Inbox: Competition only makes your football team better

Andy from Boscobel, WI

Morning guys! This is my second only post and I am excited. Do you think it's possible that GB isn't done adding to this roster and could possibly make a trade or acquire a solid vet FA? Feel like we could use a couple more solid guys.

You didn't know how right you were when you hit send on this at 10:35 a.m. on Monday, Andrew.

Kevin from San Francisco, CA

It does look like the athletic quarterback out of Virginia Tech has the inside track at QB2.

It's funny how it works out sometimes, isn't it? Sixteen years after Tyrod Taylor took his last snap at Va. Tech, the wily veteran is now paired with a fellow Hokie in Kyron Drones.

David from Chestertown, MD

Hello Insiders, I am intrigued by Tyrod Taylor's signing. Do you agree that he probably would have been a very serviceable starter in Baltimore if not behind Lamar? I love his moxie and highly competitive nature.

Taylor was behind prime Joe Flacco in Baltimore but still was a terrific sixth-round selection by Ozzie Newsome in 2011. Buffalo gave Taylor a chance in 2015 and he proved he could play quarterback at the game's highest level. Unfortunately, injuries stood in the way of Taylor getting an extended look as a starting QB in Cleveland, Los Angeles and Houston. He brings a wealth of experience to Jordan Love and the Packers' quarterback room after playing alongside Aaron Rodgers, Justin Herbert, Flacco, Baker Mayfield, Daniel Jones and countless others.

Caleb from Knoxville, TN

What's one aspect of Tyrod Taylor's game that might surprise folks?

His efficiency. Because Taylor is an undersized quarterback by most metrics, critics often want to label him as a scrambling quarterback, but he can stand tall and deliver the football without putting it at risk. The guy's thrown for more than 13,000 yards in his career. It's also a great time to get a veteran in the building who can not only aid Jordan Love at this point of his career but also help develop a young QB like Drones.

Darren from Wakefield, MI

For lack of better way to ask, what are the chances Micah Parsons and Tucker Kraft are able to return to their old self after such an injury? We need Micah to be Micah and I need to see more Kraft shedding would-be tacklers.

Christian Watson didn't come back like his old self. He came back better last season. Why can't Parsons or Kraft? Two of the best players at their respective positions in the prime of their careers. Based on what I've seen from Kraft in particular, the guy doesn't look like someone who tore his ACL six months ago.

Bill from Menominee, MI

I'm not up to speed on the kicker landscape, but I've got to believe that at a minimum, 8-10 teams are window shopping. Although other positions don't have great publicly available metrics for grading training camp, kickers do. Makes or misses and how far. I'd be surprised if the kicker that's eventually on GB's practice squad is currently on the offseason roster.

The Packers have a 91-man roster for the next four months and are not rushing into anything. In his first address to the Green Bay media corps on Monday, Cam Achord said he would love to work with three kickers this summer because competition only makes your football team better, which is exactly what the Packers must do on special teams this year. Plus, you never know what can happen between now and Week 1 whether it's injuries here or elsewhere. Again, Green Bay sent a seventh-round pick to Cleveland five years ago for Corey Bojorquez after he failed to unseat Johnny Hekker in L.A.

Sean from Palatine, IL

Good morning, Insiders! How does equipment work for something like rookie minicamp? Does Chase Claypool get to add a Packers helmet and practice jersey to his personal collection or do players have to return the equipment before they leave?

It used to be a more hectic weekend for the equipment department when the Packers would practice in helmets and shells. With the format shifting to more of a jog-through, tryout players no longer need to get fitted with helmets, pads, etc.

Robert from Sparks, NE

While reading the Rob Demovsky ESPN report about Tyrod Taylor coming to Green Bay as QB2, the article stated Taylor was "one of only five players still in the NFL from the 2011 draft." That made me wonder, who is the oldest player in the NFL? Answer: If Philip Rivers stays in retirement, it is (drum roll, please) Aaron Rodgers. That's assuming he plays another season in Pittsburgh.

Time is a flat circle.

Kevin from San Francisco, CA

I was curious how one becomes an NFL scout and did some reading on Sam Seale. Insiders will be intrigued to know he starred in track and played RB in college, then was drafted by the Raiders for his athleticism and given No. 88 as a WR to start the season. Sam switched positions early that year and played DB the remainder of his career, picking up a new No. 43 the following year. Perhaps his versatility learning multiple positions helps him identify talent.

Scouting is an artform. Beyond just watching tape, the profession is dependent on connections and institutional knowledge. It's who you know, what they know and using all available resources to find talent your coaches can mold into elite players. I've never had a chance to ask Sam Seale what the secret to his success has been, but I'm sure he'd say it starts there.

