kenny Clark, steady Dean Lowry and ascending T.J. Slaton along the line. Edge rushers Rashan Gary and Preston Smith combined for 18 ½ sacks last season. De’Vondre Campbell and Krys Barnes – aka Batman and Robin – return to wreak havoc at inside linebacker.

The cornerback position features a trio the rest of the league can envy.

Pro Bowl cornerback Jaire Alexander leads a talented crew that includes terrific second-year pro Eric Stokes and the surprising Rasul Douglas. The reliable and occasionally sensational Adrian Amos and Darnell Savage return at safety.

The Packers paid Campbell, the heart of their defense, before they traded Adams. That means they had the wherewithal to offer Adams a more lucrative contract than the Las Vegas Raiders offered AND retain Campbell.

That’s well and good except Adams didn’t want to play in Green Bay. He purchased a $12 million home in Las Vegas, and spent much of this offseason playing catch with his old college quarterback, Derek Carr.

The Raiders knew they were Adams’ preferred destination, and they could’ve played hardball in negotiations, but instead chose to do the deal.

Las Vegas wanted Adams that badly.

So the Packers cleared a ton of cap space, kept their defense firmly intact, and received first- and second-round draft picks as capital to replace Adams. The Packers now own the ninth-highest draft capital going in. When one considers all the bad teams with all those high picks that’s a lot of capital for a contender.

Had the Packers retained Adams, signing Douglas would’ve been problematic if not impossible. It’s also a safe bet they wouldn’t have been able to sign free agent tight end Bobby Tonyan, either.

Now consider the disastrous consequences of paying both Aaron Rodgers and Adams a king’s ransom, only to have either injured. If Rodgers is lost for a lengthy period of time the season probably is, too. But if Adams went down during the season, the Packers wouldn’t have been able to adequately replace him.

Clearly, the Packers’ receiving corps has lost its lead dog, and Rodgers’ top weapon. But so long as Green Bay has the quarterback it has a chance to win big.

Gutekunst maintained this team’s integrity while protecting the future.

Furthermore, Rodgers increasingly looked to Adams as the season wore on. He stopped spreading the football around and the overall attack suffered for it.

Whether that was because of Rodgers’ supreme trust in Adams, or a lack of faith in the other targets, isn’t clear. What matters is that Rodgers has the necessary weapons at receiver to exploit defenses.

To that end, the Packers most assuredly will draft at least one receiver early.

Green Bay has the 22nd, 28th, 53rd, 59th and 92nd picks in the first three rounds.

Ohio State’s Chris Olave or Garrett Wilson may be targets if Green Bay trades up. They also could stay put and select Arkansas’ Treylon Burks with the 22nd pick.

My guess is that Alabama’s Jameson Williams, a splendidly talented receiver who is coming off an ACL injury, is a luxury the Packers can’t afford.

They need help at receiver now.

Depending upon how much money Gutekunst can or wants to spend in free agency, the Packers also may have interest in Will Fuller, Jarvis Landry, A.J. Green or Odell Beckham, Jr. Talk of trading for Seattle’s DK Metcalf or Tyler Lockett is interesting and might be worth investigating depending on the cost.

Clearly, the loss of Adams can’t be overstated.

It will take time for rookie and veteran receivers alike to get up to speed with Rodgers. Growing pains are a given.

Then again, it’s preferable to putting it all on the shoulder pads of NFL’s highest-paid quarterback and receiver. It’s overkill at the rest of the roster’s expense.

Now, Packers coach Matt LaFleur will be able to play closer to his preferred style.

It’s based on Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon effectively running behind a strong offensive line to set up play-action passes. LaFleur prefers to move the chains, wear down an opponent and strike with big plays over the top.

The loss of Valdes-Scantling late in the season allowed defenses to attack with little risk of being beaten deep. Selecting a legit deep threat in the draft is crucial. The only question is which receiver or receivers?

When training camp opens the offense will be more flexible, the special teams vastly improved and the defense built to go the distance.

The loss of Adams stings. Draft night undoubtedly will ease the pain.

