Locked On Packers

The Packers added another veteran this week, signing versatile offensive lineman Byron Bell, a former starter with the Panthers, Titans, and Cowboys. What does his signing mean for Green Bay, particularly Bryan Bulaga's recovery? Plus, ESPN puts the Packers among the NFC and Super Bowl favorites. Do they truly belong?  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Adrian Peterson says he wouldn't mind player for the Packers but does it make sense for Green Bay to bring in the aging running back? Some Packers scouts think Quinten Rollins would be better as a safety and if Mike Pettine doesn't move him, Rollins may not make the team. Plus, Davante Adams finally gets his due as one of the best receivers in the game.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Brian Gutekunst isn't done re-making the roster, signing long-time Jaguars tight end Marcedes Lewis on Thursday. The 12-year veteran brings outstanding versatility as one of the best run-blocking tight ends in the game with more than enough athleticism to be a factor in the passing game. Lewis should allow the Packers to play the way they wanted last year with a malleable, diverse scheme with two tight ends with Jimmy Graham on the field.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We can't learn much after just two days of practices in shorts, but Aaron Rodgers offered his thoughts about bringing in Dez Bryant as well as his new-found connection to free agent tight end Jimmy Graham. Clay Matthews wasn't practicing, but he once again took a shot at a thin outside linebacker room, suggesting the Packers needed to make a move to get better.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As OTA's open, who are the Packers with the most to prove early on? We look at which players are feeling the heat, whether from rookies picked to push them, or contract situation, or simply a need for Green Bay for them to succeed. Five guys stand out, two on offense and three on defense need to get off to a hot start as we move into the full team offseason work.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Of the top teams in the league over the last decade, the Packers have had the fewest blue chip players. That speaks to Aaron Rodgers' greatness but also failings from Ted Thompson and Mike McCarthy. Will changes to the coaching staff and front office alleviate these concerns moving forward? And where does Green Bay now stand in the NFC pecking order?  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jason Witten said he expected his former teammate Dez Bryant to wind up with the Packers this offseason while reports suggested Green Bay isn't interested. The question is should the Packers make this move? Plus, the rookie cornerbacks have yet to take a snap for Mike Pettine's new defense, but one distinct difference from recent cornerback drafts suggest they have a better chance to succeed.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Kevin King and Josh Jones highlighted an ultra-talented 2017 draft class, but were outshone by a pair of rookie running backs. Can they make a jump this season under new defensive coordinator Mike Pettine? Or will Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams be the best players from Ted Thompson's final draft at the helm? We dig into who could make the Year 2 leap.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Under new GM Brian Gutekunst, the Packers aggressively pursued free agents, traded around to add blue-chip talent in the draft and worked to remake a 7-9 team from 2017 back into a contender in 2018. So where did Green Bay get better? Where did it get worse? And where does it stand now moving forward? We dig into all of that on today's episode.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Packers stayed patient on Night 2 of the 2018 NFL draft and wound up with a player they'd have been happy to take with their first pick: Iowa's ballhawk cornerback Josh Jackson. Chad Leistikow from the Des Moines Register and Iowa City Press Citizen joins the show to talk about Jackson's background, why his talent was apparent from Day 1, but his playing time wasn't, and what he brings to Green Bay's secondary.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Packers first-round pick Jaire Alexander wasn't offered a D-1 scholarship by any of the schools in his home state of North Carolina and was an afterthought in Steve Spurrier's South Carolina class before he left for Louisville. He quickly became one of the most dynamic defensive players in the ACC and all of college football with a breakout sophomore season. The 21-year-old will breath life into a secondary bereft of playmakers. Louisville radio host and former Cardinals joins the show to break down Green Bay's top pick in the 2018 NFL draft.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Vanderbilt writer and editor Zac Ellis joins the show to discuss the Packers third-round pick Oren Burks, the speedy linebacker from Vandy. What makes Burks such a special player goes far beyond his impact on the football field with his leadership, intelligence, and drive to help others off the field. Green Bay got not only one of the best athletes in the draft, but one of the most impressive young men.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

New Packers GM Brian Gutekunst made 11 of his 12 NFL draft picks, trading one to move back into the first, but gaining a future first in the process. How do players like Jaire Alexander, Josh Jackson, J'Mon Moore, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, and Equanimeous St. Brown fit on this Green Bay roster and who could be out as a result of this enormous class?  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Day 3 of the 2018 NFL draft brought three wide receivers to the Green Bay Packers and at least two special team players, but new GM Brian Gutekunst waited until the seventh round to add an edge rusher. What that says about this team and why the top of the draft could hold the reason why the Packers approached team building this way.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Josh Jackson, a player many thought the Packers should take with the 14th pick, fell to 45 and Green Bay pounced. The Iowa standout led the nation in interceptions and pass breakups, adding another ballhawk to go with first-round pick Jaire Alexander. Then, new GM Brian Gutekunst traded back into the third round to take athletic cover linebacker Oren Burks out of Vanderbilt as the revamp of this defense pushes forward.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Brian Gutekunst scared Packers fans when he traded out of the 14th pick with Derwin James and Tremaine Edmunds still on the board. But the new Green Bay GM added a 2019 first-round pick and was still able to move back up for a third-round selection to tab Louisville cornerback Jaire Alexander with the 18th pick in the draft. Alexander is exactly the kind of versatile, ultra-athletic corner this Packers defense desperately needed.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How will the top of the draft shake out and what options with that leave the Packers with when they select at 14? The trade-up options start around the 9th pick with the 49ers, but Green Bay will have options. We'll also dive into how the top of the draft should go and what that would mean for who is on the board for Brian Gutekunst and Co.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With the draft just a few days away, we look at why this draft feels different for Green Bay from changes at the top, to the sense of urgency within the organization and a potential adaptation of approach from new GM Brian Gutekunst. How will he reshape this roster in his image with the most picks in the league this weekend?  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dane Brugler from NFL Draft Scout joins the show to talk about the bevy of defensive players who will likely be available to the Packers at the 14th pick. He offers two names worth trading up to get for Green Bay, plus players who could fall. We also discuss reports about Brian Gutekunst's preferred players in the first round and a lot more NFL draft talk.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices