Which developments from Packers OTAs matter (and which ones don't)

A lot of developments from the Packers' organized-team activities won't affect the team by Week 1, but that doesn't mean everything that transpires during these practices should go ignored.

The Green Bay Packers will not play a full-contact football game until August, but they have now taken a major step toward preparing for the upcoming season. The team began organized-team activities this week, the first time that most of the roster has shared a field together in months. It also represents the earliest opportunity for the coaching staff to work in the new additions with the returning personnel.

While the degree to which the Packers can work their 90-man roster remains limited -- not every player will fully participate or even attend these voluntary practices, and the collective-bargaining agreement places restrictions on contact -- OTAs can still provide a window into how the team perceives itself following free agency and the draft. Most of Green Bay's personnel returns from last season, but the pecking order at certain positions will materially change. This week, some of those developments will become apparent for the first time.

When analyzing anything from OTAs, caveats do apply. Like all teams at this point in the calendar, the Packers will experiment with player roles and deployment. Not every instance of one player working ahead of another holds meaning. Still, coaches look to maximize their limited practice time and make deliberate choices accordingly. Because of that, one cannot entirely disregard these early returns.

Accordingly, let's disseminate which developments from OTAs actually matter and which ones don't.