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Cheese Curds, 4/17: John Kuhn returns to Packers; draft priorities seem to take shape

The Packers seem to be zeroing in on certain positions while disregarding others.

Green Bay Packers v Oakland Raiders Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images

There are just eight days remaining until the start of the 2019 NFL Draft, and it is beginning to feel like Green Bay Packers have a hunch about the team’s plans for their early picks. With the Packers bringing in numerous offensive linemen for top-30 draft visits — tackles in particular, that position would seem to be a critical area for general manager Brian Gutekunst.

As APC’s Peter Bukowski wrote on Tuesday, drafting a tackle in the first two rounds practically seems like an inevitability. After all, there is no clear succession plan for Bryan Bulaga at present, and protecting Aaron Rodgers — especially as he gets into his late 30s — is arguably the most important factor to helping this team win.

However, we’re also seeing rumblings about other priorities, such as how strongly the Packers feel their need is at receiver (or, rather, that they do not seem to feel that it’s a serious need) and the team’s desire for help at the safety position. Of course, this could all be a smokescreen, as GMs league-wide trade in misinformation at this time of the year.

Meanwhile, one area where the team just made an addition is in its media department. Longtime Packer and fan favorite John Kuhn is back with the team, and it will be fun to see his contributions in the coming season.

Packers alumnus John Kuhn joins team as sports analyst | Packers.com
Look who's back with the team! Kuhn is joining the Packers' digital media group and will be working on broadcast and game presentations.

Packers seeking a center fielder to solve safety problem | Packersnews.com
Here's a list of several of this year's top free safeties. Personally, I'm becoming a bigger and bigger fan of Virginia's Juan Thornhill.

Old Dominion’s Oshane Ximines an intriguing mid-round option for Packers | Packers Wire
If the Packers decide not to go for an edge rusher early in the draft, this small-school prospect could be a good choice in the middle rounds to add some depth.

Receiver not sure thing for Packers in first round - ESPN
Rob Demovsky doesn't explain anything further than saying there's a "growing sense" (among whom?) that the personnel department isn't prioritizing receivers early. That's the argument some of APC's writers have been making for a while now.

Here’s proof you can find RB value anywhere in the 2019 NFL Draft - SBNation.com
Something tells me APC's Paul Noonan will be citing this article for a while.

Ryan Fitzpatrick blames birthday cake for weight gain - NFL.com
What is it with quarterbacks having lots of children? Fitzpatrick has seven children, and apparently all of them have birthdays in the offseason.

Blue Jackets sweep Lightning in Game 4 for first playoff series victory | NHL.com
Boom. Actually, on Tuesday night it was boom times seven in a 7-3 CBJ victory to earn a historic first-round sweep of the President's Trophy winners.