Packers Morning Buzz: Time for Josh Jones to step up

Welcome to your game day Morning Buzz, rounding up news and views regarding the Green Bay Packers from around the web and here at PackersNews.com. Grab a cup of coffee (or brew some tea, if that’s your thing) and get caught up on everything you need to know about the Packers.

We’ll start with Pete Dougherty’s latest column on the work that still lies ahead on the defensive side of the ball as Brian Gutekunst builds his first Packers roster.

From Pete:

He still has enough cap room (about $20 million) to make a big move, and can create some more without working too hard if he needs it. But there are no obvious options for that money anymore.

At this point, the only way to find a good one is a trade, maybe for some team’s underappreciated No. 3, like the deal that brought Al Harris to the Packers for a second-round pick in 2003. Even just a year ago, that would have sounded like a long shot. But suddenly the NFL is trade crazy. Perhaps there’s a deal out there.

Otherwise, the free-agent class has been winnowed to stop-gap, one-year rentals. Davon House and Tramon Williams remain on that list.

There’s also the draft. But any high pick at corner is one not spent on a pass rusher.

We’re still six weeks from putting the 2018 draft in the books. Much can happen between now and then. But Gutekunst is going to have to get creative to put together a defense that will give the Packers a chance.

Whether it’s trading up for Chubb, dealing for a starting corner, or something a little off the radar, the Packers’ rookie GM has some serious work ahead.

I chatted with readers late Monday afternoon via Facebook Live:

The Packers land a cornerback in the latest USA Today Sports mock draft:

Elsewhere, former Packers receiver James Jones breaks the news that his former teammate, Morgan Burnett, is joining him in the “former” category when it comes to being a member of the Green Bay Packers:

Matt Williamson wrote on what Burnett is a fit with the Steelers:

Zachary Jacobson writes there are still plenty of ways for Gutekunst to improve the team:

Packers Wire looks at the Packers biggest needs:

ACME Packing Company looks at the Packers missing out on Tyrann Mathieu:

Here’s a projection of how Jimmy Graham will fare in Green Bay using Madden:

The Eye In the Sky highlights the play of corner prospect Mike Hughes:

Chat Sports declares the Packers an early winner in free agency: