season

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nfl/green-bay-packers/packers-rumors-eye-opening-deep-dive-scoffs-mel-kipers-mock-draft-pick');   ga('set', 'title', 'Packers rumors: Eye-opening deep dive scoffs at Mel Kiper’s mock draft pick');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Former-Georgia-defensive-lineman-Mykel-Williams-runs-a-drill-during-UGA-Footballs-Pro-Day-in-Athens-Ga.-on-Wednesday-March-12-2025.jpg"><figcaption>© Joshua L. Jones / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Packers rumors: Eye-opening deep dive scoffs at Mel Kiper’s mock draft pick</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-04-08T12:24:16-07:00">April 8th, 12:24pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-04-08T12:24:16-07:00">April 8th, 12:24pm</time><address><a>Ben Strauss</a>Ben Strauss is an Associate Editor at ClutchPoints. He is a die-hard NFL fan who cheers for the Detroit Lions. He has previously written fantasy football content for IDPGuys and ImportantNonsense.com.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Green Bay Packers</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Green Bay <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/nfl-stories/how-nfc-north-winning-2025-nfl-free-agency-packers-arent">Packers need to add talent</a> in the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/nfl-stories/2025-nfl-draft-order-prospects-targets">2025 NFL Draft</a>. Green Bay is in one of the NFL’s most competitive divisions, the NFC North. The Packers could use all the help they can get, on both sides of the ball, to compete for an NFC North title in 2025.</p><p>ESPN’s Mel Kiper has the Packers <a href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/draft2025/insider/story/_/id/44534765/2025-nfl-mock-draft-mel-kiper-two-rounds-64-picks-predictions-sanders-ward-hunter" rel="noopener">selecting Georgia edge rusher</a> Mykel Williams in his latest 2025 NFL mock draft.</p><p>“Williams was hindered by an ankle injury in 2024, which kept him to five sacks over 12 games,” Kiper wrote. “But he has the explosive traits to be an extremely effective edge rusher.”</p><p>However, Mark Oldacres over at Packers Wire does not agree with Kiper’s assessment.</p><p>Oldacres argued that Green Bay actually seems to <a href="https://packerswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/packers/2025/04/08/green-bay-packers-pass-rush-production-draft-prospects-nfl/82989785007/" rel="noopener">value production over traits</a> for the pass rushers they’ve drafted since 2016. In this case, production was measured by pressures.</p><p>Oldacres showed that the Packers have picked edge rusher who average roughly 37.5 pressures in their final collegiate season. There are few exceptions to this rule.</p><p>Oldacres used this rationale to argue that Green Bay may not target <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/ncaa-football/texas-am-football-news-shemar-stewart-earns-freak-endorsement-veteran-coach-nfl-combine">athletic freaks like Shemar Stewart</a> or Mykel Williams because they don’t check that box.</p><p>“But even for the traits-loving Packers, they might not be productive enough,” Oldacres wrote. “Stewart averaged just 26.33 pressures per year in his final three seasons at Texas A&amp;M, while Williams only managed 28.33 in three years at Georgia.”</p><p>In fact, the few players who seem to check Green Bay’s boxes can easily be acquired outside of the first round.</p><p>Ultimately, Oldacres concluded that the Packers are unlikely to draft an edge rusher in the first round.</p><h2><b>Packers GM does not want to “go chase” edge rushers in 2025 NFL Draft</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Georgia-Jalon-Walker-and-Mykel-Williams-take-down-Texas-quarterback-Quinn-Ewers.jpg"><figcaption>© Joshua L. Jones / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Oldacres’ assessment seems to align with what the Packers have publicly said about the 2025 NFL Draft.</p><p>Packers GM Brian Gutekunst does not believe the Packers <a href="https://x.com/ByRyanWood/status/1906719060932358480" rel="noopener">need to “go chasing” an edge rusher</a> in the draft.</p><p>“We can do everything we need to do from the players we have on our roster right now,” Gutekunst said, via Ryan Wood of USA Today. “Because I think there’s a significant amount of improvement from those guys, not only Year 2 in the scheme, but individually.”</p><p>In this interview, Gutekunst leans on the improvement of younger players as the reason why edge rusher may not be the team’s priority.</p><p>Oldacres’ argument could be a contributing factor to why Gutekunst is not high on this year’s edge rusher class.</p><p>It will be fascinating to see which position the Packers address first in the 2025 NFL Draft.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Packers rumors: Eye-opening deep dive scoffs at Mel Kiper’s mock draft pick

