The past three drafts by Packers GM Brian Gutekunst have failed to push them to the promised land. How did they get here?
Much of the negativity towards the Packers right now is due to inactivity at the trade deadline. While that is well deserved, it goes deeper than that. Packers GM Brian Gutekunst has failed to find immediate impact players in the draft the past three seasons. That has limited an otherwise talented team’s ability to make it all the way.
Packers GM failed to draft impact starters
Hindsight is always 20/20 of course, but looking back at how things could have been is painful to say the least. It all goes back to Packers GM Brian Gutekunst’s decision to draft Jordan Love 26th overall in 2020. If they had also moved on from Aaron Rodgers that offseason, maybe things are different. Looking at things now, drafting a player like Tee Higgins, Michael Pittman Jr, or moving up even further and securing Justin Jefferson, were the better moves. Any of them could have been the missing piece to a Super Bowl run.
The rest of that 2020 draft produced little besides backup running back AJ Dillon. The 2021 class has had plenty of contributors so far but none have moved the needle much. 2021 first-rounder Eric Stokes has regressed this year. 2021 second-rounder Josh Myers has struggled to stay healthy. The 2022 class only has eight games to go off of, but the early returns are not inspiring. First-round picks Quay Walker and Devonte Wyatt have been either terrible on the field or not even able to get playing time in Wyatt’s case. Second-rounder Christian Watson has struggled when healthy enough even to play.
Brian Gutekunst must change his approach
Overall, Packers GM Brian Gutekunst has failed to use his most valuable picks on the right positions or players. When the most impactful player drafted in the first two rounds in three years is a backup running back, you know your team is being built poorly. That isn’t to say these players won’t develop and improve over time. It is too soon to judge what direction any of their careers will take.
What is frustrating though, is the Packers GM is building the team as if he doesn’t have a short window. Drafting projects like Love, Walker, Watson, and others doesn’t help you now. Aaron Rodgers isn’t going to play forever. So why not be aggressive in the draft to get players who can help you win now? That’s a question Packers fans may never get an answer to. Now sitting at just a 3-5 record, the Packers GM must look in the mirror and decide to change his approach. If the trade deadline was any indication, he still believes he is doing the right thing.
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1 Comment
Brian Gutekunst lack of urgency to find a decent receiver ,he’s going to regret .letting the bears take claypool was a big mistake watch out because here come the bears.