Has everyone had a chance to grab their copy of this year’s Draft Guide? Highly recommend if you haven’t yet. It is well worth your time and energy as you prep for the 2026 NFL Draft! Now, onto your questions:
“What’s more likely to happen: make pick 52, trade up from pick 52, or try to trade down from pick 52?” - Peter
I kind of feel like Brian Gutekunst gets antsy in this draft and trades up from 52. Nothing crazy, like I don’t see him jumping all the way into the first round, but I could see him coveting a specific defensive tackle and moving into the 40s to go get his guy. This’ll be the latest he’s ever made a selection as GM (previous was pick No. 29 in 2021 for Eric Stokes). A lot of the first-round talent in this year’s defensive tackle class is recovering from injuries. If those guys happen to start sliding down the board, it wouldn’t shock me to see Gutekunst pull the trigger.
“It seems like each year for a decade we hear players complain about the outdated grass/turf combo at Lambeau and how slippery it is. Wouldn't this be a no brainer for Policy to address in the next couple years?” - John
This question is super interesting to me because depending on who you ask, Lambeau Field is one of the most highly-regarded NFL stadiums in terms of field quality because it’s a unique blend of Kentucky Bluegrass and SIS Grass polyethylene fibers. It’s the only field in the league using that mixture, and Lambeau became the first stadium in the United States to boast SIS Grass technology back in 2018. The NFLPA prefers grass fields for player safety, and the league is split 15/15 in regards to stadiums that use turf versus terms that use some type of grass.
Given that the installation of the new field just happened in 2018, it’s hard to see Policy doing anything too drastic. I know there have been some complaints in recent seasons about the number of players slipping on the field, but that’s kind of par for the course in an outdoor stadium in Wisconsin in the winter. The recommendation to use 7-stud cleats is there for a reason.
Remember when the Falcons built their new stadium and we had open dialogues about how the Packers didn’t have the speed to keep up with Atlanta on turf? To me, personally, and I’m curious what others think, the Packers would do better to make it part of their home field advantage. Lambeau Field is the Frozen Tundra. Soon, the Bears will build their domed stadium and the Packers will be the only team in the NFC North to play in the elements. We talk about how significant a home playoff game could be for Green Bay in January. Packers players know what it takes to play on the field in the cold. Use it. Be like Elsa about it. Don’t let the cold (or field) bother you, anyway.
“We've heard speculation that the Pack could trade one of their WRs. Personally, I would not. What would GM Maggie have to get in return to trade Jayden Reed or Dontayvion Wicks?” - Tony
I mean Christian Watson, Reed, and Wicks are all entering free agency in 2027, and it’s almost impossible to imagine the Packers keeping all three. At this point, Watson feels like the only real “sure thing” in terms of a new contract. This season is going to be really interesting for both Reed and Wicks, not just for their futures in Green Bay but also as an audition of sorts for the rest of the league.
Knowing how the Packers operate, Reed feels much more likely to get a second contract if it were to come down to him or Wicks. The room will already consist of Watson (extended in this world), Matthew Golden, and Savion Williams. I’m guessing Green Bay also adds a body on day three of this year’s draft, so you’re looking at three returning players and a rookie. If Reed re-signs, too, that bumps the room up to five. Maybe the Packers love what Skyy Moore contributes on special teams? Now you’re at six.
Wicks becomes the odd man out in that equation. As a Day 3 draft pick, he’s already kind of exceeded expectations for a fifth rounder. He’s played in 46 games and caught 108 passes for 1,328 yards and 11 touchdowns in his three seasons. If a team like the Jets calls Brian Gutekunst and offers him a fourth or fifth rounder this year? Then maybe I’m interested so I have some ammo to move around the draft board. But if the market is a sixth or seventh round pick, then I’m waiting until mid-season and seeing if anyone is interested by the trade deadline. By then, injuries will have unfortunately taken a toll and the Packers may be looking for an additional player at another position as they make a playoff push. I’m hanging onto Wicks right now and seeing what his market is like in October.
“Hey Maggie! Any key takeaways from the league meetings this week? Anything ML said, or didn’t say, surprise you? Or BG, or EP for that matter? Thanks!” - Jim
It’s always fun to try to read between the lines during those interviews, but everything felt pretty standard to me. It was nice to see Policy clear up his statements about naming rights to Lambeau Field. I know that was an issue that fans felt strongly about, and rightfully so.
LaFleur’s candidness about player roles on the team stuck out to me. Normally he keeps those thoughts pretty close to the vest, so it was interesting to hear him address some potential locker room conflicts from last season. He seems like he’s taking a hard look at how his coaching staff approaches communication with players, and that’s always valuable. You can tell experience was an emphasis this offseason, both in terms of coaching staff (hiring Jonathan Gannon) and signing veteran additions who are locker room leaders (Javon Hargrave and Zaire Franklin).
I also thought it was kind of funny that new special teams coordinator Cam Achord came highly-recommended from Rich Bisaccia. It really sounds like the decision to step down blindsided LaFleur, so it wasn’t too surprising that he’d take Bisaccia’s recommendation for a replacement.
That’s all we’ve got for this week! Time is flying and we’re just three weeks away from the draft. Send all of your draft (and other) questions to [email protected]. See you next week!