Packers Morning Buzz: Bigger could be better in replacing Randall Cobb at slot receiver

Wecome to your Morning Buzz, rounding up news and views regarding the Green Bay Packers from around the web and here at PackersNews.com.

We'll start with Pete Dougherty talking to Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst at the NFL owners meeting Monday in Phoenix. Among the topics was how Gutekunst foresees replacing departed slot receiver Randall Cobb. Gutekunst replied that bigger could be better, in this case.

Pete writes:

"I think generally smaller guys have a harder time staying healthy than bigger guys," Gutekunst said. "There’s always exceptions. I think, first of all, we look for guys who can do what we ask them to do. Secondly, you look at the medical part of it and if they can hold up.” ...

Bigger slot receivers also fit with Gutekunst’s preference for big receivers overall. In last year’s draft he selected 6-5 Equanimeous St. Brown, 6-4 Marquez Valdes-Scantling and 6-3 J’Mon Moore.

“The ones that we’ve acquired lately are really fast, too, so that’s helpful,” Gutekunst said. “This is a big man’s game, always has been. Length is important. I don’t think it’s something we’re specifically just targeting. It’s about whether you can play the game. But it kind of just fell the way it fell last year."

For more on this and other topics from the owners meeting, be sure to read Pete's notebook:

Pete also writes on Gutekunst's surprising strategy of signing a few big-tickets players rather than an abundance of lower-cost options:

The NFL finally made official what had been reported weeks ago:

Za'Darius and Preston Smith are excited about what will be their Packers debut:

The betting lines already are up:

The Packers look to be casting a wide net for tight ends in the draft:

Gutenkunst (sixth from right) is one of 28 general managers who gathered for this photo in Arizona:

And new Packers coach Matt LaFleur is second from the lower right in this NFL coaches photo:

A potential new home for former Packers edge rusher Nick Perry:

Zach Kruse offers his thoughts on the Packers' post-free agency draft priorities for The Packers Wire:

If the Packers are hoping to find a safety or running back in this draft class, it could be slim pickings according to Lance Zierlein of NFL.com:

Pro Football Focus serving up some accolades for Packers players:

Two Packers made this unlucky list in 2018:

And finally: Za'Darius Smith wants his mother to retire now that he's got a fat new contract, but she apparently has other ideas:

Contact Stu Courtney at (920) 431-8377 or scourtney@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @stucourt