David from Howards Grove, WI

With Brandon Cisse reportedly still unsigned but already participating in rookie minicamp, is there a "try before you sign" clause for second-round picks? We saw a similar delay last year with Anthony Belton, so how does this actually work? At what point does an unsigned draft pick have to put pen to paper before the team says, "Sorry, no more drills for you"? Is there any real risk here for the player or the Packers, or is this mostly just the annual dance over guaranteed money?

I guess there could be some risk because of how guaranteed contracts have become a sticking point in negotiations with second-round picks, but it's my understanding that unsigned draft picks sign agreements with their team to negotiate in good faith before participating in the offseason program.

Brian from Twain Harte, CA

It used to be that mostly only the first-round draft picks did not sign their contracts right away, to determine how the money was going to shake out with their fellow first-round picks. Now it seems like a common practice among second-round picks. How long do you think it will be before this trend extends to the third round and beyond?

To quote Max Verstappen when asked who would win if everyone raced backwards: "I don't know…and I don't care." It ain't 2009 no more, my friend. With how the CBA is structured, the rookie contracts will get done.

Nick from Madison, WI

How would NFL rosters be different if, by stipulation, all player contracts were fully guaranteed?

Contract lengths would definitely get shorter.

Tyler from Cross Plains, WI

Hey guys, saw an article showing the Eagles' first-round draft picks since 2021, and not a single one of them transferred during their college careers. Very interesting given the landscape of college football these days, and not sure how long they can keep that going but shows how much value the Eagles put into that. I would think other teams would use that information to help predict who the Eagles will target in Round 1.

Everything is a pattern until the pattern changes, though.

Jonathan from Richmond Hill, GA

Has anyone considered creating a facility with giant fans to mimic windy game weather? And with climate control to simulate below freezing temperatures? Where is the sports science on this? Why aren't we giving our kickers the best training when they are so crucial to the game?

There's no need for it. Packers kickers face the challenge of kicking at Ray Nitschke Field in practice. Both Rich Bisaccia and Mason Crosby spoke in the past on the difficulty of kicking at Nitschke with how the wind comes off the Don Hutson Center. If that wasn't enough, the kickers also can go inside Lambeau at any time and experience one of the NFL's most turbulent venues.

David from Oak Hills, CA

Just wanted to know your thoughts on all these new stadiums that will be coming in the next five years. Buffalo will be moving into their "open-air" stadium next year where the fans will be covered from the elements. Tennessee, Cleveland, Jacksonville and Denver will all be moving into domes before 2031. And then we all know the rumors of Kansas City, Chicago and Washington moving into domes soon too. It seems like every stadium looks alike in their renderings, with no character. Lambeau Field is truly a special place. May it never change.

And as the years pass, Lambeau is only going to grow in rarity and grandeur. I love the Buffalo stadium design. It stayed true to its cold-weather roots while also acknowledging the need to shield fans from the harshest winters the league has to offer. I'm disappointed Cleveland went the indoor route, but I understand the desire to draw non-football events to the region in winter.

Craig from Sussex, WI

Are there any teams you feel could make a surprise rise to prominence this year? I still feel like Atlanta, with that superior running back of theirs could be tough to beat.

I mean, there is no juggernaut in the NFC South. I could see any of those four teams winning the division. My surprise might be Las Vegas, though. The Raiders kind of feel like last year's Jacksonville team – last-place schedule with just enough talent to get on a run in a favorable division.

Tallon from Castle Rock, CO

Why are you so excited for this schedule release? What is different? Do you have inside information!? The people need to know.

I have all the inside information but can only tell you I shot my part on Monday.

Bill from San Antonio, TX

While watching the rookie interviews, I notice a lot of similarities with their answers. Do the universities give them a course on press interviews?

Most power-four conferences will work with athletes on how to present themselves in the media. However, I think it's also a product of their upbringing and the digital age. I probably see more interviews in a day than I once saw in two weeks as a kid watching "Sunday Conversation" on ESPN. That's the world we live in now.

Dennis from Parrish, FL

I remember that thunderstorm right after the Tampa game in 2014. It caused me to leave the game early and run to my car! Several people were struck by lightning in one of the parking lots.

Bob from Rome, NY

Gentleman: If the Packers donate to the city of Green Bay to fix potholes like the Brewers did to the city of Milwaukee, could you recommend that your faces be stamped on the potholes and not the Packers logo? Great II publicity and this way it wouldn't hurt to get run over. Thank you!

And I'm ready to hand this thing back over to Mike. Have a great Tuesday.

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