Confessions of a Polluted Mindset - Minicamp Mentions
The Weekly Packers Brain Drain from Jersey Al.
By JerseyAl
Trey Smack made seven out of eight field goal tries in Day 1 of minicamp, including a 58 yarder. After his rough day in OTAs, you Chicken Littles can stand down (for now).
Lukas Van Ness was reportedly highly disruptive (in shorts, of course) during day one of minicamp. The player Micah Parsons praises the most has looked quicker and more explosive off the ball by most reports. Van Ness hinted that "play style" was what he has learned the most from having Parsons as a teammate. He also said that new defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon's defense is "allowing us to play free without thinking." I have to wonder if he is implying that Hafley's system was more complex than Gannon's?
On the flip side, Van Ness' success in the practice was mostly at the expense of Jordan Morgan, but without pads, I'm not going to get to excited about any of this.
Jager Burton continued to see first-team snaps, albeit because Aaron Banks was seen in the rehab group, which is quite a large group, with an estimated 14 players participating there. But back to Burton, it's good to see the Packers are already considering him as the primary guard backup, since I have little confidence in Donovan Jennings and zero confidence in Jacob Monk.
Bo Melton will once again be on this team, this time as a full-time WR. Bet the house.
Hammond Bears - OK, OK, it's fun to tweak Bears fans about this right now, but in reality, it's not going to mean very much to the rivalry down the road. The "New York" Giants and Jets play in my home state of New Jersey. Nobody makes a big deal about it anymore and it's a non-factor rivalry-wise. The Eagles fans don't care the Giants aren't in NY and Patriots fans couldn't care less where the Jets play. Neither team is mocked for not playing in the state that bears their name (no pun intended). But do have fun with it for now,
Christian Watson will be a Green Bay Packers for the next couple of seasons and that makes me very happy. I've seen people grousing about the contract. I'm no contract/salary cap expert, but even before the full details came out, I thought it was a good deal for both sides. Four years, $110 million - an average of 27.5M per year. But let's look at the full details:
As former CHTV writer Wendell Ferreira laid out in this article, the extension is actually 4 years, $92M (base of $23M per year) plus $18M in incentives. Add in what he was set to make this season ($7.2M) and the contract base value is $99.2M over five years - an average of $19.8M per year (plus those incentives). Even better, only $31M is guaranteed, distributed as a signing bonus, There are 25 other wide receivers in the NFL with more guaranteed money in their deals, including Romeo Doubs ($35M).
According to Spotrac, the cap hits are as follows:
2026: $10.5M
2027: $11.5M
2028: $24.5M
2029: $29.1M
2030: $26.2M
Incentives/Bonuses:
- 2026 Per Game Active Bonus: $107,352 ($1.825M)
- 2027-2030 Per Game Active Bonus: $125,000 ($2.125M)
- 2028 Roster Bonus: $13M (3rd league day of 2028)
- 2027-2030 Escalators available (TBD)
If you break this all down, the Packers are getting two years of Watson at a below market cost, and after that, how Watson performs/stays healthy in those two years will determine if the Packers continue with the contract, restructure it or bail on it. It's a good deal for the Packers and Watson gets a tractor trailer full of $100 bills.
Go Pack Go!
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"Jersey Al" Bracco is the Editor-In-Chief, part owner and wearer of various hats for CheeseheadTV.com and PackersTalk.com. He's a lifetime Packers fan living in the land of the Giants (and Jets). Follow Al on twitter at @JerseyalGBP.
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Comments (34)
Cheezehead72
June 10, 2026 at 06:25 am
All I can say is if Morgan cannot block LVN it will be a long season with him at LT. Hopefully it gets better when the pads go on.
The Watson contract is a very good contract for the Packers. Yes I look at the whole contract but the one thing I really consider is the guaranteed money and it being only $31 million he is a steal.
Now for the Bears, I really do not care where they play. It will always be a rivalry to me. To me the Bears are a respectful rivalry where as the Vikings is a I don't like them rivalry. I always said that if the Packers folded (heaven forbid) that I would become a Bears fan. That is because they are close, it has been a rivalry for many years, they are one of the original teams, they are a blue collar team, and they play outside. I might have to reconsider now that they will be going indoors. Them playing in a dome is worse than them moving. If they play in Hammond, I do not know what the weather is like, I will iss the windy games. Oh that's right they will be indoors anyway.
Coldworld
June 10, 2026 at 07:37 am
From what I’ve been able to piece together, one of LVN’s wins was definitely on Morgan, but one was definitely on Kinnard (with LVN moving sides) and the third was probably on Burton. I’m not sure it was Morgan who was particularly at fault. I don’t know who Cox was up against for his 2 or 2 1/2 “sacks” or DDS when he got his 1/2 or 1.
It seems like Ford made an impact at DT. Oh if he could just bend consistently to maintain leverage, he has the strength and burst to be good when contact begins. Wishful thinking by this point probably.
It seems like Williams wasn’t the only player to get stuffed in the backfield running a sweep. Why are we so addicted to the ‘secret’ that’s in fact become the expected long ago? Also, could we please have Williams running actual routes not sweeps! Why are we running multiple WRs on sweeps anyway? Let’s ban Sweep calls for at least 2 months. Just say “no” Matt.
It was great to see Swinson getting first team reps as the second TE in 2 TE sets. He’s our one true blocking prospect. Am I allowed the twin hopes that this was because he earned it and LaFleur is now valuing blocking prowess from his blocking TE? I’m really hoping Swinson is making a jump. At 6’7” and 260 coming into the league, he has the size to be a good blocker.
As to the true depth players, one that stood out for me (mostly because I went ‘Who?’) was the two breakups (one run and one pass) by Marlon Jones. Perhaps the CB who beat cancer could actually beat these odds too? That would be a great story. He might just have some instincts.
golfpacker61
June 10, 2026 at 08:42 am
"Why are we running multiple WRs on sweeps anyway? Let’s ban Sweep calls for at least 2 months. Just say “no” Matt."
1000% agree CW. Sweeps never work in the NFL, there is just too much speed for it to work. And all that running sideways at the end of the play is just inviting knee injuries.
I have wondered about Swinson for awhile now. He certainly has the size, can he catch at all? Colby Parkinson is in the rumor mills as a possible trade candidate for the Rams. He would be a fantastic addition for the Packers and would let us but a big checkmark on Y TE.
dobber
June 10, 2026 at 09:18 am
Yes, everybody runs those looks now, but most of the time that jet/sweep action guy doesn't get the ball. He's moving to make the defense move and to reveal coverages.
If you don't hand off the ball in sweep action every now and then especially with teams primarily zone coverages, they don't honor it and you don't make defenses shift, process, and adjust nearly as much. Then you start to see the ARod "I don't like motion, I want to line them up and try to beat them one on one with my brain" offenses rather than trying to open up opportunities and force mistakes and mismatches.
It's all about setting up other things and making defenses cover the whole field...but they're still taking a shot in the process.
Coldworld
June 10, 2026 at 09:19 am
Swinson played blocker all through high school and into college. He was barely asked to catch. It was his penultimate summer when he transferred to AZ State that his new coach for the first time had him work on his catching and incorporated him in to the offense as such. Having only caught 7 passes in three years previously he caught 15 for 185 and 12.5 ypc with 2 TDs that year. That would be more yards and TDs than any blocking role TE here since Lewis.
He has good hands, catches away from his body. He’s a legitimate red zone target at 6’7” with 34 1/8-inch arms and 10 3/4-inch hands and a decent vertical and the ability to be a reliable check down outlet who is a load to bring down. He’s never going to be a move type. He's not fast or agile, he is an inline capable blocker with decent hands and good size. He’s a block first Y who can catch plenty well enough if he can deliver as a blocker in the late career Lewis mold.
Savage57
June 10, 2026 at 06:27 am
When the dust settles on this Bears stadium chase, I suspect we'll see Hammond lined up as a bridesmaid.
Then they'll change their name to Leverage, IN.
dobber
June 10, 2026 at 08:58 am
"I suspect we'll see Hammond lined up as a bridesmaid....Then they'll change their name to Leverage, IN."
I think you're right. All these owners and investor owner groups are trying to leverage the best situation they can get so they can streamline $$ into their pockets. Now that the Bears actually have their fan base agitated (in a "good" way for them), they should be able to milk what they need from Illinois and Chicago, itself. There's too much revenue to be lost in letting them walk.
That said, I drove through that area yesterday to/from a family funeral in Elgin and as we sat in traffic for some stretches at non-peak times at the bottom-of-the-lake interstate bottleneck, I thought that traffic mess would be a harbinger for the malice moving games down there would generate from fans.
TKWorldWide
June 10, 2026 at 06:30 am
I think we should all be happy that C-Wat isn’t Brandon Aiyuk.
Cheezehead72
June 10, 2026 at 06:43 am
Back in 2020 I wanted the Packers to draft Aiyuk. We needed a WR and he looked like the guy that the Packers could use. I do believe he was high on the Packers board. The 49ers traded with Minnesota and selected him. Not sure if the Niners thought we would draft him.
Thank you San Francisco and Lynch for saving us the headache. Yes I know he might have been a different person with the Packers but we will never know.
GregC
June 10, 2026 at 06:59 am
I listened to Andy Herman's summary of the minicamp practice, and he said that when there are no pads, the offensive linemen are at a disadvantage. It's still encouraging that Van Ness stood out in comparison to the other defensive players, though. And it's not surprising, because he was a pretty good player last year and has been trending in the right direction.
I don't care where the Bears stadium is located. Professional sports is symbolic. They will still be the Chicago Bears because that's the city they represent. There have been many professional sports teams that haven't played in the city they represent, and as Al points out, sometimes not even in the same state. It's not a big deal. There is more land available for building stadiums and parking lots in the suburbs.
Good to have Christian Watson on board with a team-friendly deal for at least a couple more years.
Coldworld
June 10, 2026 at 08:01 am
2 of LVN’s “sacks” were going around the outside of Morgan and Kinnard (I don’t know about those of Cox and DDS). Any OL and particularly a T is severely disadvantaged in those circumstances. Blocking width without using hands or being able to proactively deflect against rushers with momentum is a tough ask. It really prevents them redirecting, anchoring and getting leverage.
Really, the only positive I can take is that LVN is perceived to be quicker off the mark this summer. “I think the biggest thing with him is his get off. He was getting off the rock today and he’s got that speed that puts tackles in a bind.” Love on LVN, as quoted by Huber. Let’s also not forget that Cox had a good day in shorts again too.
dobber
June 10, 2026 at 09:04 am
"he said that when there are no pads, the offensive linemen are at a disadvantage. "
We usually see athletic pass rushers flash in OTAs and minicamps. If an OL can't use their greatest asset--bulk--to their advantage, what have they got?
"There is more land available for building stadiums and parking lots in the suburbs.'"
They have a lot of "building up" to do in that area to support a stadium...it's a lot of swamp and poorly accessed. Supposedly they're talking about a second site near the first, presumably one that's not so wet.
From the Jungle Room
June 10, 2026 at 07:13 am
Nice read, JA! After months of football deprivation, it's easy for folks, myself included, to overreact to any news coming out of mini camp....but in the end, it's guys in shorts so I'll save my concern for LT Morgan and adulation for LVN until the pads come on and these exercises are closer to resembling actual football....however, if there's one tidbit that does have my attention, it's the rookies who are being rotated in, especially with 1s, so early in camp. I don't recall the Packers doing anything like this in quite some time.....so it's exciting to watch (Burton, Big Mc, DDS and Cisse) hopefully start developing into something real!
BuckyBadger
June 10, 2026 at 07:26 am
Actually it is common this early in camp. When they put the pads on you will see a more serious rotation. At this point the coaches are just seeing if they know their assignments and if they have learned the play book.
From the Jungle Room
June 10, 2026 at 08:44 am
Makes sense....I have probably not paid as much attention to it this early in camp over the years, I just don't recall this many first year players getting 1st team reps!! It's hard not to get a bit amped about some of these rookies, especially Burton. If he is the dog that been reported and can pick up the assignments/playbook....he could be a critical and much needed piece to the OL.....
SicSemperTyrannis
June 10, 2026 at 09:36 am
It's like Gutey got 3 second round picks! Hopefully we'll see a bunch of good players we didn't realize we had ...
golfpacker61
June 10, 2026 at 08:49 am
Burton is a keeper, Jungle. And the 2 UDFA O-linemen are solid players too. All of our backups are in the same boat, young and no experience. But they do seem to at least have potential. A lot of our O-linemen have extensive history playing OT, including starters Morgan, Belton, Rhyan & Toms. I think there is a chance our OL group is improving, still not a strength but getting closer.
BuckyBadger
June 10, 2026 at 07:25 am
It means a lot to my friends from Chicago and are Bears fans that the team might move out of their state and I, as a Packer fan, feel it is my duty to rub a little salt in that wound. I don't want to hear about other teams, I don't talk banter with them. This is about my ability to talk trash with my friends who cheer for my rival. The more ammo I have the better. There is no room for rational here.
Guam
June 10, 2026 at 07:53 am
Totally agree BB. My niece married a really good guy who has one serious failing - he is a diehard Bears fan. I take every opportunity to give him crap about the Bears and the "Hammond Bears" is my new mantra.
Cheezehead72
June 10, 2026 at 08:03 am
Worse yet my daughter, the girl I raised and protected and still call her Sweetie, married a diehard Vikings fan. I would take a Bears fan over a Vikings fan any day.
GregC
June 10, 2026 at 08:16 am
Marrying a Vikings fan is one thing, but I hope she hasn't become one.
Guam
June 10, 2026 at 08:24 am
OUCH!! My condolences CH72. And yes, I would take a Bears fan over a Vikings fan any day. I respect the Bears, not so much the Vikings.
dobber
June 10, 2026 at 09:06 am
"married a diehard Vikings fan"
So she found the only one?
...otherwise, they're a pretty fickle group.
LambeauPlain
June 10, 2026 at 10:16 am
"I would take a Bears fan over a Vikings fan any day."
As would I...and twice on Sunday.
Coldworld
June 10, 2026 at 08:03 am
At least their forebears in Hammond were pros.
Guam
June 10, 2026 at 08:25 am
That's going way back in the time machine CW!
Cheezehead72
June 10, 2026 at 09:26 am
CW that got me to do a little research. The Hammond pros played most of their home games in Chicago (they were a traveling team). Now the Chicago Bears will play their home games in Hammond.
Coldworld
June 10, 2026 at 09:46 am
We have a 100% record against teams from Hammond.
mrtundra
June 10, 2026 at 08:01 am
Atta Boy, Bucky Badger! NO MERCY! I do want to see an "H" replace the "C," on their helmets, though. Another thing is that after they make the move to Indiana, they will be the 2nd best football team, in Indiana, behind the Hoosiers! Thanks to whomever came up with that! GO PACK, GO!!! The Bears, wherever they call home, STILL SUCK!!!
Cheezehead72
June 10, 2026 at 08:22 am
If they replace the C with an H the fans will say it stands for Halas.
golfpacker61
June 10, 2026 at 09:06 am
It is good news that LVN, Cox, and DDS made standout plays at practice yesterday. With LVN all we can say is it's about time but only time will tell.
I really expect Cox to make a statement this year if he can stay healthy.
I was thrilled when DDS fell to us, he and Cisse were the obvious high points of our draft, although all in all the draft was one of Gutey's better efforts.
No word on Sorrell at all, is he hurt? I see Oliver is injured again and that is becoming a pattern even though it is early. The list seems extensive, what was it like at the beginning last year? More, less, equal?
Nobody can change my mind on another Edge rusher being a big need before the season starts. We need insurance with Parsons out and no legitimate experience or production on the team. Signing a player like Clowney gives us guaranteed production and leadership we can count on early. And since he only plays 35-40% of the snaps, the young guys will still get a ton of actual game experience with less pressure on them to be "The Man" right away. $5 million is chump change for what Clowney would bring.
Anyone griping about Watsons new contract should be shut down after reading Al's article. All of these contracts are about guaranteed money, and because of that most 4-year contracts are basically 2-year after the guarantee runs out. Both of the Watson and Reed deals are bargains for GB. Hopefully we don't deviate when securing Kraft.
dobber
June 10, 2026 at 09:27 am
"Anyone griping about Watsons new contract should be shut down after reading Al's article. "
The thing I wanted to see was where the roster/option bonuses show up, so that $13M in 2028 looks like the tipping point. Good health and production means the Packers probably convert that to signing bonus just prior to the start of the 2028 league year, and his cap hit in '28 goes down by almost $10M.
LambeauPlain
June 10, 2026 at 10:30 am
It is good to see significant compensation being paid in game day active bonuses. Reward availability. Watson has demonstrated a high work ethic to work hard over-come injury issues. And the availability mindset is solid leadership by example.
It is perplexing to see at the start of minicamp (minicamp!) the constant attendee at LaFleur's Packers Practices: a very long injury/rehab/limited/DNP list of players. It is rare when starters practice as a unit early and often and well into the season. This is especially detrimental to developing OL cohesiveness...familiarity with your job and the job of your wingman.
What would this team be with an outstanding OL? Been awhile.
LeotisHarris
June 10, 2026 at 10:47 am
Regarding the Illinois NFL franchise shaking down taxpayers to fund a new toy for their billionaire owners, it's interesting to me how we USA Americans (salute) have just accepted that this is how things work. What about the Foxconn site in Racine County? Or maybe the McCaskey family could reach out to Beloit. There are plenty of tax breaks to be had in Wisconsin.