Draft Room: Can Chris Johnson's Pro Day Buzz Push Him Into Round One?

It's another late night in the Packernet studio and the Pac Nation phone lines are jumping. Ryan breaks down the Miami Dolphins' full-scale teardown — trading away Jalen Waddle for draft capital while sitting on over $100 million in dead cap money — and why the new regime has zero emotional attachment to the guys they're moving on from. The big conversation of the night, though, is the one that's been rattling around since Ed Policy opened his mouth: can the Green Bay Packers stay financially competitive in a league that's rapidly evolving around them? Ryan lays out a compelling argument that the Packers' best friend isn't a naming rights deal — it's the NFL's own explosive revenue growth. The bigger the shared revenue pie, the more Green Bay stays on even footing with stadium districts and concert venues they simply can't build. Dolphins teardown breakdown: why trading Waddle for a first makes sense when you're in full rebuild mode Ryan's shared revenue theory: how the NFL's global expansion might actually be the Packers' financial lifeline A genuinely moving moment: a caller reads a letter from Bob Harlan to stockholders from the late '90s and pays tribute to his late father Bruce from El Paso demands more rants — Ryan promises Sal will never steal his thunder Hit subscribe, leave a review, and call in live at 608-501-0718. New callers go straight to the front of the line! #Packers #GreenBayPackers #PackernetAfterDark #MiamiDolphins #JalenWaddle #BobHarlan #NFLFinances #PacNation #NFLDraft #PackernetPodcast This episode is brought to you by PrizePicks! Use code PACKDADDY to get started with America's #1 fantasy sports app. https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/PACKDADDY To advertise on this podcast please email: [email protected] Or go to: https://advertising.libsyn.com/packernetpodcast Help keep the show growing and check out everything I'm building across the Packers and NFL world: Support: Patreon: www.patreon.com/pack_daddy Venmo: @Packernetpodcast CashApp: $packpod Website: https://nfldraftgrades.com/ My Board: https://nfldraftgrades.com/board/83a18c42-7a0b-4590-8d1b-453e49840d02

Pack Nation, the pro day circuit is in full swing and the Draft Room has everything you need to stay ahead of the board. Today we break down three pro days — San Diego State, Kansas State, and Wisconsin — before going deep on one of the most compelling under-the-radar edge prospects in this entire class: Mason Rieger out of Wisconsin. San Diego State: CB Chris Johnson reaffirmed his top-50 status, wowing scouts in positional drills despite not needing to prove anything after a strong combine. The Cowboys, Vikings, Chiefs, Steelers, and Seahawks are all circling — and Seattle may use their first-round finale on him. Kansas State: Center Sam Hecht continues to profile as the draft's cleanest interior technician (zero sacks over 1,600 college snaps), drawing a large Chicago Bears contingent. TE Jaran Brantley quietly boosted his stock with elite athleticism for a converted receiver. Wisconsin: Safety Austin Brown stole the room with a reported 4.47/43-inch vert combo, while OLB Mason Rieger headlined the day. Mason Rieger Deep Dive: Six knee surgeries. Louisville told him his career was over. He transferred, rehabbed, posted a 9.53 RAS, earned Shrine Bowl Defensive MVP, and is now climbing into Day 2 conversation. This is the full breakdown — strengths, weaknesses, scheme fit, and pro comps (Kyler Fackrell, Vince Biegel). Subscribe, rate, and leave a review — and head over to nfldraftgrades.com to follow the community big board and submit your own picks! #GreenBayPackers #NFLDraft #DraftRoom #MasonRieger #ChrisJohnson #SamHecht #ProDay #PackernetPodcast #PacNation This episode is brought to you by PrizePicks! Use code PACKDADDY to get started with America's #1 fantasy sports app. https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/PACKDADDY To advertise on this podcast please email: [email protected] Or go to: https://advertising.libsyn.com/packernetpodcast Help keep the show growing and check out everything I'm building across the Packers and NFL world: Support: Patreon: www.patreon.com/pack_daddy Venmo: @Packernetpodcast CashApp: $packpod Website: https://nfldraftgrades.com/ My Board: https://nfldraftgrades.com/board/83a18c42-7a0b-4590-8d1b-453e49840d02

Eric Edholm ranked the Green Bay Packers fifteenth in his 2026 NFL Power Rankings — one spot below a Chiefs team with a torn ACL at quarterback and one paragraph above a complete explanation of why he's wrong. Big Sal from Peshtigo is here in two parts, and he is not letting this slide. The Parsons Problem — Edholm wrote an entire Packers entry without mentioning Micah Parsons once. Not once. A former DPOY candidate who's been on this roster since August. Even Darlene caught it before she finished her first cup of coffee. The Departures Aren't the Whole Story — Rashan Gary was a diminished player. Elgton Jenkins was battling injuries. Romeo Doubs is replaced by a first-round pick in Matthew Golden. Big Sal provides the actual context Edholm skipped. The Real 2026 Packers — A healthy Parsons off the edge. Tucker Kraft back in the middle of the field. Edgerrin Cooper and Zaire Franklin running the defense sideline to sideline. Big Sal paints the picture the media refuses to see. The Rest of the Rankings — Mahomes is rehabbing an ACL and Kansas City is one spot above us. Baltimore's Maxx Crosby situation is described by Edholm himself as "fascinating" — and they're sixth. Big Sal has opinions. If you can see what Eric Edholm clearly cannot, subscribe to the Packernet Podcast, share this episode, and tell somebody who needs to hear it. September is coming. #Packers #GreenBay #NFLPowerRankings #MicahParsons #BigSal #PackNation #NFLAnalysis #JordanLove This episode is brought to you by PrizePicks! Use code PACKDADDY to get started with America's #1 fantasy sports app. https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/PACKDADDY To advertise on this podcast please email: [email protected] Or go to: https://advertising.libsyn.com/packernetpodcast Help keep the show growing and check out everything I'm building across the Packers and NFL world: Support: Patreon: www.patreon.com/pack_daddy Venmo: @Packernetpodcast CashApp: $packpod Website: https://nfldraftgrades.com/ My Board: https://nfldraftgrades.com/board/83a18c42-7a0b-4590-8d1b-453e49840d02

The Green Bay Packers have finalized a sweeping round of coaching hires and promotions, and Pack Daddy breaks it all down — from Bobby Babbage's arrival as secondary/pass game coordinator to DeMarcus Covington's expanded role as outside linebackers/run game coordinator and assistant head coach. There's a lot of roster shuffling under the hood, and today's episode makes sense of all of it. Then it's a deep dive into the offensive line — the good, the frustrating, and the genuinely uncertain: Jordan Morgan & Anthony Belton — Year two accountability. Morgan gets his real shot at left tackle. Belton needs to own right guard without the positional carousel. How long is the leash? Aaron Banks & Sean Ryan — Both are locked in through 2026 whether you like it or not. Ryan breaks down the contract math and what it means for long-term planning at center and left guard. Zach Tom & the injury curse — A passionate plea for Tom to return to form, plus an honest look at how many blue-chip Packers (Jair Alexander, Rashaan Gary, Elton Jenkins) have been stolen by the injury bug before their time. Darien Kennard and the depth picture — Why Kennard's run-blocking might be the most underrated piece of the offensive line puzzle heading into the season. Subscribe, leave a review, and join Pac Nation for more coverage all offseason long! #GreenBayPackers #Packers #NFLDraft #PackerNation #GoPackGo #NFL #PackernetPodcast This episode is brought to you by PrizePicks! Use code PACKDADDY to get started with America's #1 fantasy sports app. https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/PACKDADDY To advertise on this podcast please email: [email protected] Or go to: https://advertising.libsyn.com/packernetpodcast Help keep the show growing and check out everything I'm building across the Packers and NFL world: Support: Patreon: www.patreon.com/pack_daddy Venmo: @Packernetpodcast CashApp: $packpod Website: https://nfldraftgrades.com/ My Board: https://nfldraftgrades.com/board/83a18c42-7a0b-4590-8d1b-453e49840d02

