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I think Wes would look better golfing with Happy Gilmore.
Jason from Mt. Prospect, IL
What does a perfect 1-2 punch look like at linebacker? Edgerrin Cooper looks like a potential star, standing at 6-foot-2, 230 pounds. He’s super explosive and generates pressure really well. In a perfect world, what kind of athlete do you want next to him from a coaching perspective? Do coaches typically want a super lengthy, pass coverage guy opposite of somebody with traits like Cooper? I’m hoping to better understand the linebacker position. I would love to learn more about this from you guys!
That’s a good question. I think speed is more important than size in today’s NFL as long as you’re a good, fundamental tackler. At that position, sideline-to-sideline quickness never goes out of style. Tampa Bay captured lightning with Lavonte David (6-1, 233) and Devin White (6-0, 237) for five years. This past year, Zach Baun and Nakobe Dean formed a similar pairing. The combination of Quay Walker and Edgerrin Cooper could make a solid 1-2 punch for the present-day Packers. That said, one of the added benefits of moving to a 4-3 was it created complementary roles for Isaiah McDuffie and Eric Wilson. When injuries occurred, both were ready to contribute on an every-down basis.
I will be attending the first few days of the draft this year in GB. Whom do you think are realistic options for the Packers would draft in the first few rounds? Do you think they will opt to trade for a known name or keep their picks and continue with the youth strategy they have followed the past couple years?
Brian Gutekunst has bounced around a few times in the first round over the years, but I highly doubt the Packers part with a first-round pick for a veteran player. That’s just not how they operate. Daniel Jeremiah has the Packers taking Ohio State tackle Josh Simmons at No. 23 in his most recent mock draft after going with Texas A&M edge rusher Shemar Stewart in his first. Both players intrigue me. Marshall’s Mike Green and Tennessee’s James Pearce Jr. are also edge rushers currently projected in the latter portion of the first round, too.
I really like the film I see on Texas Longhorn CB No. 23, Jahdae Barron. What are the odds that Barron is available at pick 23 to replace Jaire Alexander No. 23? Have the football gods spoken?
Jeremiah has Barron going to Cincinnati at No. 17. Barron’s five INTs certainly got the NFL’s attention. If Barron’s numbers hold up at the combine and pro day, he could be in play.
I was looking at lists of pending free agents at nfl.com, and I noticed that the Packers list, though it contained a lot of important players, was a shorter list than several other teams. Given the projected available cap space, I am confident the front office will be able to make competitive offers to keep key players around if the players want to stay. It’s nice to know the people making the decisions are really good football people, who don’t have less knowledgeable people interfering.
As Rob Demovsky’s article on ESPN.com outlined earlier this month, Gutekunst has a clear vision for team-building, and what the Packers look like today, tomorrow and a year from now. They ran into a jam with the cap for a couple years but again have room to make the moves they want to make.
Jeff from Indian Lake, NY
I read an article that stated this is the fourth consecutive year the NFL cap has increased over $10 MILLION from the previous year. It makes me almost afraid to ask, what was the cap 10 years ago? 20 years ago? I always knew the older generations made way less money than current players. But the growth of the NFL is just staggering and hard to truly comprehend. That’s a lot of cheddar.
The salary cap was $143.2 million in 2015. It tells you how much the revenue has grown year-over-year for the country’s most popular game sans the 2020 season.
Chris from Stratford Upon Avon, United Kingdom
Two things. Firstly, retiring a number is a sign of respect, but I also believe that wearing the number of a great is also an honor. Secondly. I feel so gratified that the only Packers game I’ve attended featured Sterling Sharpe, in the victory over the 49ers in November 1989. Sharpe was a hero to me then…and now.
Everyone considered it a great honor when Nick Collins was given No. 36, Ha Ha Clinton-Dix received ’21’ and Rashan Gary assumed ’52’ after Clay Matthews. To this day, Sharpe is the first person I think of whenever a player is assigned No. 84.
Other than the draft, is the NFL sponsoring any other events in and around Green Bay?
We don’t have all those details yet, but the league always plans a series of events in cities where the draft is being held. Green Bay will be no different.
