The Green Bay Packers, once again, are going back to the drawing board following yet another disappointing loss in the NFL Playoffs. This one, in particular, stung especially hard for two reasons. First, Green Bay held a three-score lead going into the fourth quarter, and second, it was against the Chicago Bears.
Not surprisingly, the frustrating and humiliating loss has Packers fans calling for multiple coaches and players to lose their jobs. Additionally, there are some who believe (and have always believed) that general manager Brian Gutekunst is not the right man for the job in Green Bay.
One thing that his critics continually point to is the lack of immediate success of Gutekunst’s first round NFL Draft picks. However, the play of his last three first round picks this year, and particularly at the end of the season and in the Wild Card game, should have fans excited for what is to come in 2026.
Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst sees his last 3 first round picks emerge
Over the course of his tenure as Green Bay’s general manager, Gutekunst has been known for finding gems at multiple positions in later rounds, much like his predecessor Ted Thompson did. However, he has come under fire in recent years because his first round picks, in the eyes of fans, have not panned out right away.
Unlike other NFL teams, the Packers do not always draft players they feel are ready to immediately contribute with their first round picks. Instead, they have preferred to develop them and bring them along slowly, meaning that their full impact is not seen until a year or two later.
Such is the case with each of his last three first round picks, whose contributions in 2025 and in the Wild Card game show that they will be valuable contributors for Green Bay going forward.
Matthew Golden (2025 NFL Draft)
When Gutekunst and the Packers made Golden the first wide receiver they selected in the first round since 2002, many expected him to become the team’s top wide receiver right away.
That did not happen.
Instead, Golden found himself below Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed, Dontavyion Wicks, and later Christian Watson on the depth chart, which limited his targets. He finished his rookie year with 29 receptions for 361 yards and no touchdowns.
But in the loss to Chicago in the postseason, he was one of the best and most-targeted pass catchers on the field, hauling in four receptions on five targets (fourth-most on the team) for 84 yards and a touchdown.
With Doubs likely leaving in free agency, Golden will move up on the depth chart and certainly see more opportunities in 2026. And based on how he played in the Wild Card game, he certainly has what it takes to come up big in big moments.
Jordan Morgan (2024 NFL Draft)
When the Packers took Jordan Morgan in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, there were (and still are) many fans who were upset they did not take defensive back Cooper DeJean, who ended up going to the Philadelphia Eagles. Morgan, of course, did not play much as a rookie due to injury and others being ahead of him on the depth chart.
This criticism only increased as Morgan was inserted to fill in at right guard in 2025 even though he is a natural offensive tackle. He struggled on the interior offensive line, and many fans wrote him off as a bust.
However, with Zach Tom out for the last month of the season, Morgan was asked to play right tackle, a much more comfortable position for him.
And he excelled:
Jordan Morgan PFF grades since moving to tackle:
71.8 pass blocking, 70.3 run blocking.
Rasheed Walker had a 69.3 pass pro grade and 52.6 run blocking grade this year.
The succession plan is ready.
— Mark Oldacres (@MarkOldacres) January 12, 2026
Rasheed Walker, Green Bay’s starting left tackle, is going to be a free agent when the season officially ends and is not likely going to be re-signed. It was clear that Morgan was selected for the sole purpose of eventually taking over that job, and it looks like he is more than qualified to succeed Walker based on how he played at tackle in 2025.
Lukas Van Ness (2023 NFL Draft)
Lukas Van Ness is another pick who garnered criticism when he was taken as wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba was still on the board. And in his first two seasons, Van Ness was not given many opportunities on defense as Green Bay chose to allow their veterans to take up most of the snaps.
And while his third NFL season was riddled with injuries that limited him to just nine games, Van Ness finished highly ranked among league edge rushers in both grades and pressure rate:
Lukas Van Ness in Szn 3 📈
Injury riddled season missing games and playing through injury. He showed his flexibility to bump inside when needed and flashed in limited snaps.
Things we like to see:
🔹 26th ranked PFF grade 🔥
🔹 22nd overall in pressure rate 🔥 pic.twitter.com/wh7lPusExc— Hogg (@HoggNFL) January 12, 2026
This is certainly good news for Packers fans as Rashan Gary, who disappeared after a hot start, has suddenly become a cut candidate due to his immense cap hit and poor production. It may very well be that, in 2026, it will be Van Ness lining up opposite All-Pro Micah Parsons.
More Green Bay Packers news from Wisconsin Sports Heroics
- Matt LaFleur chimes in on Josh Jacobs’ fumbled kick return in Packers loss to Bears
- Packers’ Brandon McManus hit with backlash after comments on embarrassing performance vs Bears
- Matt LaFleur breaks silence after Packers suffer crushing loss to Bears
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