Morning Buzz: Packers still missing Julius Peppers

Welcome to your Morning Buzz, rounding up news and views regarding the Green Bay Packers from around the web and here at PackersNews.com. Grab a strong cup of coffee and get caught up on everything you need to know about the Packers.

We’ll start with Ryan Wood’s look at the Packers' announcement of the dates for their offseason program.

From Ryan:

In two weeks, the Green Bay Packers will start their offseason program in preparation for the 2018 season.

Their first day in the voluntary program will be April 16, the NFL announced Monday. The Packers will conduct organized team activities May 21-23, May 30-June 1 and June 4-7 at their practice field.

The Packers' mandatory minicamp will be June 12-14.

The team usually opens one OTA session per week to the public, as well as each day of minicamp. All dates are subject to change. In the past, the Packers have canceled an OTA or minicamp day in favor of a team-building exercise.

The Packers' preseason schedule is expected to be released in early April, with the regular-season schedule due out in the middle of the month.

I chatted with readers via Facebook Live on Monday afternoon:

Elsewhere, James Reynolds asks a good question:

The Packers really missed Julius Peppers last season:

Matt Bowen expects a breakout year from Kevin King:

From Bowen:

King had some up-and-down moments as a rookie. But he has the size/length/speed combo (6-3, 200 pounds) to elevate under new defensive coordinator Mike Pettine, and he already has shown the ability to play press-man coverage and the physicality to challenge routes.

Think more man coverage where King can get up in the grill of opposing wide receivers and track the ball like he did on his college tape at Washington. The talent is there. And so is the toughness. King will play hurt and tackle, and he's a solid fit for Pettine and a Green Bay defensive identity that needs to change after Dom Capers, who had been in charge of the unit since 2009, was fired.

Aaron Rodgers has been money when throwing to his slot receiver:

Kyle Brandt is excited about Rodgers to Jimmy Graham:

Tramon Williams played pretty well last year:

Pack Daddy takes another crack at a mock draft:

Speaking of mock drafts, Peter Bukowski looks at the value of the exercise:

Jesse Fry looks at the possibility of the run game replacing Jordy Nelson’s lost production:

The Power Sweep asks what it would take for the Packers to swing a huge trade: