Packers Morning Buzz: Playoff teams could offer blueprint

Welcome to your Morning Buzz, rounding up news and views regarding the Green Bay Packers and the NFL from around the web and here at PackersNews.com. Grab a cup of coffee (or brew some tea, if that’s your thing) and get caught up on everything you need to know.

We’ll start with Pete Dougherty’s look at the Packers and free agency and how their approach to free agency may start to reflect some of the playoff teams going forward.

From Pete:

With former GM Ted Thompson in charge, the Packers were the most home-grown team in the NFL. To wit, on the Packers’ 53-man roster for their final game in 2017, they had 40 players Thompson either drafted or signed as an undrafted free agent. By comparison, Philadelphia has 24, Jacksonville 26 and Minnesota 29.

Gutekunst made a point in his introductory news conference to say he will have a different approach.

“We’re not going to be able to make (free agency) the foundation of our team,” he said, “but we want to be in it and we want to be in the know of everything that’s going on and, if it makes sense for us, not to be afraid. We have to be prepared enough to pull the trigger. That’s one of the areas I’m excited to kind of see how we go.”

There are a couple points we have to make here. First, it’s easy – too easy – to take the final four teams, or the Super Bowl teams, in any given year, find some similarities and say that’s the way you have to do it. That’s a good way to draw a bad conclusion. The playoffs can be too random for that.

Damarious Randall was in New York for surgery on his hand:

I chatted with readers Monday afternoon via Facebook Live:

Elsewhere, Pete joined Wayne Larrivee to talk about the changes in Green Bay:

Rob Demovsky looks at the strong second season for Blake Martinez along with playtime totals for the defense:

Zach Kruse looks at a possible choice the Packers may have to make:

The team website looks at a key play in one of the team’s overtime victories in 2017:

Darren Perry is interviewing in Houston:

David Bakhtiari got that Pro Football Focus love:

Randall appeared to have successful surgery:

Eye In the Sky looks at the play of Josh Jones:

Matt Kelley has some ideas for Jeff Janis:

The Bucks young super star is on board with supporting the Packers:

Common Man Football takes an analytical view of the Packers season:

It's the offseason for most of the NFL, which means it's mock draft season. Matt Miller's first two round offering has the Packers addressing cornerback and linebacker with their first two picks.  

From Miller's post on his first round selection for the Packers:

The Green Bay Packers have undergone a massive change so far this offseason with a new general manager and a new defensive coordinator. As the changes continue, the front office must continue to load up the roster with young talent on the outside of both the offense and defense. A receiver here wouldn't be a shock given the decline of Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb, but cornerback is the best fit and value.

Josh Jackson was all over the field this year for Iowa, grabbing eight interceptions and being a physical stud at the line of scrimmage. He has the size (6'1") to match up well against NFL receivers but has also shown the instincts, technique and athleticism to be a true No. 1 cornerback.

The depth at wide receiver this year is better than the top end, while the opposite is true for the cornerbacks. Going corner here and receiver in the second round is the way to go.

I’m not entirely sure why this video was made, but it’s pretty cool:

Monday was an important day in Packers history:

Packers fans are everywhere: