PackersNow

The Packers came out of Denver with a 33-10 win, but more importantly, they escaped a place that wrecked their 2025 season without a major injury.

We break down the biggest takeaways from preseason game #2, including Kamal Hadden emerging as a legitimate option in the slot, Jonathan Ford's rise at nose tackle, and a defensive line that suddenly looks much deeper than expected.

Then we get into what might be the biggest development of the preseason: could the Packers' special teams actually become a strength? Trey Smack remains perfect, Skyy Moore is providing a spark in the return game, and Cam Achord's unit continues to impress.

Finally, Aaron Banks' knee issues bring us right back to the biggest concern on this roster: the offensive line. Could Green Bay shift back toward an outside-zone running game with its younger, more athletic linemen? And with Kevin Zeitler still available, should the Packers make one more move to protect Jordan Love?

The Packers’ first preseason game gave us a few important takeaways, from Trey Smack’s huge night to growing questions about Keisean Nixon, the depth at slot corner and safety, and some encouraging signs from Jonathan Ford.

But the biggest concern coming out of the game is the offensive line.

After digging into three years of NFL data, I found that QB hit rate has a much stronger relationship with elite passing offenses than pressure rate alone—and that makes what we’re seeing from Green Bay’s offensive line even more concerning.

We break down the struggles at right guard, why the Packers’ offseason plan hasn’t worked, and why signing Kevin Zeitler could completely change the outlook of this offense.

Plus, why Kenny Moore, Jonnu Smith, Will Dissly and other remaining free agents could still fill some major holes before Week 1.

Training camp is officially underway, and Ben breaks down everything we've learned through the first three practices, including Luke Musgrave's injury, surprise performers in the secondary, concerns along the offensive line, and why Tucker Kraft's return could completely change Green Bay's offense.

Then Ben dives into one of his biggest theories yet: the Packers aren't just trying to build an efficient offense, they're intentionally trying to reduce injuries.

From fewer drives and more rushing attempts to managing player workload throughout the season, the data suggests Green Bay may be sacrificing a little offensive efficiency in exchange for a better chance of reaching January healthy.

Finally, Ben explains why fans often judge coaching decisions the wrong way, using a poker analogy to show why good decisions can still produce bad outcomes, and why Matt LaFleur deserves far more credit than he receives.

Topics include:

• Training camp injury updates
• Luke Musgrave and the tight end situation
• Offensive line concerns
• Surprise standouts through camp
• Why Green Bay intentionally plays slower
• The injury data behind running the football
• Matt LaFleur's underrated coaching philosophy
• Why process matters more than results

The Packers made another important move for their future by signing Devonte Wyatt to a new contract extension, and with that deal, Green Bay has essentially locked in its core roster through the 2027 season.

I break down why I think Wyatt's contract is one of Brian Gutekunst's best moves, what it means for the Packers' two-year Super Bowl window, and how the roster is now positioned going forward.

Then I do something I've never really done before...

I look back at my biggest hits and misses over the last three Packers offseasons.

Topics include:
• Why Devonte Wyatt's extension is tremendous value
• What the Packers' roster looks like through 2027
• Players I completely missed on (including Josh Jacobs)
• The draft prospects I was pounding the table for that turned into stars
• What I've learned about evaluating NFL Draft prospects and free agency
• Why consensus boards, versatility, and trading back continue to shape my philosophy

If we're going to evaluate the Packers, we should be willing to evaluate ourselves too. That's exactly what this episode is about.

The Green Bay Packers are getting closer to the start of the season...

But there are still some major questions that haven't been answered.

In this episode of PackersNow, I break down three areas that could define Green Bay's season.

We discuss:

• Why special teams could once again cost the Packers games
• The concerns surrounding Trey Smack and the kicking competition
• Why Joey Bosa is the free agent I would be pushing hardest to sign
• How the Packers survive until Micah Parsons returns
• The growing concerns about offensive line depth
• Why the Jager Burton hype may actually be highlighting a bigger roster problem

If the Packers want to make a Super Bowl run, these are the issues that still need to be addressed.

The Packers made one huge move, got concerning news on another star player, and watched an NFC contender push all their chips to the middle of the table.

In this episode of PackersNow, I break down Christian Watson's new contract extension and why I think Green Bay got an incredible deal on one of the most important players in Matt LaFleur's offense.

Then we shift to the Josh Jacobs situation, what we know, what we don't know, and how it exposed a bigger concern I've had about this roster for months: the Packers' lack of depth at several key positions.

Finally, we discuss the Rams' blockbuster trade for Myles Garrett and why Los Angeles may now have the most complete roster in the NFC.

Topics include:
• Why Watson's contract is a win for Green Bay
• The Packers' long-term plan for Watson, Jayden Reed, and Tucker Kraft
• Josh Jacobs and the importance of due process
• Why injuries often determine who wins championships
• The growing depth gap between the Packers and Rams
• Whether Green Bay is truly built for a Super Bowl run

The Packers have their stars. The question is whether they have enough behind them.

The Green Bay Packers schedule is officially out… and honestly?

This might be the PERFECT setup for Green Bay.

In this episode of PackersNow, I break down:

• Why the first month of the season sets up perfectly without Micah Parsons
• The huge rest advantages the Packers received
• Why the lack of travel could become a massive advantage late in the year
• And how the final 6 weeks may decide the NFC North

📅 We also dive into:

• Strength of schedule rankings across the division
• Why Detroit still scares me the most
• Why Minnesota may be much better than people expect
• And the specific games I’m circling as wins and losses right now

💥 Plus:

• Mini-byes
• Home-heavy finish
• No international games
• Potential division-deciding Week 18 showdown vs Detroit

This schedule really may have fallen about as well as Packers fans could’ve hoped.

🎧 Full game-by-game breakdown inside.

The Green Bay Packers offseason can be viewed two completely different ways.

In this episode of PackersNow, I do something I almost never do first… I put on the optimism hat.

We break down:

• Why the Packers may have executed their long-term plan perfectly
• The compensatory pick strategy setting up a loaded 2027 draft
• Why moves like Jayden Reed’s extension, Benjamin St-Juste, Javon Hargrave, and Dani Dennis-Sutton could pay off BIG
• And why Green Bay believes this roster is still built to compete for a Super Bowl

But then…

We flip the script.

Because there’s another side to this offseason:

• Did the Packers fail to maximize key opportunities?
• Did they do enough to improve the offensive line and depth?
• Was there a better path available at NT and linebacker?
• And are the Vikings now the scariest team in the NFC North?

💥 This episode is a full honest breakdown of BOTH sides:
The optimism… and the reality.

🎧 If you want the full picture of where the Packers stand heading into 2026, this is the episode.

The Green Bay Packers made a big move before the draft… and then followed it up with a strategy I don’t fully understand.

In this episode of PackersNow, I break down:

• The Jayden Reed extension (and why it’s actually a really solid deal)
• How the contract gives the Packers flexibility moving forward
• Why the draft approach felt like a major missed opportunity
• And how trading up cost them serious value

📊 I also walk through my full alternative draft:

• Turning 6 picks into 13+ players
• Targeting elite value based on the consensus board
• Building depth across multiple key positions
• Why more picks = better odds (and it’s not even close)

💥 This isn’t about thinking I’m better than Brian Gutekunst…
It’s about process, value, and giving yourself the best chance to win.

The NFL Draft is finally here — and this is the final blueprint.

In this episode of PackersNow, Ben Kurkowski breaks down his ideal mock draft for the Green Bay Packers, built around one of the most important draft principles you can follow:

👉 Don’t beat the board — let value come to you.

Using the Consensus Big Board (75+ analysts combined), Ben explains:

• Why steals outperform reaches (by a massive margin)
• How smart teams consistently win the draft
• And how the Packers can future-proof their roster heading into 2027

Plus, a full breakdown of:

• The ideal scenario at Pick 52
• Trade-back strategy and why it matters
• High-upside targets like Dani Dennis-Sutton, Bryce Lance, Trey Zuhn, and more
• Late-round athletic steals that could turn into starters
• Undrafted free agents to watch

If you want to understand how to actually win the NFL Draft, this is the episode you can’t miss before Thursday night.