By Chris Havel

GREEN BAY, Wis. – The NFL’s best teams reload. The worst rebuild.

The Packers have taken a more subtle approach: They’re remodeling.

If the Packers win Super Bowl LVII it will be an “inside job” that didn’t require (fingers crossed) breaking the bank. Sure, they have acquired outside help along the way. Rich Bisaccia, Byron Storer and Michael Spurlock have been hired to fix special teams. Ex-Bears punter Pat O’Donnell has been signed for the same reason.

Beyond those necessary and cost-effective steps, Packers GM Brian Gutekunst – the project’s lead architect – has succeeded in retaining the key cast members for another season.

Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams are critical to the team’s offensive success. It’s the same with De’Vondre Campbell and Preston Smith on defense. The Packers also took measures to keep Yosh Nijman, Krys Barnes, Malik Taylor, Dominique Dafney, Randy Ramsey and Jake Hanson. In addition, Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb also are likely to return.

It’s always easier to put the same puzzle together a second time, but only if all the pieces are still in the box.

Essentially, that’s what Gutekunst has done this offseason.

Naturally some fans will fuss and fret over Adams’ displeasure with being tagged, but that’s ok because most feel it’s their birthright to worry. Show me a parent that isn’t concerned about their child’s well-being – especially when times are tough – and I’ll show you a fair-weather fan (and a bad parent).

There aren’t many fair-weather fans in Green Bay, and it’s not due to the climate.

The Packers are 39-10 since head coach Matt LaFleur was hired in 2019. They enter 2022 with everything they need to win it all.

They have the coach, the quarterback, the skill position players and the defense to reach the Super Bowl’s front porch. These offseason moves are designed to get them across the threshold.

The De’Vondre Campbell signing was a key piece.

The Packers had gone 54 seasons between All-Pro inside linebackers. Ray Nitschke was the last in 1966. Campbell was named All-Pro in 2021. Nitschke’s Packers won Super Bowl I the next season. Campbell’s goal is to do likewise.

The expectation is that Green Bay’s defense will be better.

In addition to Campbell, Smith and Barnes, the Packers return Kenny Clark, Rashan Gary, Jaire Alexander, Eric Stokes, Darnell Savage and Adrian Amos. That’s nine of 11 starters returning from a Top 10 defense.

Campbell has a chance to be even better in 2022. He was a productive starter for two teams through five seasons before arriving in Green Bay. With defensive coordinator Joe Barry utilizing his skills he blossomed. Imagine the possibilities now that Barry knows what Campbell is capable of coming into the season.

The Packers also are in discussions with Rasul Douglas.

Offensively, LaFleur and Rodgers have an entire offseason to fine-tune the attack. They also have the draft to infuse talent, specifically a much-needed speed receiver in the mold of Marquez Valdes-Scantling.

The Packers’ pressing draft needs are few. As mentioned, they need a receiver who can stretch the field opposite Adams. They also could use a tight end, an edge rusher and an interior defensive lineman.

Now it’s just a matter of with whom and when they fill those needs.

The Packers have nine draft picks, including two compensatory picks, going in. They are the 28th, 59th, 92nd, 132nd, 140th, 171st, 228th, 249th and 258th picks.

That’s more than enough ammo to complete the current framework.

Consider the Packers’ starters on offense.

The offensive line (left to right) is likely to be David Bakhtiari, Jon Runyan, Josh Myers, Royce Newman and Yosh Nijman to open the season. When Elgton Jenkins returns from his knee injury he’ll be the starting right tackle, with Nijman moving into the “swing tackle” role.

The running back unit is among the best with Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon. The depth will be strong when Kylin Hill returns from a knee injury.

Tight end is sparse with Dafney as the only returning player of note. Marcedes Lewis may still have another season in him, and Robert Tonyan still may re-sign with the Packers, although a veteran free agent or a draft pick here seems likely.

Adams, Lazard, Cobb and Amari Rodgers – plus some high-end help in the draft –should give Rodgers ample weaponry.

The Packers’ special teams units will be better. The only question is how much.

In fact, I’m betting the Packers will be better this season, and that they’ll reach Super Bowl LVII.

Take it to the bank.

By Chris Havel

GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Packers’ defense made tremendous strides last season thanks to the always steady and occasionally spectacular play of veteran linebackers De’Vondre Campbell and Preston Smith.

On Monday, the Packers retained half of that winning tag-team by signing Preston Smith to a four-year, $52.5 million contract extension.

Smith, 29, was on the final year of his previous deal. He would have cost the Packers about $19.5 million against the salary cap. The extension sliced about $9 million off the cap while rewarding Smith’s durability, leadership and talent.

He will earn $25 million during the next two seasons with a chance to reach $31 million in incentives, according to reports. The entire package could pay Smith as much as $71 million over five seasons.

Smith wreaked havoc with nine sacks, 38 tackles and two forced fumbles. He and Rashan Gary (9 ½ sacks) represent one of the NFL’s most formidable pass-rush duos while remaining strong against the run.

Smith, who is entering his seventh season, has 49 ½ sacks while missing just one game in that span. He agreed to a pay cut last offseason to remain in Green Bay and the move paid off.

Perhaps Campbell and/or cornerback Rasul Douglas will take note.

Smith’s return, in part, led to the release of edge rusher Za’Darius Smith. The Packers would’ve had to absorb a $26 million cap hit to retain Za’Darius Smith. That wasn’t going to happen. Now he’ll get to test the open market.

Meantime, the Packers are setting their sights on re-signing Campbell, who was added late last offseason and responded with an All-Pro performance. Campbell racked up a team-high 146 tackles with five passes defended, two sacks, two interceptions and two forced fumbles.

It will be interesting to see how the Packers make it all work under the cap. They still have possible restructures with Dean Lowry and David Bakhtiari.

Aaron Rodgers reportedly agreed to a four-year extension, which will save the team significant money on the cap. They also are working with cornerback Jaire Alexander on an extension. Alexander currently counts $13 million against the cap and an extension would allow the Packers to push money in future years.

Preston Smith’s extension gives Packers GM Brian Gutekunst much greater flexibility in the draft. Instead of being obligated to find a pass rusher no later than Day Two, Gutekunst can consider a receiver, defensive lineman or edge rusher with the 28th pick overall.

The Packers must be under the salary cap by 3 p.m. Wednesday, which is the start of the new league year.

The news wasn’t all bliss Monday.

Davante Adams loves playing catch with Rodgers, but the All-Pro receiver apparently isn’t interested in playing tag with the Packers.

The Packers placed the $20.1 million franchise tag on Adams last week. Gutekunst has made it clear he intends to use the tag “as a bridge to hopefully an extension down the road.”

It would be silly to blame Adams for seeking long-term financial security. He is arguably the finest receiver in the game, as well as being a first-rate teammate and one half of the NFL’s top quarterback-receiver duo.

Adams, 29, played out the balance of his four-year, $58 million extension last season. He had 123 catches for 1,553 yards, 11 touchdowns and 84 first downs. Adams and the Packers have until July 15 to reach an accord or else the receiver will go into the 2022 season on the franchise tag. Adams isn’t obliged to attend minicamps, training camp or other team workouts until he signs the tender.
As it stands, the Packers are in a good place as the league year approaches. They have signed Aaron Jones, Preston Smith and Rodgers to extensions.

When they ante up for Adams – it seems unthinkable that he will play elsewhere – they will actually create more cap space.

In a perfect NFL world, the Packers will extend Adams, re-sign Campbell and add a receiver, tight end and defensive player (edge rusher or defensive lineman) in the first three rounds. If Campbell isn’t likely to return, or signs elsewhere before the draft, look for the Packers to take an off-ball linebacker no later than Day Two.

Despite the news on Adams, the Packers are in a pretty good situation going into the 2022 season. As a bonus, they can look forward to a rematch with Tom Brady and the Buccaneers in the regular season.

By Chris Havel

GREEN BAY, Wis. – After all these long seasons, this is what “all in” looks like.

