We’re back! Temporarily, but more on that later. This was probably my favorite draft class in a long time in terms of simply meeting roster needs while also avoiding reaching for any prospects. Good stuff, Gute! As expected, the mailbag this week focuses primarily on those draft picks. Let’s jump in. 

“Hey Maggie! Welcome back! I’m not a fan of draft grades, but I gotta give Gutey an “A” based on names alone! Moose? The Dentist? Trey (as in “3”) Smack, for a kicker at that? Cmon… doesn’t get any better! Seriously though, I like this year’s draft despite “only” 6 picks. Feels like it filled some holes with promising potential. It’s way too early, but which pick can you see contributing the most in their first year? Thanks!” - Jim

“Hi Maggie, Aside from Trey Smack, do you see any of our draft picks pushing for a starting job this year? PS Dun dun duh duh dun dun Go Smack Go!” - Tony

Hi Jim and Tony! You guys asked similar questions, so I’m going to combine them into one response. Shoutout to the mailbag regulars for being on the same wavelength during question submission this week. 

I think Brandon Cisse is absolutely in the mix to earn a starting role on offense. I would certainly expect him to be given that opportunity in training camp to compete with Nixon, Valentine, and St. Juste. Even if he doesn’t claim a starting role right away, I think Jonathan Gannon will look for creative ways to get him involved on defense in some subpackages at least initially. And we can almost sharpie in that Chris McClellan will see some reps with the starters at nose tackle, wedged squarely in between Javon Hargrave and Devonte Wyatt. As he should. He’s a brick house (complimentary). 

Otherwise, I’m really intrigued by Dani Dennis-Sutton. The Packers just picked up Lukas Van Ness’ fifth year option today which isn’t surprising, but we do expect that Micah Parsons won’t be ready to start the season. It’s likely Van Ness and Barryn Sorrell as the starters (I use that term loosely), but Dennis-Sutton has a huge opportunity to be a contributor right out of the gate. Yes he’s a day three pick, but he’s competing on the depth chart with Collin Oliver, Brenton Cox Jr., and Arron Mosby. There’s an opportunity there rotationally in Micah’s absence, and we know the Penn State alum would love to see his fellow Nittany Lion make the most of those snaps. 

“Do you have any opinions at all around player numbers? Like are some numbers wide load only? Do some numbers feel fast? And should kickers get last pick of what’s leftover?” - The Ballard Bubbler 

This is what the mailbag was meant for. Also, “wide load only” is now my favorite way to describe player numbers. Yes. I do have opinions (or at least preferences) on player numbers. If you are donning a number in the 90s, I want you to be the most massive human I’ve ever seen in my life. I once had the privilege of meeting B.J. Raji and when I shook his hand, his hand completely engulfed mine. You couldn’t see it anymore. That’s what I expect from someone repping the 90s. The same thing happened when I met Gilbert Brown, and that was like, four years ago, not at his playing weight. Chris McClellan wearing 55 is tough for me. I’m sure I’ll warm up to it, But 55 is an edge rusher number in my book, not someone I want cementing my defensive line. 

I’ve warmed up to the “nontraditional” numbers in the NFL. I no longer mind an inside linebacker rocking zero. I think that actually can look pretty cool when someone in a single digit or a zero is thumping downhill to stuff a run. Parsons rocked No. 1 at Lambeau last year and I wasn’t mad at that at all. But I do like my quarterbacks to wear a number less than 18. I don’t think I could wrap my brain around a QB wearing something like 44. 

The idea of kickers having to choose the last number available speaks to me on a spiritual level. “Hey, sorry Trey, all we had left was 68, but I’m sure it’ll look fine on your slender frame.” 

I think there are also some “lore” numbers that get some bias because of the players that wore them previously. Any defensive back that wears 36 in Green Bay has lofty expectations out of the gate. The same goes for 21. It’s hard to separate the current roster from some of those legends, and they better act accordingly. By that same token, if I see a corner wearing something like 45, I don’t expect his tenure in Green Bay to last very long. 

“Given that Wyatt and Kraft will be ramping up the first 4 weeks of the season, and we will not have Parsons available… how much will the schedule impact our September success. Who do you not want to see in weeks 1-4?” - The Opinionated Lab

Selfishly, I don’t want to see any division opponents in the first month of the season for that reason. As fun as last season was to open Lambeau Field by dominating the Lions, I prefer to have division games in the middle of the season when the team has established an identity and knows what to expect. That said, though, I think the Packers open the season against the Bears because it’s a schedule maker’s dream to put that matchup on Sunday Night Football in Week 1. 

Outside of the division, I don’t want to see the Cowboys before Micah is back solely because that’s a game he’s going to want to play in. The lead-up to that one won’t be as meaningful if Parsons is sidelined. 

The Bills and Dolphins would be my other “no thanks” teams on the list, and for different reasons. I would really love for the Bills to come to Lambeau in the snow. I think that tailgate would be epic between two cold weather fanbases. And with the Dolphins, I just think it would be fun to have Micah back healthy against his former defensive coordinator. I know Jeff Hafley even made a joke about that knowing he’s returning to Green Bay at some point this season. Ideally, yeah, he’ll want to do it when Micah is sitting on the bench and not rushing Malik Willis. 

Thanks so much for the lively welcome back to the mailbag this week! With that said, I’ll be taking next week off. I know, I know, sorry! My daughter is turning 1 on Tuesday so we’re going on vacation to celebrate. But I’ll be back with a new mailbag on May 15th with no planned absences for the foreseeable future. You can’t get rid of me that easily, Cheesehead TV. 
But that’ll do it for me. Next time you see me, I’ll be the proud mother of two toddlers (and not one toddler and a sweet baby). Send prayers. Send caffeine. Send whatever you’ve got. And don’t forget to send your questions to [email protected].