Watching Jaxon Smith-Njigba have a really strong year and seeing what he can do has made me excited for Matthew Golden. They seemingly have similar builds and styles and having watched Golden this year I’ve noticed he has great hands and definitely is a playmaker. He just needs more opportunities to get more comfortable in the league. I’m excited for his future

If you’re excited about a first-round pick entering Year 2, that means you achieved the primary goal of Year 1.

Derek from Maple Grove, MN

I don’t understand the line of questioning when people ask about someone being so successful they leave for a promotion influencing a hiring decision. As someone who hires people, I am always looking for the people who are going to get the next round of promotions. Looking for a new DC every two years because yours are so successful is not a problem, it’s the goal! It’s also why I, like Mike, believe this defense if far closer to championship caliber than most fans seem to.

You need to shave the ice every once in a while to keep making progress. You hope it’s for reasons like the Packers have experienced this month, with Jeff Hafley becoming an NFL head coach and taking a few individuals with them to South Beach. In that void, new ideas and opportunities can take root.

Michael from Glenview, IL

I enjoyed the post by Tim from Elmhurst. I’ll add that the reason Chicago had so many QBs over the years was more than a matter of coaching. It was the whole organization. The turnover in GMs and coaches (and therefore coordinators) made developing any QB almost impossible. That and years of poor O-line play forcing the QBs to run for their lives. When they hired BJ, I told my wife (Chicago born and raised) the Bears would be better. The first thing he did was fix the O-line. The Pack does it right.

It’s tough to throw if you can’t protect the quarterback.

Perhaps a little controversial, but in the games without Micah Parsons, to my untrained eye, I did not feel the defense lost a lot. All three phases of the game share the blame for the late-game losses. So, my question is, how good would the defense have been if the Packers had not traded for Micah and how much will we miss those two first-rounders?

Played well enough to compete, not well enough to win.

I think part (though not all) of the problem with lackluster special teams is Green Bay has historically placed younger guys on them. As Mike noted, the Seahawks traded for a veteran presence there. Every year the Packers are the youngest team in the league is another year where they (in all likelihood) have the youngest special teams. It’s hard to armchair GM this, but I can’t help but think bolstering special teams with veterans would make it a better unit.

I’m torn on Rashid Shaheed. He is a talented returner, the cost for Seattle wasn’t cheap. The Seahawks sent fourth- and fifth-round picks in next year’s draft to New Orleans. Let’s say the Packers matched that…now they’re down two picks in the first five rounds in April and Shaheed is an unrestricted free agent at the end of the year. To your larger point, I don’t think it gets talked about enough how Green Bay has had to build its special teams from the ground up with the likes of Zayne Anderson, Bo Melton, Daniel Whelan, Arron Mosby, Evan Williams, etc. It’s not like Rich Bisaccia inherited a Jarrett Bush or Chris Banjo. He had to bring Keisean Nixon with him. The emphasis is there, but this is a process. Claiming Nick Niemann helped. Hoping to see him back next year. Maybe a few more additions, too.

The Pro Bowl, and everything related to it, is an absolute joke. I can’t think of anything that could possibly fix it, other than making it go away. However, I know the league wants to keep it, so it’ll stay. Is there anything you would do to at least make it, I don’t know… less stupid?

Do away with NFC and AFC for good, identify the best available pool of players and have them drafted to teams. I can’t believe Shedeur Sanders made a Pro Bowl before Jordan Love and Caleb Williams.

Malik Willis has definitely earned whatever contract comes his way, and will make someone’s starting lineup as QB1 this coming year! My hopes are that 1) The Vikings don’t…nuff said. 2) Miami does, because then we don’t have to face him often. 3) Pittsburgh does, for the same reason as Miami, but also the Mike McCarthy factor for his continued development…not to mention this becoming kind of another intriguing story to watch as a fan. Your thoughts? GPG!

I think Willis goes to Miami. Not just because of how he performed in games, but remember, Jeff Hafley’s defense practiced again Willis for two seasons. Miami’s new head ball coach has seen everything No. 2 can do. If the Fins can make it work, I feel like that’s the best spot for Willis.