Morning Buzz: Aaron Rodgers unhappy as Packers' workouts start?

Aaron Nagler
Packers News

Welcome to your Morning Buzz, rounding up news and views regarding the Green Bay Packers from around the web and here at PackersNews.com. Grab a strong cup of coffee and get caught up on everything you need to know about the Packers.

We’ll start with Pete Dougherty’s latest column, which looks at the possibility of the Packers trading up for Florida State defensive back Derwin James.

From Pete:

The Packers don’t necessarily need a safety because even though they let starter Morgan Burnett walk in free agency, they return Ha Ha Clinton-Dix and Josh Jones. Clinton-Dix and Jones had rough seasons last year, but Clinton-Dix has been to a Pro Bowl, and the Packers spent a second-round pick on Jones.

Still, Gutekunst could find James hard to pass on if the safety made it to 14, though when I asked five NFL scouts recently of the chances that Jones would still be available, four said slim to none.

But what if James makes it to 10 or 11? Recent NFL trade history suggests the Packers probably could move up from 14 to get him by giving up a fourth-round selection, and they have two fourth-round picks to work with. The question is whether Gutekunst sees James as a game changer and thus worth the extra pick to move up. We won’t know until draft day.

If Gutekunst did make the move, new defensive coordinator Mike Pettine would have to figure out a way to get James, Jones and Clinton-Dix on the field together. The Packers didn’t spend a second-round pick on Jones last season to make him a backup, at least not until he proves he’s not a starter.

Michael Cohen looks at the running back position for our 10-part NFL draft position-preview series:

Michael has some late-round options the Packers could look at:

I spoke with Ryan Wood about the quarterback position in advance of the draft:

I also chatted with readers late Monday afternoon via Facebook Live:

Elsewhere, Charles Robinson of Yahoo! Sports writes that Aaron Rodgers is frustrated over not having more input in personnel decisions and that it could weigh on his contract extension negotiations. “I know he’s thinking about that stuff when it comes to the next contract because he should have earned a voice by now,” a league source close to Rodgers said. “In other places with [elite] quarterbacks, consideration is given to those guys. I think Aaron wants to be engaged in some decisions. But that’s just not the way it works [in Green Bay]. I think that’s obviously frustrating and it’s going to keep coming out.” Here's the full story:

Jason Wilde wrote about players' travel adventures:

Smart stuff from Jon Meerdink on what “balanced offense” really means:

Stephen A. Smith wants Dez Bryant and Rodgers to be teammates:

That said, the Packers would seem an unlikely landing spot for Bryant:

Cory Jennerjohn is here to rain on your parade:

FOX Sports Wisconsin thinks Josh Jackson could be the pick at 14:

Rodgers and the Packers mostly use the best performing helmet:

Packers Wire makes a player comparison:

This young man is looking sharp: