Packers Morning Buzz: Now, can any of these guys play?

Welcome to your post-draft 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 strong cup of coffee, or brew some English breakfast tea if that’s your thing, and get caught up on everything you need to know about the Packers.

We’ll start with Tom Silverstein’s column looking at how the Packers are well positioned for a Super Bowl run...in 2019.

From Tom:

This wasn’t the year for Gutekunst to go crazy in free agency, either. He had a limited amount of salary-cap space and there wasn’t anyone for whom it was worth breaking the bank. The addition of tight end Jimmy Graham, defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson and any other castoff veteran Gutekunst acquires in the coming months will have to be enough.

Looking ahead, however, Gutekunst will be flush with cap space next season. Among those coming off the books are linebacker Clay Matthews, receiver Randall Cobb, safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, linebacker Jake Ryan and tight end Lance Kendricks.

A cursory glance at the 2019 cap shows the Packers could have more than $50 million in cap space to sign their own and other teams’ free agents. Add in the two first-round draft choices and whatever advancement the 2018 class shows and the Packers could be a very good place next year.

As for the present, they’ve still got Aaron Rodgers and the hope that previous draft choices will blossom this year, but no one should come away with the feeling that the 2018 draft was anything more than an exercise in long-term franchise building.

The fans’ rallying cry should probably be, “2019 or bust."

Tom also has all you need to know about the Packers undrafted free agent additions:

You can find an overview of the entire draft class here:

Aaron Rodgers had some advice for Josh Rosen:

Ryan Wood and I give our initial reactions to the draft:

Elsewhere, NFL Media’s Gregg Rosenthal thinks the Packers are one of the league’s most improved teams after the draft.

From Rosenthal:

The Packers made a pair of moves Thursday night, trading down to No. 27 and then back up to No. 18, where they selected Louisville cornerback Jaire Alexander. They essentially moved down four spots to get the cornerback they wanted, picking up the Saints' 2019 first-round pick and their 2018 fifth-round pick (and a Seahawks seventh-rounder) in exchange for a third- and a sixth-round pick in the process. That's incredible value and a strong opening statement by Ted Thompson's replacement.

Jason Perone looks at the impact the draft could have on the roster:

Here’s a list of all the new rookie jersey numbers:

Josh Jackson says he can play anywhere:

Jackson did not allow many yards after the catch last season:

Blitz Highlights features the Packers draft:

Ben Fennell highlights the play of one of the Packers' undrafted free agents:

Said UDFA to get going:

The Packers have a draft hype video for you:

Jaire Alexander: Two-sport star?

Jason Wilde writes on Gutekunst’s commitment to preparation:

Paul Noonan goes full grumpy old man on draft gurus:

The Power Sweep does an exit survey:

Rob Demovsky looks at the additions of the wide receivers: