Official OTA/Minicamp Thread

[Joemailman]

Jason B. Hirschhorn@by_JBH

The Packers have signed defensive tackle Cameron Young.

Young, a 2023 fourth-round pick, spent his first two seasons with the Seahawks.

Overview

Naturally powerful prospect who is able to take on capable challengers and come out in good shape despite playing with an elevated pad level. Young plays with early hands and a heavy punch to gain positioning quickly against single blocks. He has the core power and contact balance to force double teams to work. Also, he does a nice job of fighting against wash-down blocks and maintaining gap integrity against zone. He has the size, length and strength to become a proficient run defender but offers very little as a pass rusher. While Young will be seen as a natural nose tackle, he could see snaps as a 5-technique as well.
Strengths

Rare arm length for a defensive tackle.
High win rate getting into the blocker with first hands.
Rides zone blocks with good pacing and control to maintain his run fit.
Unlocks hips/ankles to drop sturdy anchor against double teams.
Does the dirty work to allow linebackers to flow freely.
Impressive shed-to-tackle transitions.

Weaknesses

Could see limited snaps against volume passing teams.
Sluggish lateral movements are suboptimal as twister.
Makes just incremental gains to the quarterback.
Can be reached and sealed by quicker guards.
Tendency to play tall as the play unfolds.



Young played some as a rookie in 2023. Only played in 1 game in 2024. Apparently had some type of injury as he started season on PUP list.

[Fosco33]

‪Tom Silverstein, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel‬
‪@tspoon62.bsky.social‬

#Packers have moved WR Bo Melton to CB. GM Brian Gutekunst said they love his play on special teams and coaches were open to seeing him on defense. His brother Max is a starting CB for the #Cardinals.

Bo knows CB

[Joemailman]

Zach Kruse@zachkruse2

Melton isn't a roster lock, but they love him, and they especially love him on special teams. I think this is more about trying to maximize the value of a guy who has probably lost ops at WR but is still expected to make the team as a special teamer.

Ryan Wood@ByRyanWood

Packers LT Rasheed Walker and CB Nate Hobbs are not practicing today after being on the field in yesterday’s minicamp opener.

Everyone present. Other players not on the field today:

Quay Walker
Christian Watson
Micah Robinson
Kalen King
Zayne Anderson
Collin Oliver
Aaron Banks
John Oliver
Elgton Jenkins
Julian Hicks

.

[Joemailman]

Matt Schneidman
@mattschneidman

Jordan Love, under pressure, just hit Mecole Hardman for about a 75-yard TD in two minute. Bomb over the entire defense and Hardman did the rest. That’s the end of practice.

[Fritz]

Ole' Mecole gonna mess everyone up if he keeps playing well AND returns punts and kicks effectively. There are already five locks: Jayden Reed, Romeo Doubs, Dontayvion Wicks, Savion Williams, and The Golden Shower. So you've got Melton, Heath, and Hardman battling for what seems like one spot. Heath has the size they love and seems to be a good blocker. Also not bad I don't think as a receiver. Can play like a safety on ST. Harman can be the returner so brings value. And Melton also a ST guy who now is adding positional versatility.

[MadScientist]

Ole' Mecole gonna mess everyone up if he keeps playing well AND returns punts and kicks effectively. There are already five locks: Jayden Reed, Romeo Doubs, Dontayvion Wicks, Savion Williams, and The Golden Shower. So you've got Melton, Heath, and Hardman battling for what seems like one spot. Heath has the size they love and seems to be a good blocker. Also not bad I don't think as a receiver. Can play like a safety on ST. Harman can be the returner so brings value. And Melton also a ST guy who now is adding positional versatility.

Heath is a bottom of the roster WR, so cutting him won't be a big deal. Melton is trying to stick as a CB/ST guy, so Hardman has a reasonable path to make the final roster.

[Fritz]

Heath is a bottom of the roster WR, so cutting him won't be a big deal. Melton is trying to stick as a CB/ST guy, so Hardman has a reasonable path to make the final roster.

I wonder if maybe Rich Bisch and The Flower are tired of rotating return guys who are "meh" (Jayden Reed) or had a good year and then went "meh" (Kesean Nixon), and want one guy to do both, and bring some juice. That would put Hardman in a good position, especially if he can do the jet sweep thing.

You're right about Heath - they can afford to cut him without worrying if he'll get picked up. Melton probably the same?

[bobblehead]

Once Travis Hunter makes it cool again to play both O and D, Melton’s gonna be the Packers’ poor man’s Hunter.

More like a homeless mans Hunter.

[MadScientist]

I wonder if maybe Rich Bisch and The Flower are tired of rotating return guys who are "meh" (Jayden Reed) or had a good year and then went "meh" (Kesean Nixon), and want one guy to do both, and bring some juice. That would put Hardman in a good position, especially if he can do the jet sweep thing.

You're right about Heath - they can afford to cut him without worrying if he'll get picked up. Melton probably the same?

They can easily cut Melton. I was just noting that with the position switch, he's not really competition for Hardman for the 6th receiver position.

[bobblehead]

They can easily cut Melton. I was just noting that with the position switch, he's not really competition for Hardman for the 6th receiver position.

I think he is a great team guy and they are looking for a way to justify keeping him around.

[pittstang5]

....There are already five locks: Jayden Reed, Romeo Doubs, Dontayvion Wicks, Savion Williams, and The Golden Shower......

I've got a feeling or maybe it's more of a want, that Doubs could be traded at some point. His little episode that he pulled last year rubbed me the wrong way and has me thinking he's not in the long term plans for the Packers. I believe 2025 is his last year and he's a UFA next year. He's good, but I won't lose sleep if he leaves.

[MadScientist]

I've got a feeling or maybe it's more of a want, that Doubs could be traded at some point. His little episode that he pulled last year rubbed me the wrong way and has me thinking he's not in the long term plans for the Packers. I believe 2025 is his last year and he's a UFA next year. He's good, but I won't lose sleep if he leaves.

If Doubs plays well enough to have any team willing to pony up something for him, then the only way the Packers can trade him is if they are totally out of it early, or they have a big hole where another team has a solution and a need for a WR. The second could happen by the odds aren't great, and I don't think anyone here wants the first case to happen. Unfortunately, the more likely scenario is that he bangs his head again and is done. For his sake, I hope that doesn't happen, but concussions are easy to come by in the NFL especially if a player has had some bad ones.

[Patler]

If Doubs plays well enough to have any team willing to pony up something for him, then the only way the Packers can trade him is if they are totally out of it early, or they have a big hole where another team has a solution and a need for a WR. The second could happen by the odds aren't great, and I don't think anyone here wants the first case to happen. Unfortunately, the more likely scenario is that he bangs his head again and is done. For his sake, I hope that doesn't happen, but concussions are easy to come by in the NFL especially if a player has had some bad ones.

I can see another scenario which will require several of the following:

- Wicks finally meets expectations (maybe "hopes").
- Golden is as good as hoped.
- Williams finds his own niche in the offense.
- Kraft really takes off as a receiving tight end.
- Musgrave finally stays healthy and gives an exciting 2TE option.
- They believe Watson will be available sooner rather than later.

If several of the above happen (doesn't need to be all of them) the need for Doubs diminishes. Generally, a number of teams need WRs. A mid-round draft pick in 2026 might be more enticing than a comp pick in 2027.

[Fritz]

Possible. But he does bring a sense of consistency (outside the looming concussions) insofar as he's pretty reliable with his hands and getting that third-down conversion. Someone would have to - as you suggested - step up to that role. Unfortunately, I think MadS is correct - the most probable scenario out of the above possibilities is that the guy ends up with another concussion. Sad.

IF that does not happen, I'd imagine Watson's return would be a huge factor. If he can come back and play a few games before the playoffs, the need for Doubs diminishes if Wicks et al step up. But players, even once they come back, often need into that second year to fully recover. So it's hard to say how effective Watson would be if he did come back this year.

No matter what happens, though, I think most of us would agree that Doubs will not be a Green Bay Packer next year. Kinda like Rasheed Walker.

