Mike's Mid-Week Chat: Which draft picks will make an impact as rookies?

[Cheesehead]

How soon do you think we see AJ Dillon? What odds would you give to him being a featured part of our offense by the end of the season? 2nd round pick makes me think he's going to be expected to play.


I do think he's going to play, and I can see him sharing the No. 2 role with Jamaal Williams. Aaron Jones will still be the feature back in this offense, I believe, but Dillon brings a dimension the other two guys don't have. If he proves he's ready, he'll play.


Why are nearly all the so-called NFL exports so uptight about Aaron Rodgers and the drafting of Jordan Love?


It was obvious this move was going to create news, speculation, and the like. It's part of the deal. A lot of people out there want to have the hot take on what they think is going to happen, and they'll only remind people what they said if they're right. This has a long time to play out, so I'm just going to let it do that.


Mike, I think the OL depth added in the draft is being greatly undervalued by the media. The Packers have no reliable swing tackle, assuming Veldheer isn't brought back, and there's a strong possibility the Packers don't think they'll be able to resign Corey Linsley next offseason. In addition, they could be looking for competition at RG and Lane Taylor is on the last year of his deal. That pretty much leaves Lucas Patrick and Alex Light. Thoughts?


The Packers appear to have plenty of depth on the interior of the offensive line, but not as much at the tackle spots. They have Light, Yosh Nijman and John Leglue for tackle depth right now, all unproven. Turner could play at tackle if needed. I wouldn't rule out Jon Runyan, either, though it sounds like they're going to try him at guard. I think it's a fluid situation at tackle, but the Packers have plenty of interior options moving forward.


I laugh at the draft grades. I looked back to 2015. Bleacher Report had the Pack at a C+. We know how bad that turned out. They had the Browns at an A. Not one of their guys is left on the team even though they had 2 first rounders an 5 picks in the first 3 rounds...


Post-draft grades are clickbait and nothing more. I get it. Everyone wants to hear opinions, and that's fine, but it all needs to be taken for what it is, which is relatively meaningless until any of these players see an NFL field.


Mike; thanks for the quick turn-around for a Chat after the Draft! A J Dillon seemed very focused/committed in his first interview as a Packer. Would BG and ML addressed any "career nutrition concerns" in a pre-Draft interview? Weight control doesn't seem to be an issue with Derrick Henry, but it certainly was with E. Lacy?


I don't see that being an issue with Dillon at all. My understanding is he was in the low 240s coming out of high school, and he leaned up even more and gained more strength to reach 247 in college. His body fat is less than 6 percent. Dillon is put together.


If the stadiums are forced to stay empty this fall even if the games are played, where does all the money come from? TV revenue won't be the same either, will it?


Those TV contracts are signed. If the games are on TV, the networks are forking over the money.


Dillon has the lower body, but doesn't it take a powerful upper body as well to be a pounder?


He's not going to carry the ball 20 times a game as a rookie, not with Aaron Jones in this offense.


In all the talk about ILB I don't hear Ty Summers mentioned. He had a good preseason last year. Is he still on the team?


I think the ILB competition for the spot alongside Christian Kirksey will feature Oren Burks, Curtis Bolton, Summers and Kamal Martin, the fifth-round pick from Minnesota. May the best man win.


If there's a 55 man game day roster is there also a 55 man roster coming out of training camp with 2 additional guys who don't have to clear waivers before being put on the practice squad?


I'm not sure it's going to work that way. I'm still not clear on it all, but my understanding is the 55 is only for during the regular season to allow for PS promotions.


How do you think the WR position will shake out with the players they have, coming back from injuries etc.


I think Equanimeous St. Brown and Begelton are the two biggest unknowns with the WR group, with the former coming back from the injury and the latter coming from the CFL. Otherwise, Funchess is on a prove-it contract, and growth and progress is expected from Allen Lazard, Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Jake Kumerow .


Tell us Mike, in your professional opinion what is the relationship be Rodgers and LeFleur. Please put all the pundits opinions to rest. Thank for all your hard work, it truly is appreciated.


I saw two guys who enjoyed working with each other, and said as much. Like anything, there are challenges with these dynamics anytime, but I got the sense at the end of last season Rodgers was looking forward to Year 2 in the scheme and LaFleur has a strong sense of where this can go with him at the helm. I don't think that's changed, as long as the distractions are kept at bay.


I watched Dillon's highlights. You wouldn't know he weighs over 225 with the way he looks and moves.


That's the impression I got, too. Apparently his legs are just huge, and powerful.


Difficult question. Given the current pandemic do you think a shortened season is possible?


Anything is possible. There will be a lot to work out in order for any of the major sports to play. I just hope science can make rapid progress to help everyone, sports included.


Mike, I appreciate that the announcement of jersey numbers is becoming a thing, along with editing photos to show what a player will look like in the green and gold. Back when TT was GM, I felt like announcing jersey numbers took forever, except for the first round pick. Also, who got to tell Darrius Shepherd he was changing to #9?


I'm not sure who makes those calls now. Speaking of jersey numbers, there's a funny one on the U of Minnesota's website. Kamal Martin wore No. 21 for the Gophers, and it appears they photoshopped him into an old action photo of Woodson or Clinton-Dix. It gave me a chuckle.


I thought the Packers biggest weakness was stopping the run and it's not apparent that this was adequately addressed in free agency or the draft. I've heard Petine's scheme can be changed to help. What is your take?


I'm one who's been mentioning scheme changes just because that's how I read between the lines of everyone's comments about not adding any personnel to the defensive front. I think they know what went wrong in SF and they believe it's not a personnel problem. If you aren't going to fix it with personnel, you have to try to fix it somehow.


Any news yet on the UFA's?


Still waiting on the official announcement. It could be any day or hour now.


Any "insider" info on when the schedule is coming out?


The league originally said by May 9, which would mean sometime next week, but I saw a report indicating it could be delayed. So there's no telling now. I guess we'll see.


Will games be played in London and Mexico City this season?


Hi Mike, Non-Packer question here... What are your thoughts about MLB's 3 Division realignment possibilities for this year?


Whatever it takes to play if they can play games safely for all involved.