The goal remains the same for the Packers

Brandon from Imperial, MO

Good morning, Vic used to say WRs are a dime a dozen and I’ve mostly agreed with him. I think even Vic would say ’17’ is a special talent and difficult to replace. Is the silver lining the extra dollars in the cap to maybe bring back a Rasul Douglas or Marquez Valdes-Scantling (or some other veteran WR)?

It’s has to be. This opens the door for the Packers to hold onto a Douglas, MVS and/or Robert Tonyan. With those 11 picks, there’s also numerous talented skill-position players to choose from in this year’s draft. As talented as Adams is, the Packers have been in this position before. The scouts will grind the film and have their reports ready next month in search of the next Adams, Jordy Nelson, Greg Jennings, James Jones or Randall Cobb.

The Pack has cap space now, don’t they? Allen Lazard: Movin’ on up!

Lazard is another in-house name to keep an eye on. He received a restricted tender but the Packers can still negotiate with him until Lazard signs his contract.

Joe Burrow, Ja’Mar Chase. Tua Tagovailoa, Jaylen Waddle. Trevor Lawrence and Travis Etienne. Now the latest college duo to reunite in the NFL, Derek Carr and Davante Adams. It seems this pairing is on the uptick as it lets a QB and a playmaker build on their previous college chemistry. Do you see this as a growing trend in the NFL and draft prospect process? Best of luck to Adams in Vegas!

I would call it more a coincidence than a trend. In the cases you mentioned, it was a GM’s doing more so than the players. But Carr and Adams have talked about reuniting for some time. I thought it was mostly talk but obviously it meant a great deal to them. They got what they desired.

Hi Wes, I think anyone has to be impressed by the moves made for the Packers organization to get below the salary cap and retain many of our core players. It seems like the money was there too to re-sign Adams, but ultimately it appears the Packers accommodated his desire to play in Vegas. There’s going to be a lot of speculation about that until Adams chooses to talk about it. In the meantime, I hope we can all wish him well and thank him for his time with the Packers.

Absolutely. When Adams talks in Vegas, I’ll be interested to hear what he has to say.

I have been around II long enough to remember that the ‘Inbox’ was none too kind to Davante his first couple of seasons. Anybody who would have suggested he would become the highest compensated receiver in the league would have been laughed out of here back then. It would do us all good to remember that when the Packers add more receiving resources in this year’s draft. These are young men playing a difficult game, and the first two chapters do not a story make. Thanks.

There are a lot of fans out there who would’ve cut a future five-time Pro Bowler after Adams’ first two NFL seasons. Prospects require patience. That’s once again important to remember as the Packers transition to this next phase with their receiving corps.

Brian from Charlottesville, VA

Wes, thanks for sharing your story about Davante Adams. I enjoy your articles about the human side of Packers players and personnel as well as Cliff’s historical perspectives, but I really love your personal anecdotes about interactions in the locker room, in the hallway, wherever. Any chance you and Mike would consider sharing a “best of” your personal stories you’ve shared with II about players and staff, past and present? It’d be a fun read for a day (or more) during dead time this summer.

It’s funny how the goodbyes tend to draw those stories out of me. Maybe one day we’ll properly catalogue them.

Ken from Milledgeville, TN

Hi guys. I always enjoy the II column and look to you for clarification. With the Davante Adams trade, can we expect to receive a comp pick in next year’s draft?

No. The Packers are only eligible for a compensatory pick if an unrestricted free agent (a player with an expiring contract) signs with another team.

Richard from Greenwich, NY

Hi guys, Insider Inbox has been indispensable to me since Ask Vic. You are the anti-ESPN click bait. Anyway, now that the flattery is out of the way, do you agree that Rodgers’s need to develop football rapport with either a new FA or high draft choice WR will be an incentive for him to attend OTAs and training camp this year?

It’s a good question that probably depends on what the receiver depth chart looks like this summer. Rodgers has his finger on the pulse of the team. I’ll trust his judgement.

I’d like to take a break from the Adams news to talk punting. I like the Pat O’Donnell signing, a proven vet can definitely help improve special teams. But I also thought Corey Bojorquez showed he can kick and hold well; I especially liked his directional kicks and banana balls. I was a little surprised to see the sudden change of heart. How much of an upgrade do you think Pat O’Donnell is and do you think we see a competition or do they let Bojo walk?

Skeptics will point to O’Donnell’s net average last year, but it’s not easy punting in the Midwest. O’Donnell has played a full season’s worth of games at Lambeau Field. He knows what he’s signing up for. I think his history holding should make for a seamless transition, as well. If needed, O’Donnell could be an option on kickoffs, too. Bojorquez did a fine job last year given the circumstances, but free agency gave the Packers an opportunity to find their guy. O’Donnell is that dude.