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nfl/green-bay-packers/packers-full-7-round-2025-nfl-mock-draft-per-pfn-simulator');   ga('set', 'title', 'Packers full 7-round 2025 NFL mock draft, per PFN simulator');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Green-Bay-Packers-full-7-round-2025-NFL-mock-draft-per-PFN-simulator.jpg"></figure><h1>Packers full 7-round 2025 NFL mock draft, per PFN simulator</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-04-08T07:18:46-07:00">April 8th, 7:18am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-04-08T07:18:46-07:00">April 8th, 7:18am</time><address><a href="https://matthew516sports.substack.com/">Douglas Fritz</a>Douglas Fritz has been writing about sports for almost four decades and publishes a Christian sports newsletter and podcast on Substack at Matthew516Sports. He started as a reporter for the student newspaper at East Tennessee State University, worked his way up to Editor-In-Chief, and began his sports writing career at the Johnson City Press daily newspaper while still in college. During 30-plus years at the Press, he covered University of Tennessee football, men's and women's basketball, ETSU athletics, and high school athletics. Among the people he has interviewed are Dale Murphy, Bobby Cox, John Smoltz, and Bruce Smith. He is also a Christian-based screenwriter (five feature-length and one short), book writer (three completed manuscripts and one novel), and songwriter.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Green Bay Packers</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>It remains to be seen what direction the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/green-bay-packers/packers-rumors-insider-fixes-obvious-need-in-new-mock-draft-despite-gms-claims">Green Bay Packers will take in the draft</a>. But there are <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/green-bay-packers/3-players-packers-must-avoid-in-2025-nfl-draft">some players they should avoid</a>. For a sneak preview of what might happen, here is the Packers’ <a href="https://www.profootballnetwork.com/mockdraft" rel="noopener">full seven-round 2025</a> NFL mock draft, according to the Pro Football Network simulator.</p><p>The Packers pick at No. 23 overall and have their full allotment of selections. They also have an extra pick in the seventh round. Green Bay enters the draft with needs at edge, cornerback, wide receiver, defensive tackle, and linebacker.</p><p>Here is what the simulator spit out for the Packers.</p><h2><b>Packers take WR Luther Burden III in Round 1</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Missouri-WR-Luther-Burden-III_c17bf0.jpg"><figcaption>Kirby Lee-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>This would be a great pick for the Packers. They need an Alpha dog in the wide receiver room and Burden could be that guy.</p><p>He brings an impressive combination of speed, power, and agility to the slot receiver position, according to PFN.</p><p>“His natural playmaking skills make him dangerous in space, and he has ball skills to spare when allowed to stretch the field vertically,” PFN wrote. “As a route runner, Burden has shown progress but still needs additional development. Granted, part of that comes down to the way he was used in college, but his route salesmanship still needs some work.”</p><p>There’s no doubt he could make things much easier for Packers quarterback Jordan Love. The current lot of receivers with the Packers comes off lacking at the top end. Jayden Reed, Romeo Doubs, Christian Watson, and Dontayvion Hicks don’t have WR1 abilities. That’s something Burden brings immediately.</p><p>“Burden should end up being an instant starting wide receiver at the NFL level,” PFN wrote. “He has some inside-outside versatility with the ability to thrive on jet sweeps and end-arounds, and his YAC ability is arguably the best of any wide receiver in the 2025 NFL Draft class.”</p><h2><b>Defensive help arrives in Round 2?</b></h2><p>This pick didn’t hit as solid as the first-round choice. In this mock, the Packers traded up to the No. 39 pick and gve up their third-round selection.</p><p>Notre Dame cornerback Bejamin Morrison is decent, but the Packers left higher-ceiling guys like Trey Amos (Ole Miss) and Azareye’h Thomas (Florida State) on the board.</p><p>“Benjamin Morrison possesses very good size and overall length to hold his own as a boundary corner in the NFL,” PFN wrote. “He is a smooth and fluid mover who has good overall speed but is not an overly sudden athlete. Morrison is an excellent zone-coverage defender, displaying outstanding instincts, awareness, and ball skills.”</p><p>But there are negative issues.</p><p>“He is a bit leggy in transitions and speedy receivers can separate from him both underneath and at the break point on in-routes and comebacks,” PFN wrote. “Morrison is at his best playing and defending the third level of the field where his linear speed and ball skills can shine.”</p><h2><b>Back to the CB position in Round 4</b></h2><p>OK, the simulator lost its way here. It’s like, “Oopsie, we shouldn’t have picked Morrison, so let’s go get another cornerback.”</p><p>Packers fans wouldn’t be very excited about Tommi Hill of Nebraska. It’s especially true with edge defenders Tyler Baron (Miami) and Que Robinson (Alabama) still on the board. This is a flat-out bad pick.</p><p>“A physical runner with prototype size and length,” PFN wrote. Saw drastic fluctuations in his performance from year to year in college. Took a big step back in his final year of college. Allowed a ball to be caught on him nearly 75% of the time when he was targeted and gave up three touchdowns in coverage this season. Struggled to make plays around the ball this season, with just one pass breakup and one interception.”</p><p>OK, that’s enough. What are you doing, simulator?</p><h2><b>Things got better in Round 5</b></h2><p>It would be nice if the Packers bungled back-to-back picks but still landed a guy like Ohio State edge Jack Sawyer at this point. In the real world, he won’t last this long.</p><p>“As far as edge rusher evaluations go in the 2025 NFL Draft, there aren’t too many as safe as Jack Sawyer,” PFN wrote.</p><p>Translation: Some team will grab him much earlier.</p><p>“Sawyer has the technical know-how, the football instincts, the physicality and the level of effort needed to project as a quality starting edge rusher in the league,” PFN wrote.</p><h2><b>Another edge rusher falls in Round 6</b></h2><p>Not bad here, either. Jah Joyner of Minnesota brings value for this late in the draft.</p><p>He’s an above-average athlete who moves well in space, but his tackling leaves a lot to be desired. If he can improve that aspect of his game, he might last a while in the league.</p><p>The Packers filled a need in Round 7 with their last pick of defensive tackle Yahya Black from Iowa. They also got center Jacon Gideon out of Michigan.</p><p><i>The Packers started strong in the draft. But overall they missed the mark at key points. Burden boost their overall picture. Grade: C-minus.</i></p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Packers full 7-round 2025 NFL mock draft, per PFN simulator

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nfl/green-bay-packers/packers-rumors-jaire-alexanders-injury-woes-bring-1-million-silver-lining');   ga('set', 'title', 'Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander’s injury woes bring $1 million silver lining');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Packers-Jaire-Alexander.jpg"></figure><h1>Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander’s injury woes bring $1 million silver lining</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-04-06T20:40:59-07:00">April 6th, 8:40pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-04-06T20:40:59-07:00">April 6th, 8:40pm</time><address><a>Dylan Fine</a>Dylan Fine focuses on the NFL and NCAA Football for ClutchPoints, in addition to working on the meme team. Dylan is a graduate of Georgetown University and has covered various topics ranging from local politics in the DMV region with DC Voter For Animals to live sporting events in the Long Island and Rochester areas with The Southampton Press and Pickin’Splinters. When he isn't working, he's usually running in preparation for the next annual Turkey Trot.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Green Bay Packers</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Green Bay Packers star cornerback Jaire Alexander’s injury issues come with a silver lining. The two-time All-Pro is two years <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/green-bay-packers/packers-news-jaire-alexander-finalizing-historic-4-year-84-million-extension-with-green-bay">through a four-year, $84 million contract extension</a> that was <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/green-bay-packers/packers-news-green-bay-major-jaire-alexander-contract-move-2023">restructured in 2023</a>. Despite the restructure, the Packers have not gotten much production out of Alexander during this extension due to health issues. The 28-year-old has only played 14 games in the past two years and could be on the trading block this offseason.</p><p>However, Alexander’s injuries have given Green Bay more cap flexibility over the past two seasons. According to Packers salary cap specialist Ken Ingals, the franchise <a href="https://x.com/KenIngalls/status/1908586977810690050?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1908586977810690050%7Ctwgr%5E2b35ad1169a1e0f4354d3a57619dd764758d84d2%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fatozsports.com%2Fnfl%2Fgreen-bay-packers-news%2Fpackers-exploit-salary-cap-loophole-to-unlock-extra-space-while-jaire-alexander-remains-on-the-roster-for-now%2F" rel="noopener">has an insurance cap benefit</a> of $1,074,702 due to the cornerback’s unavailability.</p><p>Green Bay <a href="https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/green-bay-packers/cap/_/year/2025" rel="noopener">currently ranks tenth</a> in salary space amid this crucial offseason. Head coach Matt LaFleur has led this organization to two straight playoff appearances in the Jordan Love era. However, the franchise just finished this past season third in the NFC North and lost in the Wild Card round of the playoffs—one round sooner than the previous year’s squad finished.</p><p>LaFleur has been terrific in six years in charge. However, he hasn’t made it to the Super Bowl and is still waiting to take that good-to-great jump. Green Bay still has one of the youngest rosters in the league, and the organization <a href="https://packerswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/packers/2025/03/11/full-list-of-green-bay-packers-picks-in-2025-nfl-draft/82285757007/" rel="noopener">has eight total picks</a> in the upcoming NFL Draft. Aside from a few upgrades on the offensive line and secondary, the Packers have been pretty quiet during free agency. This team could still use another wideout as well as a pass rusher. In addition, if Alexander is traded, another cornerback is definitely needed on this roster.</p><p>Overall, the next few months will determine Green Bay’s next couple of years. The Detroit Lions will be the favorite in the NFC North heading into next season. At the same time, the Chicago Bears are finally on the rise again, while the Minnesota Vikings remain dangerous.</p><p>Despite its lackluster playoff showing, this was the best division in the NFL, and it’s not getting any easier from here on out. However, Green Bay is slowly building itself into a contender again. The question is, will next season be the year Matt LaFleur and this franchise take that next jump.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander’s injury woes bring $1 million silver lining

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nfl/green-bay-packers/3-players-packers-must-avoid-in-2025-nfl-draft');   ga('set', 'title', '3 players Packers must avoid in 2025 NFL Draft');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/full_f7f7df.jpg"></figure><h1>3 players Packers must avoid in 2025 NFL Draft</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-04-04T11:02:10-07:00">April 4th, 11:02am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-04-04T11:02:10-07:00">April 4th, 11:02am</time><address><a href="https://matthew516sports.substack.com/">Douglas Fritz</a>Douglas Fritz has been writing about sports for almost four decades and publishes a Christian sports newsletter and podcast on Substack at Matthew516Sports. He started as a reporter for the student newspaper at East Tennessee State University, worked his way up to Editor-In-Chief, and began his sports writing career at the Johnson City Press daily newspaper while still in college. During 30-plus years at the Press, he covered University of Tennessee football, men's and women's basketball, ETSU athletics, and high school athletics. Among the people he has interviewed are Dale Murphy, Bobby Cox, John Smoltz, and Bruce Smith. He is also a Christian-based screenwriter (five feature-length and one short), book writer (three completed manuscripts and one novel), and songwriter.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Green Bay Packers</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>After the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/green-bay-packers/packers-news-jaire-alexander-labeled-prima-donna-by-exec-praising-48-million-signing">Green Bay Packers cleaned house</a> on a player, they <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/green-bay-packers/packers-news-nfl-gm-accuses-packers-sour-grapes-tush-push-proposal-eagles">went Eagle hunting with the Tush Push</a> as a target. Also, there are three players the Packers must avoid in the 2025 NFL Draft.</p><p>The needs list starts with the wide receiver position. The Packers need an Alpha in that room. They also need an edge rusher and a cornerback.</p><p>Therefore, the tricky part will be getting a wide receiver in the first round. That’s the place they would have a chance to find an Alpha. That type of receiver is rarely discovered in Round 2 and beyond.</p><h2><b>Packers must avoid safety Malaki Starks</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/full_0e04c1.jpg"></figure><p>There’s plenty to like about the 6-foot-1, 197-pound Georgia product. And yes, he would make the Packers’ secondary better. Also, he may be available when the Packers pick at No. 23 overall.</p><p>However, they have to stick to the wide receiver position unless all the big dogs are gone. Then they could pivot to the edge rusher position.</p><p>Starks could tempt them <a href="https://www.nfl.com/prospects/malaki-starks/32005354-4159-2296-384c-e3be1fb506bf" rel="noopener">with his versatility</a>. He’s the total package, according to nfl.com.</p><p>“Starks is a versatile safety with the size and athleticism to eliminate contested catches and the speed and ball skills to shine when the action travels deep,” Lance Zierlein wrote. “Connection to the route is inconsistent in man and he’s baited out of position by misdirection, but better discipline and anticipation should clean that up. He’s not a true force player near the line and his pursuit angles can be raggedy but he gets guys down when he’s in position.”</p><p>But he’s not the perfect prospect despite being labeled as an “eventual plus starter.” Zierlein noted he can “feast or famine” and didn’t perform well in the NFL Combine short-area testing.</p><p>But the Packers are in a spot where filling needs early in the draft could be the difference between making the Super Bowl or missing out. That’s why they can’t afford to pick the best available player.</p><h2><b>What if the draft doesn’t play out as experts predict?</b></h2><p>Even if something crazy <b>happened</b> like Travis Hunter or Abdul Carter sinking to the Packers pick, they could take either of those because it fills a need. But if a player like Ashton Jeanty, Armand Membou, or Will Johnson slipped through the cracks, the Packers would need to treat them like would Starks.</p><p>Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said the receivers in the house <a href="https://www.channel3000.com/news/top-stories/the-breakfast-club-packers-coach-matt-lafleur-looks-ahead-to-pivotal-2025-at-nfl-meetings/article_be7675eb-4b1e-4282-abdc-a9082eed9d8b.html" rel="noopener">have the talent</a>, but need to get rid of the drops, according to channel3000.com.</p><p>“That’s something that we took a deep dive at,” LaFleur said. “I think a big part of it, to be honest with you, is we had a ton of drops. That’s an area that we have to clean up.</p><p>“You’ve got to finish the catch. Some of those were some challenging balls to catch, but ultimately that’s what they get paid to do. You’ve got to catch the ball and that’s got to be primary. I think most of it was focus related, (and) I don’t think it’s a lack of effort or skill. I think our guys are capable, (and) I think we’ve seen that from them.”</p><h2><b>It’s a no-go for edge Donovan Ezeiruaku</b></h2><p>Green Bay won’t like the lack of power Ezeiruaku brings to the table. It’s a lacking <a href="https://www.pff.com/news/draft-2025-nfl-draft-rankings-edge-defender" rel="noopener">part of his game</a>, according to Pro Football Focus.</p><p>“Ezeiruaku is a smaller outside linebacker-type edge rusher who can struggle with the power aspects of the game,” PFF wrote. “However, his quick, smooth style paired with high football IQ and some very nice bend make him an ideal 3-4 pass rush type of defender to draft on Day 2.”</p><p>However, Ezeiruaku will likely come off the board in Round 1. And right about the time the Packers have a pick.</p><p>And getting the right edge guy is something Packers’ general manager Brian Gutenkunst wants to see, even though he said he expects improvement from the guys <a href="https://packerswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/packers/2025/03/31/packers-banking-on-internal-improvement-from-pass-rush-wont-chase-dl-during-draft/82742638007/" rel="noopener">already in house</a>, according to packerswire.com.</p><p>“I hope a big one,” Gutekunst said when asked about the pass-rush taking a leap forward in 2025. “I thought they took a big jump during the season last year, by the end of the year we were playing some really good football on defense. So, I’m excited to see what Year 2 brings. I’m excited to see what we can do on defense.”</p><h2><b>Edge Jack Sawyer is a Round 2 pass</b></h2><p>Sawyer may make some NFL team happy, but there’s a big enough question mark for the Packers to pass. He may not develop into a premier pass rusher, according to PFF.</p><p>“Sawyer is a high-floor, all-around 4-3 defensive end with a starting-caliber projection,” PFF wrote. “The question is whether you believe there is more there for him as a pass-rusher. If you do, you can convince yourself that he’s a top-20 player. If not, an early Day 2 range feels like his floor.”</p><p>Sawyer could be hanging around on the board. But if the Packers have their wide receiver in hand, they should for a edge guy like Jared Ivey (Mississippi) instead. Or perhaps South Carolina’s Kyle Kennard.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

3 players Packers must avoid in 2025 NFL Draft

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nfl/green-bay-packers/packers-news-jaire-alexander-labeled-prima-donna-by-exec-praising-48-million-signing');   ga('set', 'title', 'Packers’ Jaire Alexander labeled ‘prima donna’ by exec praising $48 million signing');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Jaire-Alexander-on-Nov.-17-2025.jpg"><figcaption>David Banks-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Packers’ Jaire Alexander labeled ‘prima donna’ by exec praising $48 million signing</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-04-03T09:55:44-07:00">April 3rd, 9:55am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-04-03T09:55:44-07:00">April 3rd, 9:55am</time><address><a>Zachary Weinberger</a>Zachary Weinberger joined ClutchPoints in October 2023 as a Miami Heat reporter as well as an Associate Editor. He graduated from Florida Atlantic University in 2022 after covering the school's athletic programs since his freshman year at the FAU University Press, where he was a Sports Editor and Editor-in-Chief. He then covered FAU Sports for The Palm Beach Post.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Green Bay Packers</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>As the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/green-bay-packers/packers-news-what-green-bay-wants-to-make-sure-about-jaire-alexander-investment">Green Bay Packers want to make sure</a> they get out well if the team trades star Jaire Alexander, there could be some that think that getting rid of the cornerback will be for the best. After the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/green-bay-packers/nfl-rumors-packers-jaire-alexander-trade-situation-update-48-million-addition">Packers signed cornerback Nate Hobbs</a>, there were some theorizing that the move could be a signal that the team is ready to move on from Alexander with some praising the acquisition.</p><p>One person who praised was an unnamed executive who spoke to The Athletic and said that Hobbs will help Green Bay rather than Alexander who is a <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6244284/2025/04/03/nfl-free-agency-2025-nfc-execs-best-worst/" rel="noopener">“prima donna.”</a></p><p>“Hobbs will help them,” the executive told Mike Sando of The Athletic. “He is not going to be a prima donna like Jaire Alexander. He is going to come in and play hard, and that is going to be big for them. The mentality is good. He is also a versatile nickel guy — a tough, physical piece who the defensive coordinator can move around and use in different ways.”</p><h2><b>Packers want to get back from the investment of Jaire Alexander</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Jaire-Alexander-on-Oct.-13-2025.jpg"><figcaption>Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>There have been <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/green-bay-packers/nfl-rumors-packers-engaging-in-jaire-alexander-trade-conversations">ongoing trade discussions involving the Packers and Alexander</a> with frustrations attached that have led many to believe the relationship is coming to an end. Green Bay general manager Brian Gutekunst spoke to the media recently about the talks that’s been going on and mentioning that te team wants to <a href="https://x.com/RobDemovsky/status/1906718314350469358" rel="noopener">“get something back for that investment”</a> according to Rob Demobsky.</p><p>“John Thornton is his agent,” Gutekunst said. “We talk weekly about these things and work together on finding the best solution for everybody. We invested a lot in Jaire, and we want to make sure that if he’s not going to be on our football team, helping us win games, that we get something back for that investment.”</p><p>“Obviously a very, very good player for us,” Gutekunst said. “We have some time here to kind of figure that out and see what’s best for him and for the organization.”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">From Brian Gutekunst at the NFL meetings on Jaire Alexander: <a href="https://t.co/NiZHvC9LbM">pic.twitter.com/NiZHvC9LbM</a></p><p>— Rob Demovsky (@RobDemovsky) <a href="https://twitter.com/RobDemovsky/status/1906718314350469358?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 31, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://instagram.com/embed.js"></script></p></figure><p>While fans await to see the finality of the situation with Alexander, the Packers are looking to improve after finishing 11-6 last season which put them third in the NFC North.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Packers’ Jaire Alexander labeled ‘prima donna’ by exec praising $48 million signing

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nfl/green-bay-packers/packers-news-nfl-gm-accuses-packers-sour-grapes-tush-push-proposal-eagles');   ga('set', 'title', 'NFL GM accuses Packers of ‘sour grapes’ for Tush Push proposal aimed at Eagles');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Packers-news-GM-accuses-Green-Bay-of-sour-grapes-for-Tush-Push-proposal-aimed-at-Eagles.jpg"></figure><h1>NFL GM accuses Packers of ‘sour grapes’ for Tush Push proposal aimed at Eagles</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-04-03T08:56:26-07:00">April 3rd, 8:56am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-04-03T08:56:26-07:00">April 3rd, 8:56am</time><address><a>Ben Strauss</a>Ben Strauss is an Associate Editor at ClutchPoints. He is a die-hard NFL fan who cheers for the Detroit Lions. He has previously written fantasy football content for IDPGuys and ImportantNonsense.com.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Green Bay Packers</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Green Bay Packers may be the least popular team at the NFL’s Annual League Meeting this year. Green Bay was revealed as the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/green-bay-packers/packers-news-green-bay-revealed-trying-tush-push-banned">team that submitted a proposal to ban the Tush Push</a>. The controversial proposal has the league up in arms, with players, coaches, and teams taking sides on the issue. One NFL GM believes the Packers are motivated by spite.</p><p>One anonymous NFL general manager told ESPN on Monday that Green Bay’s proposal <a href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/44490948/nfl-tush-push-brotherly-shove-rules-changes-philadelphia-eagles-green-bay-packers-buffalo-bills" rel="noopener">“feels like sour grapes”</a> because of their <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/green-bay-packers/packers-most-blame-wild-card-loss-eagles">Wild Card loss against Philadelphia</a>.</p><p>“They’re hiding behind player safety,” he said via ESPN’s Kalyn Kahler.</p><p>The camp in favor of banning the Tush Push is arguing that it is a dangerous play that puts players’ health in jeopardy. Meanwhile, those in favor of keeping the Tush Push seem to <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/philadelphia-eagles/eagles-news-nick-sirianni-will-love-shane-steichen-tush-push-vote">want NFL teams to find a way to defend against the play</a> instead of banning it.</p><p>Outgoing Packers president Mark Murphy presented the proposal at the NFL’s Annual League Meeting on Tuesday.</p><p>“Sills can speak for himself, but the angle of it and the nature and the makeup of the play really does lend itself [to injury],” Murphy told reporters. “The centers and the people right in the middle of it, you’ve got that much force on both sides. It is just a question; I think he is right.”</p><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/philadelphia-eagles/eagles-news-philadelphia-tush-push-vote-tabled-nfl-league-meeting">Tush Push proposal has been tabled for the moment</a> and discussion will resume in May.</p><h2><b>NFL owners, executives split on Packers’ Tush Push proposal</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Tush-Push-on-Feb.-9-2025.jpg"><figcaption>Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>ESPN’s article did a good job of showing both sides of this disagreement.</p><p>The NFL’s chief medical officer, Dr. Allen Sills, made a presentation and talked about how the play could impact player health and safety.</p><p>“It’s all about health and safety,” one NFL owner told ESPN. “[Dr. Sills said], ‘It’s not if but when a catastrophic injury occurs.'”</p><p>Others were not moved by the argument, especially considering how dangerous football already is.</p><p>“If that’s the argument, the whole sport is a matter of ‘if not when,'” one source in the sessions said. “That rubbed some people the right way, and some people the wrong way. When [Sills] said it at the combine meetings, I don’t think it was intended to serve as the water carrier for Green Bay’s proposal.”</p><p>It will be interesting to see what happens when the Tush Push is discussed again in May.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

NFL GM accuses Packers of ‘sour grapes’ for Tush Push proposal aimed at Eagles

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nfl/green-bay-packers/packers-news-green-bay-finds-ally-in-bears-over-tush-push-ban');   ga('set', 'title', 'Packers find ally in Bears over Tush Push ban');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Bears-chariman-George-McCaskey-on-Jan-22-2025.jpg"><figcaption>David Banks-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Packers find ally in Bears over Tush Push ban</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-04-03T08:34:12-07:00">April 3rd, 8:34am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-04-03T08:34:12-07:00">April 3rd, 8:34am</time><address><a>Zachary Weinberger</a>Zachary Weinberger joined ClutchPoints in October 2023 as a Miami Heat reporter as well as an Associate Editor. He graduated from Florida Atlantic University in 2022 after covering the school's athletic programs since his freshman year at the FAU University Press, where he was a Sports Editor and Editor-in-Chief. He then covered FAU Sports for The Palm Beach Post.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Chicago Bears</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>As there are ongoing conversations surrounding the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/green-bay-packers/packers-rumors-the-change-that-will-be-made-to-tush-bush-ban-proposal">Tush Push ban proposal by the Green Bay Packers</a>, the team is looking for supporters and while the Chicago Bears are their on-field rival, the two are allies on this topic. While the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/green-bay-packers/packers-news-matt-lafleur-tush-bash-banned-but-problem">debate for the “Tush Push” ban proposal by the Packers continue,</a> there’s no doubt that this will be a topic heading into the upcoming season.</p><p>Per the latest report from ESPN’s Kalyn Kahler, she recounted the meeting on Tuesday between executives of various football teams as some spoke on the proposed ban. One who was a proponent was Chicago chairman George McCaskey who <a href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/44490948/nfl-tush-push-brotherly-shove-rules-changes-philadelphia-eagles-green-bay-packers-buffalo-bills" rel="noopener">“spoke about the risk”</a> of the play.</p><p>“In Tuesday’s session, six sources in the room told ESPN that Bears chairman George McCaskey stood up in favor of the proposal and spoke about the risk,” Kahler wrote. “Saying that a serious injury was going to happen, and when it did, they would all look back on this vote and remember it.”</p><h2><b>Bears standing with Packers on proposed Tush Push ban</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Tush-Push-on-Feb.-9-2025.jpg"><figcaption>Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>As the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/nfl-stories/nfl-rumors-how-competition-committee-feels-about-packers-tush-push-proposal">competition committee will vote on the Packers’ ban proposal</a>, the session not only consisted of McCaskey saying his thoughts, but Eagles owner Jeffery Lurie as well defending the play.</p><p>“McCaskey took the floor before Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie, who waited his turn to speak,” Kahler wrote. “The sources in the room said Lurie defended the play, arguing that it is uncommon, offensive trends come and go, there’s no injury data and it’s not fair to penalize one team. Then Bills owner Terry Pegula stood up to support the proposal and responded to Lurie’s points with a line that some of the sources in the room interpreted as a joke, that Lurie’s future Hall of Famer center Jason Kelce retired because of wear and tear from the tush push.”</p><p>At the moment, the league is split on the play with 16 teams in favor on the ban as in an effort to make more team support it, there is plans to broaden the proposal.</p><p>“Two sources in Tuesday’s voting session said clubs were split,” Kahler wrote. “With exactly 16 in favor of Green Bay’s proposal, and that the Packers will rewrite the proposal to be broader and prohibit all pushing of the runner ahead of the next league meeting on May 20-21 in Minneapolis.”</p><p>At any rate, while the Packers and Bears will face each other twice this upcoming season, they will stand side by side on this issue.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Packers find ally in Bears over Tush Push ban

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nfl/green-bay-packers/packers-rumors-the-change-that-will-be-made-to-tush-bush-ban-proposal');   ga('set', 'title', 'Packers rumors: The change that will be made to Tush Bush ban proposal');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Eagles-running-the-Tush-Push-on-Feb-9-2025-1.jpg"><figcaption>Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Packers rumors: The change that will be made to Tush Bush ban proposal</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-04-03T07:08:44-07:00">April 3rd, 7:08am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-04-03T07:08:44-07:00">April 3rd, 7:08am</time><address><a>Zachary Weinberger</a>Zachary Weinberger joined ClutchPoints in October 2023 as a Miami Heat reporter as well as an Associate Editor. He graduated from Florida Atlantic University in 2022 after covering the school's athletic programs since his freshman year at the FAU University Press, where he was a Sports Editor and Editor-in-Chief. He then covered FAU Sports for The Palm Beach Post.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Green Bay Packers</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>With the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/green-bay-packers/packers-news-gm-brian-gutekunst-breaks-silence-tush-push-ban-proposal">Green Bay Packers being at the forefront of the “Tush Push” ban</a> proposal, it seems that it will be a continuous process of changing the language of the actual deal. While there are <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/green-bay-packers/packers-news-matt-lafleur-tush-bash-banned-but-problem">many who support the Packers ban proposal</a>, it looks like a change will be made in order to get more teams on board.</p><p>The reports are that 16 teams are in favor of banning the controversial play that’s run famously by the Philadelphia Eagles, but even also by the Buffalo Bills who called it more than five times last season. According to ESPN, Green Bay will <a href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/44490948/nfl-tush-push-brotherly-shove-rules-changes-philadelphia-eagles-green-bay-packers-buffalo-bills" rel="noopener">“require the proposal to be broader”</a> and also “prohibit all pushing of the runner” when the league next meets in May.</p><p>“Two sources in Tuesday’s voting session said clubs were split,” Kalyn Kahler of ESPN wrote. “With exactly 16 in favor of Green Bay’s proposal, and that the Packers will rewrite the proposal to be broader and prohibit all pushing of the runner ahead of the next league meeting on May 20-21 in Minneapolis, in an effort to entice eight more clubs to vote for it to pass. The May proposal will likely look much different than the original, and it won’t be as targeted to Philadelphia and Buffalo — the only two teams that ran a push sneak more than five times last season.”</p><h2><b>Some question the Packers’ proposal to ban the “Tush Push” play</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Eagles-running-the-Tush-Push-on-Feb-9-2025-2.jpg"><figcaption>Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>While there have been <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/nfl-stories/nfl-rumors-how-competition-committee-feels-about-packers-tush-push-proposal">debates about the Packers proposing to ban the “Tush Push”</a> play from the NFL, there is no doubt an effort to actually strike it out from being used by the team. During ESPN’s story on the situation, there was a source that even questioned the conversation as the play being inconsequential to the success of the teams that ran it.</p><p>“We spent so much time on this single play,” ESPN’s source said as they were involved in the meetings surrounding the play. “How many times did the pushing even make a difference last year? Once or twice, and the teams were less successful than they were on traditional sneaks. It was less about competitive edge than it was about health stuff. Why was this specific thing the most interesting?”</p><p>At any rate, besides Green Bay being the lead in terms of banning the play, the team themselves are looking to improve after finishing 11-6 which put them third in the NFC North.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Packers rumors: The change that will be made to Tush Bush ban proposal

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nfl/green-bay-packers/packers-rumors-insider-fixes-obvious-need-in-new-mock-draft-despite-gms-claims');   ga('set', 'title', 'Packers rumors: Insider fixes obvious need in new mock draft despite GM’s claims');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Insider-fixes-obvious-need-in-new-mock-draft-despite-GMs-claims.jpg"></figure><h1>Packers rumors: Insider fixes obvious need in new mock draft despite GM’s claims</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-04-02T12:36:24-07:00">April 2nd, 12:36pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-04-02T12:36:24-07:00">April 2nd, 12:36pm</time><address><a>Ben Strauss</a>Ben Strauss is an Associate Editor at ClutchPoints. He is a die-hard NFL fan who cheers for the Detroit Lions. He has previously written fantasy football content for IDPGuys and ImportantNonsense.com.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Green Bay Packers</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Green Bay Packers were one of the better teams in the NFL during the 2024 season. However, the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/green-bay-packers/ranking-packers-offseason-priorities-why-pass-rush-isnt-no-1">Packers need to continue adding talent</a> to their young roster if they want to get over the hump. One NFL insider believes they should <a href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/draft2025/insider/story/_/id/44447028/2025-nfl-mock-draft-field-yates-two-rounds-64-picks-predictions" rel="noopener">add an explosive playmaker</a> on the defensive side of the ball.</p><p>ESPN’s Field Yates paired the Packers with Georgia edge rusher Mykel Williams in his latest 2025 NFL mock draft.</p><p>“He has the 6-foot-5, 260-pound frame and 34⅜-inch arm length to get into the chest of blockers and swat passes at the line of scrimmage,” Yates wrote about Williams. “He’s coming off an ankle injury that limited him in 2024, and I think major improvement is ahead for the 20-year-old.”</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/ncaa-football/georgia-football-news-projected-top-10-pick-injury-revelation">Williams’ ankle injury</a> is a concerning part of his scouting profile. However, the fact that he is 20 years old gives him plenty of time to heal and still be one of the younger players in the NFL.</p><p>Yates did note a few other players the Packers could have picked instead.</p><p>“The Packers had the second-highest percentage of snaps in zone defense last season (70.7%), which has more to do with their personnel limitations than coordinator Jeff Hafley’s scheme preference,” Yates added. “Teams can play more man coverage when they have a dominant pass rusher or a shutdown corner. The latter could be the move here, with guys like Texas’ Jahdae Barron and Kentucky’s Maxwell Hairston on the board.”</p><h2><b>Packers GM Brian Gutekunst does not want to “go chase” edge rushers</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/BRIAN-GUTEKUNST_4c8e76.jpg"><figcaption>Kirby Lee-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Packers GM Brian Gutekunst may not agree with Yates’ pick.</p><p>Gutekunst said in a recent interview that Green Bay <a href="https://x.com/ByRyanWood/status/1906719060932358480" rel="noopener">should not feel the need to “go chasing” edge rushers</a> in the 2025 NFL Draft.</p><p>“We can do everything we need to do from the players we have on our roster right now,” Gutekunst said, via Ryan Wood of USAToday. Because I think there’s a significant amount of improvement from those guys, not only Year 2 in the scheme, but individually.”</p><p>The Packers currently have Rashan Gary and Lukas Van Ness as their top edge rushers. It seems that many fans want Gutekunst to upgrade this position in the draft.</p><p>Even if Gutekunst does not want to “chase” an edge rusher, Packers fans could still end up with one.</p><p>The 2025 draft class is incredibly deep at the position, so there should be plenty still on the board when <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/nfl-stories/2025-nfl-draft-order-prospects-targets">Green Bay picks at 23rd overall</a>.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Packers rumors: Insider fixes obvious need in new mock draft despite GM’s claims

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nfl/green-bay-packers/green-bay-packers-sneakiest-2025-nfl-free-agency-signing');   ga('set', 'title', 'Green Bay Packers sneakiest 2025 NFL free agency signing');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/8ff12348-0f08-11f0-a774-0242ac120004.jpeg"></figure><h1>Green Bay Packers sneakiest 2025 NFL free agency signing</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-04-01T18:24:19-07:00">April 1st, 6:24pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-04-02T13:07:27-07:00">April 2nd, 1:07pm</time><address><a href="http://hoopnut.blogspot.com/">Enzo Flojo</a>Enzo Flojo is an Associate Editor at ClutchPoints and a columnist for Asian basketball at FIBA. He brings a dynamic spirit and background, having expertise that spans writing, analytics, coaching, and broadcasting. He is also currently an Assistant Coach on Scouting &amp; Analytics for the Philippine national youth basketball team.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Editorials</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Green Bay Packers have long taken a strategic, measured approach to free agency. They have usually opted for smart, under-the-radar moves rather than splashy signings. Their 2025 strategy followed the same blueprint.</p><p>Sure, the biggest headlines focused on blockbuster deals across the league. However, Green Bay made a quieter move that could pay significant dividends in the upcoming season. Yes, much of the fanbase and media analyzed the additions of Aaron Banks and Nate Hobbs. That said, the true hidden gem of the Packers’ free agency class may be the return of linebacker Isaiah McDuffie.</p><h2>A mixed bag of big signings for Packers</h2><p>The Packers’ 2025 free agency period was a blend of calculated aggression and financial maneuvering. Uncharacteristically active at the start of the negotiating period, Green Bay handed out <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/green-bay-packers-biggest-need-to-address-after-first-week-of-2025-nfl-free-agency">a pair of four-year contracts</a> to Nate Hobbs and Aaron Banks.</p><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Raiders-news-Nate-Hobbs-revealed-to-have-been-hospitalized-with-pneumonia.jpg"></figure><p>Both are solid but not elite players. Consistency has also been a concern. Keep in mind that <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/raiders-news-nate-hobbs-revealed-have-been-hospitalized-with-pneumonia">Hobbs has missed 16 games</a> over the past three seasons. Meanwhile, Banks has been sidelined for seven. Sure, the Packers structured the deals with minimal guaranteed money, allowing flexibility if things don’t pan out.</p><p>However, these were surprising targets for such early free agency aggressiveness. Yet, overshadowed by these bigger names and contracts, one move might quietly prove to be the most impactful: retaining linebacker Isaiah McDuffie.</p><p>Here we’ll try to look at the player who is the Green Bay Packers’ sneakiest signing during the 2025 NFL free agency period.</p><h2>Why Isaiah McDuffie is a sneaky-good signing for the Packers</h2><p>So far, the Packers made only a handful of external free agent additions in 2025—two on expensive contracts that offer little room for upside and one wide receiver joining an already crowded position group. That leaves just two internal signings: linebacker Isaiah McDuffie and kicker Brandon McManus.</p><p>However, McDuffie isn’t just the top choice by default. His return is a low-key but highly valuable move for Green Bay.</p><p>McDuffie played a career-high 728 snaps in 2024 and has been a core special teamer for the Packers since 2021. Yes, he’s unlikely to start unless Quay Walker or Edgerrin Cooper suffers an injury. Still, Green Bay isn’t paying him to be a star. Instead, they’re locking in a reliable third linebacker at a reasonable $4 million per year. That’s a price that makes this deal even more appealing.</p><p>Again, re-signing McDuffie may not seem like a major move. The linebacker position has been somewhat devalued in today’s NFL, and he isn’t the flashiest player on Green Bay’s defense. He doesn’t have <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/49ers-news-why-fred-warner-playing-through-ankle-fracture-amid-struggles">the sideline-to-sideline range</a> of a Fred Warner or <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/cowboys-news-brian-schottenheimer-micah-parsons-message-contract-talks">the pass-rushing dominance</a> of a Micah Parsons.</p><p>However, what he does bring is a deep understanding of Green Bay’s defensive scheme, relentless effort, and the ability to make key plays that don’t always show up in the box score. Those traits make him an underrated yet <a href="https://www.espn.ph/nfl/team/depth/_/name/gb/green-bay-packers">crucial piece of the Packers’ roster</a>.</p><h2>McDuffie’s journey with the Packers</h2><p>A former sixth-round pick out of Boston College, McDuffie has steadily climbed the ranks in Green Bay’s defense since being drafted in 2021.</p><p>Initially a core special teamer, he gradually earned more defensive snaps as injuries and inconsistency among other linebackers created opportunities. In 2024, he stepped into a bigger role and became one of the Packers’ most dependable tacklers.</p><p>Sure, McDuffie doesn’t boast elite athletic traits. Still, his instincts and toughness more than compensate. His ability to diagnose plays quickly and be in the right position has made him a valuable asset.</p><p>Green Bay’s defense functioned at a high level when he was on the field last season. Bringing him back at a modest price helps maintain continuity at a position that is often in flux across the league.</p><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Packers-1.jpg"><figcaption>Mandatory Credit: Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel via the USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h2>Packers fill a crucial need on defense</h2><p>McDuffie’s re-signing is even more significant given Green Bay’s ongoing search for stability at linebacker. For years, the team has shuffled through various players, trying to find the right combination. Walker has shown flashes of brilliance but remains inconsistent.</p><p>Of course, the Packers could have pursued another high-profile linebacker in free agency or the draft. They instead prioritized keeping McDuffie. This decision underscores the organization’s belief in reliability and football intelligence over pure athleticism.</p><h2>Leadership and locker room presence for the Packers</h2><p>Beyond his contributions on the field, McDuffie is also a respected leader in the locker room. His work ethic and team-first mentality align perfectly with Green Bay’s culture.</p><p>This makes him a role model for younger players. His experience within the system allows him to mentor up-and-coming defenders. This would help ensure continuity and development within the linebacker group.</p><p>For a franchise that places a strong emphasis on developing talent from within, keeping a player like McDuffie isn’t just about filling a roster spot. It’s about maintaining the identity and stability of the team. In a free agency period where splashier moves grabbed the headlines, this under-the-radar signing might end up being one of Green Bay’s most important.</p><h2>A signing that will pay off for the Packers</h2><p>While the Packers’ 2025 free agency period will be remembered for the bigger contracts given to Aaron Banks and Nate Hobbs, the quiet retention of Isaiah McDuffie could end up being just as impactful. He may not be a household name or a game-changing star, but his reliability, football IQ, and leadership make him a crucial piece of Green Bay’s defensive puzzle.</p><p>In a league where depth and consistency often separate contenders from pretenders, keeping a versatile and dependable player like McDuffie is the type of move that can quietly pay off in a big way. Packers fans may not fully appreciate this signing now, but by season’s end, they just might.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Green Bay Packers sneakiest 2025 NFL free agency signing

