Wednesday Cheese Curds: The learning process begins for Packers rookies

The running theme of the 2023 offseason is that the Packers are taking care of their future more than their present. Every big decision has hinged on that idea. Aaron Rodgers is gone, and the Packers have extended his replacement. They’ve let established veterans walk, even if they didn’t necessarily take a king’s ransom to sign elsewhere. They’ve loaded up on young players, many of whom don’t yet have a firm fit on this year’s team. It’s clear the Packers are working for 2024 and beyond.

But that doesn’t mean 2023 can’t be interesting. Even if the goal is to compete in 2024 and beyond, the foundations need to be laid this year, and the way in which players like Lukas Van Ness, Luke Musgrave, and Tucker Kraft grow will be a big part of how the Packers become the team they hope to be.

Whether or not they will is an open question, but watching the process should be interesting.

Steep learning curve ahead for Packers rookie TEs Luke Musgrave and Tucker Kraft | Packers Wire

It’s hard to step in as a rookie tight end and make a big impact.

Motivated Musgrave Was ‘Man Amongst Boys’ in 2022 | Sports Illustrated

The injury question on Musgrave is real, but without his 2022 knee injury, the Packers may not have had a chance to draft him at all.

One interesting fact about each Green Bay Packers 2023 NFL draft pick | Packers News

13 factoids for 13 draft picks.

Fifth-year option tracker for NFL players drafted in 2020 first round | ESPN

The Packers don’t have to worry about Jordan Love’s fifth-year option anymore, but here’s what the rest of the league is doing.

Ranking every team’s 2023 NFL Draft class: Steelers, Colts crush it; several playoff teams raise questions | CBS Sports

The Packers rank quite high on this ultimately meaningless list. Could be fun to fact check it in a few years.

State senator makes shirtless vote during Zoom meeting | Associated Press

Turns out state senators also wait until just before meetings start to roll out of bed (or not, in this case). But there’s a good reason he was still asleep in this case.