It looks like a 38-year-old philosophy professor with a hip man-bun, Zen outlook and burning desire to finish an uncompleted journey.

And it looks like $200 million over four years, with $153 million guaranteed, being delivered by Brinks truck to Aaron Rodgers’ front door. That is the Packers’ cost to retain the NFL’s back-to-back MVP QB and a legit claim as Super Bowl threat.

It looks like “Super Bowl or Bust!”

Rodgers and the Packers were finalizing terms Tuesday on a four-year deal that would effectively tether them for at least two seasons. It comes on the same day Green Bay is expected to place the franchise tag on receiver Davante Adams. The deadline is 3 p.m. today for teams to apply the designation.

Adams would cost the Packers $19.2 million under the franchise tag. However, the teams would likely continue to work on a salary cap-friendly long-term deal.

It’s impossible to imagine Rodgers returning to Green Bay while Adams is exiting. While the quarterback and receiver weren’t directly tied in terms of contract negotiations, it was clear they preferred to continue playing catch together.

Fortunately, it appears “Rodgers-to-Adams” will continue being a thing here.

I write “fortunately” because this qualifies as a win-win for the Packers and Rodgers. Sure, the stakes are as high as they can be. The Super Bowl is a lofty goal, but with Rodgers’ return it’s most definitely a doable goal.

Rodgers is now the NFL’s highest-paid player.

I chuckle when fans gripe about that circumstance and say, “And he’s worth it.”

There aren’t any guarantees – beyond the $153 million, at least – in terms of winning Super Bowls and riding off into the sunset. But who wouldn’t want to see what Rodgers, Adams and the rest can do this season?

Rodgers remains at the tail end of his prime, but his ability to diagnose defenses, execute the offense and throw with velocity and accuracy sets him apart.

It will be interesting to see whether the Packers can afford to retain inside linebacker De’Vondre Campbell and/or cornerback Rasul Douglas. The Packers are expected to release Za’Darius Smith, which will save about $15 million on the salary cap. They also continue to engage in contract negotiations with Jaire Alexander on an extension. Alexander currently counts $13 million toward the cap. An extension would free up as much as $6 million beneath the cap.

Meantime, the offense looks like it will be as formidable as ever under coach Matt LaFleur. The line features David Bakhtiari, Jon Runyan, Josh Myers, Royce Newman and Elgton Jenkins. The running backs are first-rate with Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon.

Adams will key a receiver corps that has the prospect of adding a high draft pick.

The tight end position still has to come together, but there is time for all of that. The key piece of the puzzle is back in the fold.

How that could be construed as a negative is surprising. To those who say, “Boo, who, Rodgers took too long to decide,” I reply, “What’s it to you? Were you that inconvenienced? He was making a career-defining decision, after all.”

Rodgers has been playing at a high level for two-plus seasons. He broke Brett Favre’s franchise record of 442 career touchdown passes, finishing the season with 449. He threw for 37 touchdowns to just four interceptions while posting the NFL’s best passer rating in 2021.

The Packers’ Super Bowl odds from 15-to-1 to 12-to-1 at Caesar’s Sports Book, which has Green Bay listed as its favorite to win the NFC championship.

What this means for Jordan Love remains to be seen, but in the short-term he will continue to polish his skills as Rodgers’ backup. The notion that the Packers should trade Love – and perhaps receive a second-round pick – is silly. Love is largely an unknown and his value on the open market is minimal.

The more important question is what does Rodgers’ return mean for the Packers? Frankly, it means everything.

The Packers’ front office, starting with team president Mark Murphy, deserves praise for repairing its relationship with Rodgers. It was a wise business move, and it served the best interests of the team and its fans.

If the goal is to win a championship, Rodgers’ return makes it possible.

At the end of the day, Rodgers’ best interests and the Packers’ were one and the same. Rodgers’ best chance to win Super Bowls is in Green Bay. Conversely, the Packers’ best chance to do likewise is with Rodgers barking out signals.

The Packers are all in. So is Rodgers.

Best of all, they’re in it to win it … together.