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nfl/green-bay-packers/packers-news-battle-determine-protect-jordan-loves-blind-side');   ga('set', 'title', 'The battle to determine who will protect Packers QB Jordan Love’s blind side');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/The-battle-to-determine-who-will-protect-Jordan-Loves-blind-side.jpg"></figure><h1>The battle to determine who will protect Packers QB Jordan Love’s blind side</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-04-01T11:32:56-07:00">April 1st, 11:32am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-04-01T11:32:56-07:00">April 1st, 11:32am</time><address><a>Owen Crisafulli</a>Owen Crisafulli is a Senior Editor and NFL Lead at ClutchPoints. He recently received his Masters in Business Administration from Nichols College. Previously, he obtained his Bachelor's degree in Sport Management and for a while ran his own sports website. Sports are his passion, and he thoroughly enjoys writing about thoughts and opinions that are related to the game. He has been a lifelong fan of the major professional teams in Boston and loves discussing all topics surrounding those teams.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Green Bay Packers</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Green Bay Packers will be hoping to take a step forward in 2025 now that they have established themselves as a de facto playoff contender. In order to do that, having competition at several spots on the roster ahead of the season is key, and <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/packers-news-matt-lafleur-reacts-ben-johnson-trolling">head coach Matt LaFleur</a> recently shed some light on one key position battle that will have an impact on <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/packers-news-jordan-love-3-time-super-bowl-champion-new-weapon">star quarterback Jordan Love</a>.</p><p>For the most part, the Packers offensive line did a good job of protecting Love in 2024, as he was only sacked 14 times over 15 games. He did take some big hits along the way, though, and that included suffering an ankle injury in their season-opener against the Philadelphia Eagles that caused him to miss two games. Protecting Love’s blind side is key, and LaFleur revealed that Rasheed Walker and Jordan Morgan will be <a href="https://x.com/mattschneidman/status/1907053752286134333" rel="noopener">competing for the job</a> during training camp.</p><p>“Also, Matt LaFleur said Rasheed Walker and Jordan Morgan will compete to be the Packers’ starting left tackle,” Matt Schneidman of The Athletic shared in a post on X, formerly Twitter.</p><h2><b>Matt LaFleur, Packers looking to keep Jordan Love protected under center</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Packers-head-coach-Matt-LaFleur-and-quarterback-Jordan-Love.jpg"><figcaption>Mandatory Credit: Morgan Tencza-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Keeping Love healthy is the top priority for the Packers, so having a standout option at left tackle on their offensive line is crucial. Walker, a former seventh-round pick in the 2022 NFL draft, has blossomed into a key piece on the line, as he started all 17 games at left tackle last season. However, the team drafted Morgan with the No. 25 pick in the draft last year, and he will have a shot to steal Walker’s job from him.</p><p>If Morgan beats out Walker, the team would likely explore a trade for him considering how solid he’s been over the past few seasons. But if Walker wins the competition, the Packers can continue to develop Morgan behind the scenes before handing him the starting job. It will be interesting to see how this battle unfolds, and you can bet Love will be keeping tabs on it during training camp with a close eye.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

The battle to determine who will protect Packers QB Jordan Love’s blind side

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nfl/green-bay-packers/packers-news-matt-lafleur-reacts-ben-johnson-trolling');   ga('set', 'title', 'Packers HC Matt LaFleur reacts to Ben Johnson’s trolling');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Matt-LaFleur-reacts-to-Ben-Johnsons-trolling.jpg"></figure><h1>Packers HC Matt LaFleur reacts to Ben Johnson’s trolling</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-04-01T11:09:47-07:00">April 1st, 11:09am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-04-01T11:09:47-07:00">April 1st, 11:09am</time><address><a>Benedetto Vitale</a>Benedetto Vitale is an avid sports writer who is an expert at covering the NFL, college football, NBA, and UFC. He graduated from the University of Oregon in 2016 with a film degree but has since dedicated his career to sports writing.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Green Bay Packers</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Earlier in the offseason when the Chicago Bears hired Ben Johnson as head coach, Johnson <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/chicago-bears/bears-hc-ben-johnson-kicks-matt-lafleur-while-hes-down-after-landing-chicago-job">trolled Matt LaFleur and the Green Bay Packers</a>. Due to the longtime rivalry between both franchises, it caught the attention of NFL fans across the league.</p><p>The Bears head coach claimed that he “enjoyed beating Matt LaFleur twice a year” during his time as the Detroit Lions offensive coordinator. He joked that was part of the reason he accepted the coaching gig in Chicago. In <a href="https://x.com/RobDemovsky/status/1907043466737012882" rel="noopener">an interview with the media</a>, the Packers head coach finally responded, per ESPN’s Rob Demovsky.</p><p>“I’m sure he’s playing to the fans a little bit. It is what it is.”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">LaFleur on new Bears coach Ben Johnson’s<br>“I kind of enjoyed beating Matt LaFleur twice a year” when he was in Detroit comment: <a href="https://t.co/WS0SZkX6rv">pic.twitter.com/WS0SZkX6rv</a></p><p>— Rob Demovsky (@RobDemovsky) <a href="https://twitter.com/RobDemovsky/status/1907043466737012882?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 1, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>The Packers lost to the Lions in Week 9 by a score of 24-14. They then lost to Detroit again in Week 14 by a score of 34-31. Ben Johnson’s prolific play calling played a key role in both games, as Matt LaFleur’s team just couldn’t keep up in both contests.</p><p>But now that Johnson is coaching the Bears, LaFleur will have a chance to beat him twice a year once again. With both serving as head coach for their respective franchises, each win will mean just that much more.</p><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/green-bay-packers/packers-news-gm-brian-gutekunst-all-pro-prediction-bombshell-position-change">Packers made the playoffs</a> after finishing with an 11-6 record. Unfortunately, their playoff run ended abruptly after suffering a 22-10 Wild Card loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. It marked the fifth time in six years in which Green Bay made the postseason. However, the franchise has not made a Super Bowl appearance since the 2010 season when they defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 31-25 for a championship win.</p><p>Matt LaFleur has had a ton of success as the Packers head coach but the franchise hopes to continue building a championship-caliber roster. Having Jordan Love emerge as a solid quarterback option has kept the team competitive. But many talking heads believe the offense won’t take the next step until the front office finds a legitimate No. 1 option at wide receiver.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Dontayvion
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