[MadtownPacker]

I’m the biggest, if not the only Doubs supporter here. I hate to say it but he is too damaged. Can’t see him lasting many games after how last year went.

[bobblehead]

I've got a feeling or maybe it's more of a want, that Doubs could be traded at some point. His little episode that he pulled last year rubbed me the wrong way and has me thinking he's not in the long term plans for the Packers. I believe 2025 is his last year and he's a UFA next year. He's good, but I won't lose sleep if he leaves.

I won't lose sleep, but I don't put Doubs in the Jaire category for punk. I think Doubs has some issues. Maybe depression. Just the way the team rallied around him and made sure to offer support. The concussions bother me a lot and I don't think he is long for the packers, but I don't think he commands much in trade value either so I'm very Meh on trading him.

[bobblehead]

Possible. But he does bring a sense of consistency (outside the looming concussions) insofar as he's pretty reliable with his hands and getting that third-down conversion. Someone would have to - as you suggested - step up to that role. Unfortunately, I think MadS is correct - the most probable scenario out of the above possibilities is that the guy ends up with another concussion. Sad.

IF that does not happen, I'd imagine Watson's return would be a huge factor. If he can come back and play a few games before the playoffs, the need for Doubs diminishes if Wicks et al step up. But players, even once they come back, often need into that second year to fully recover. So it's hard to say how effective Watson would be if he did come back this year.

No matter what happens, though, I think most of us would agree that Doubs will not be a Green Bay Packer next year. Kinda like Rasheed Walker.

I'm not convinced Walker is gone. If he takes another (even small) step forward it catapults him into a top 10-15 LT and you don't let those guys walk, you pay them. If on the other hand he is maxed out, then you let him walk and take the hopefully 3rd rounder comp pick. I still think if Belton and/or Morgan show enough in camp a final roster trade is possible.

[Patler]

I won't lose sleep, but I don't put Doubs in the Jaire category for punk. I think Doubs has some issues. Maybe depression. Just the way the team rallied around him and made sure to offer support. The concussions bother me a lot and I don't think he is long for the packers, but I don't think he commands much in trade value either so I'm very Meh on trading him.

I agree with all of this. I read a multi-part article on Doubs somewhere, perhaps "Go Long" that gave me the impression that Doubs has problems as you suggest, and I agree about the episode last year and how the team reacted. I think at heart he is a good dude.

Teams tolerate quirky personalities as long as their performance is worth whatever hassle comes with it. Not sure Doubs sets the bar real high. He's a good player, but not a star.

Sadly, the concussions could be the deciding factor.

[Patler]

I'm not convinced Walker is gone. If he takes another (even small) step forward it catapults him into a top 10-15 LT and you don't let those guys walk, you pay them. If on the other hand he is maxed out, then you let him walk and take the hopefully 3rd rounder comp pick. I still think if Belton and/or Morgan show enough in camp a final roster trade is possible.

Walker will be interesting to watch this year. He started the season quite poorly last year, and it lasted a few games anyway. That type of inconsistency is not dismissed easily in pro sports. Those types of players often bounce from team to team but always find jobs. Their existing teams get frustrated with the inconsistent play and look to replace them. Teams with a need at their positions see the good parts of their play and view it as an upgrade for them. Plus, most coaches think that THEY can fix players others couldn't.

[Fritz]

There's always that fear that maybe you gave up on a guy too soon. Rasul Douglas, for the Cards, and - I can't remember the last name - Lawrence something-or-other, who played for the Pack for a bit, but ended up in New England for a number of years. Not a gangbusters guy, but I think a solid rotational piece.

But in year three, for Walker, you'd think the consistency would be there. But yes, it'll be interesting to watch - what if he in fact plays consistently well this year? Then what? Do you still prioritize Quay Walker, Devonte Wyatt, and Zach Tom? Or do you drag out negotiations with Quay and Devonte to see if one gets hurt or doesn't play well, and if that happens, you set your sights on Rasheed Walker? Lots of moving pieces, as they say. and what if, toward the end of the season, Christian Watson comes back? And plays well? Hoo boy.