The Draft Room is back and Ryan's got a full plate — from a wild Browns proposal that would let teams trade picks up to five years out, to a Navy running back-turned-receiver who just might be the sneakiest Day 3 value in the entire class. First, Jared the Uber Driver calls in with a question that sparks a real debate: should the NFL allow teams to trade draft capital five years into the future? Ryan breaks down the Browns' proposal heading into the March 29th owner meetings in Phoenix, why the Rams are already on board, and why this rule might only hurt the teams dumb enough to use it — which, for a smartly run organization like Green Bay, could actually be a massive advantage. Then it's pro day season, and Ryan highlights two Navy standouts worth watching: Eli Heidenreich – The record-breaking Navy receiver/RB hybrid who clocked the fastest on-field speed among running backs at the Shrine Bowl (20.01 mph), comps to James White and Danny Woodhead, and is already getting 30 visits Landon Robinson – The versatile 511/291 lineman who impressed in both D-line and RB drills with 30 bench reps and elite short-area quickness Plus — the Sal vs. Ryan scouting report debate continues. Head to Spotify and vote! #NFLDraft #GreenBayPackers #DraftRoom #PackernetPodcast #EliHeidenreich #ProDay #NFLDraft2026 This episode is brought to you by PrizePicks! Use code PACKDADDY to get started with America's #1 fantasy sports app. https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/PACKDADDY To advertise on this podcast please email: [email protected] Or go to: https://advertising.libsyn.com/packernetpodcast Help keep the show growing and check out everything I'm building across the Packers and NFL world: Support: Patreon: www.patreon.com/pack_daddy Venmo: @Packernetpodcast CashApp: $packpod Website: https://nfldraftgrades.com/ My Board: https://nfldraftgrades.com/board/83a18c42-7a0b-4590-8d1b-453e49840d02

Big Sal from Peshtigo sat down at the kitchen table this morning, stared into his coffee, and said four words he never thought he'd say: Ryan was right. Darlene checked his forehead. The eleven-year-old got worried. And yet — here we are. The Packers' backup quarterback situation is not fine, not handled, and not solved. And if Brian Gutekunst doesn't fix it before a meaningful snap is played, this team is volunteering losses it cannot afford. Big Sal breaks down why Desmond Ridder is not an acceptable Plan B — the tape from Atlanta doesn't lie, and asking Ridder to win games at Lambeau in a tight season is asking for disaster The "Cousin Richie from Appleton" theory: why "the backup never plays" is the most dangerous lie in football — and why Richie needs to stop holding court at Christmas dinner Why this isn't a gathering-pieces year — it's a window, the lights are on, and donated games could be the difference between a bye and a road elimination The entire ask: one phone call, one veteran, one guy who won't collapse when it gets hard in the fourth quarter — Gutey, make the move Subscribe, leave a review, and somebody warn Cousin Richie. #PackNation #GreenBayPackers #NFLDraft #GoPackGo #PackernetPodcast #BackupQB #Gutekunst #BigSal This episode is brought to you by PrizePicks! Use code PACKDADDY to get started with America's #1 fantasy sports app. https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/PACKDADDY To advertise on this podcast please email: [email protected] Or go to: https://advertising.libsyn.com/packernetpodcast Help keep the show growing and check out everything I'm building across the Packers and NFL world: Support: Patreon: www.patreon.com/pack_daddy Venmo: @Packernetpodcast CashApp: $packpod Website: https://nfldraftgrades.com/ My Board: https://nfldraftgrades.com/board/83a18c42-7a0b-4590-8d1b-453e49840d02

Pack Nation calls in HOT on another late-night edition of Packernet After Dark. From the viral Lambeau Field naming rights panic to Gutekunst's self-sustaining draft machine, Ryan and the crew break down what's really going on in Green Bay — and the callers bring the heat. The Naming Rights Truth: Ed Policy didn't say they're selling Lambeau naming rights — but he didn't slam the door shut either. Ryan breaks down exactly what was and wasn't said, what it might mean for Title Town revenue, and why the real conversation is about a coaching staff spending cap nobody's talking about. The 11-Pick Ecosystem: TJ from Alabama and Ryan explore whether Gutekunst is running a self-sustaining draft flywheel — heavy draft classes generate surplus talent, surplus talent walks in free agency, free agents generate comp picks, comp picks fuel the next heavy draft. Rinse, repeat. Could Jaden Reed or Romeo Doubs be the next ones feeding the machine? Draft Needs Breakdown: A sharp caller lays out the post-free-agency depth chart gaps — cornerback, edge rusher, backup QB, defensive tackle depth — and Ryan reacts with his honest priority list heading into the draft. Jag Off Nominations & Packer Nettie Awards: Aaron from Minnesota nominates the series finale of the TV show JAG as the all-time Jag Off, and Dakota pitches a Sanskrit-inspired name for the network's awards show. It gets weird. It gets funny. It gets very After Dark. Subscribe, rate, and review — and call in at 608-501-0718 to join the conversation! #Packers #NFL #PackernetAfterDark #GreenBayPackers #NFLDraft #GoPackGo #PacNation #LambeauField #Gutekunst This episode is brought to you by PrizePicks! Use code PACKDADDY to get started with America's #1 fantasy sports app. https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/PACKDADDY To advertise on this podcast please email: [email protected] Or go to: https://advertising.libsyn.com/packernetpodcast Help keep the show growing and check out everything I'm building across the Packers and NFL world: Support: Patreon: www.patreon.com/pack_daddy Venmo: @Packernetpodcast CashApp: $packpod Website: https://nfldraftgrades.com/ My Board: https://nfldraftgrades.com/board/83a18c42-7a0b-4590-8d1b-453e49840d02

Big Sal hits the kitchen at 6:45 AM and comes out swinging — and Garrett from Southern Illinois drops one of the most thoughtful mock draft submissions of the offseason. This one's got everything: prospect breakdowns, positional need alignment, and a full Sal-style scouting report that might just change how you see one of the most underrated corners in this class. Garrett's Mock Draft (Rounds 2–6): Lee Hunter at 52 as the Packers' true nose tackle answer, Connor Liu as a patient long-term investment at center despite ACL concerns, Devon Moore and Tacario Davis as Gannon-scheme corners, and Michael Kamara as a late-round edge rusher with a weird sack anomaly that deserves a second look Big Sal's Tacario Davis Breakdown: Three-star recruit, two scholarship offers, 4.41 at 6'4" — Big Sal walks you through every rep, every grade, and every reason scouts should be embarrassed for passing on this kid in high school Scheme Fit & Projections: Why Davis fits a press-heavy defense like a glove, why the slot is not his assignment, and the comp range from Mukuamu floor to Cam Taylor-Britt ceiling Show Format Update: Ryan previews a restructured Draft Room format, with Big Sal taking on more scouting report duties going forward Call in at 608-561-3243 and drop your mock, your prospect takes, or your Gannon corner wishlist. Subscribe, leave a review, and tell a draft fan we did the homework so they don't have to. #Packers #NFLDraft #DraftRoom #TacarioDavis #GreenBayPackers #PackNation #NFLDraft2026 #Packernet This episode is brought to you by PrizePicks! Use code PACKDADDY to get started with America's #1 fantasy sports app. https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/PACKDADDY To advertise on this podcast please email: [email protected] Or go to: https://advertising.libsyn.com/packernetpodcast Help keep the show growing and check out everything I'm building across the Packers and NFL world: Support: Patreon: www.patreon.com/pack_daddy Venmo: @Packernetpodcast CashApp: $packpod Website: https://nfldraftgrades.com/ My Board: https://nfldraftgrades.com/board/83a18c42-7a0b-4590-8d1b-453e49840d02

Big Sal from Peshtigo is back — fresh off three days with no heat, no lights, and thirty inches of snow piled up to his chest. Gary Pletcher didn't see the storm coming. Neither did Pack Nation. And Sal's not here to make you feel better about it. From Week 13's 9-3-1 high — Tomek catching Super Bowl fever and Sal's daughter calling them pioneers — to Micah Parsons going down in Denver, five straight losses, and a Wild Card collapse against the Bears that cost Sal a full night of sleep Every coaching question on the table: LaFleur's 3-6 playoff record, the Hafley departure, Jonathan Gannon stepping into the DC seat, and Cameron Achord running special teams for the first time at the NFL level Gutey, Stenavich, Butkus, and the four punts in Chicago that nobody has answered for yet The Gary Pletcher lesson: the snow didn't ask if you were ready — so you don't get to ask it either. Grab the shovel. Subscribe, leave a review, and tell somebody about the show. We are out here every week because we love this team too much to walk away. #GoPackGo #GreenBayPackers #PackNation #BigSal #LetMeTellYouSomething #Peshtigo #NFLOffseason #PackernetPodcast This episode is brought to you by PrizePicks! Use code PACKDADDY to get started with America's #1 fantasy sports app. https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/PACKDADDY To advertise on this podcast please email: [email protected] Or go to: https://advertising.libsyn.com/packernetpodcast Help keep the show growing and check out everything I'm building across the Packers and NFL world: Support: Patreon: www.patreon.com/pack_daddy Venmo: @Packernetpodcast CashApp: $packpod Website: https://nfldraftgrades.com/ My Board: https://nfldraftgrades.com/board/83a18c42-7a0b-4590-8d1b-453e49840d02

The offseason chaos is in full swing, and Pack Daddy is here to sort through all of it. From a blockbuster Jalen Waddle trade to Packers-linked quarterback rumors, today's episode covers the NFL landscape from every angle — plus a deep dive into Green Bay's defensive tackle room and a fiery take on Wisconsin's new NIL legislation. Nazir Stackhouse Deep Dive — Ryan breaks down Stackhouse's 2025 snap data, PFF grades, and why Gannon's defense may finally unlock what the big nose tackle can do. Is he the answer, or does Gutekunst need to draft one? Anthony Richardson to Green Bay? — A reporter floated the Packers as a team to watch for the Colts QB. Ryan weighs the cost, the risk, and whether Lafleur's developmental track record makes this worth a flyer. NFL News Roundup — Waddle to Denver for a first, Fields to Kansas City, the Rams quietly tried to trade Davante Adams, the Bears are hemorrhaging DBs, and Darius Slay hangs it up. NIL Controversy — Wisconsin Assembly Bill 1034 is heading to Governor Evers' desk, and Ryan is not happy. Taxpayer money and college athlete pay — where does it end? Subscribe, leave a five-star review, and call in at 608-561-3243 to get your take on the air, Pac Nation! This episode is brought to you by PrizePicks! Use code PACKDADDY to get started with America's #1 fantasy sports app. https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/PACKDADDY To advertise on this podcast please email: [email protected] Or go to: https://advertising.libsyn.com/packernetpodcast Help keep the show growing and check out everything I'm building across the Packers and NFL world: Support: Patreon: www.patreon.com/pack_daddy Venmo: @Packernetpodcast CashApp: $packpod Website: https://nfldraftgrades.com/ My Board: https://nfldraftgrades.com/board/83a18c42-7a0b-4590-8d1b-453e49840d02