Packers: Ranking 10 best and worst moves of Gutekunst’s tenure

No. 8 best: Drafting Kingsley Keke

The Packers’ run defense hasn’t been good since the days of ancient Egypt. But Kingsley Keke has been a bright spot throughout Green Bay’s front seven. The Packers’ run defense debacle against the San Fransisco 49ers in last year’s NFC Championship was as bad as it gets, only until Keke came into the game and played even moderately well. Dean Lowry figures to be a potential cap casualty this year, and Keke is ready to step in and contribute.

That same offseason the Packers severed ties with Mike Daniels as a vote of confidence in Keke. He also had two sacks against the New Orleans Saints in week three of this past season. New defensive coordinator Joe Barry needs to get Keke more involved this season to see what he really has in the tank. If the Packers are actually going to be good enough to win games with their defense, Keke could be a major piece to the puzzle.

No. 8 worst: Trading up for Oren Burks

Brian Gutekunst has been exactly zero percent different from his predecessor when it comes to paying proper attention to the middle linebacker position. He has drafted Oren Burks, Ty Summers, and signed Christian Kirksey. Summers has been just good enough to hang on to the active roster, while Kirksey was a mess throughout the first half of last season. Burks looks to be a complete bust however.

Gutekunst traded up into the third round for Burks in the 2018 draft after originally giving up his pick in that round as part of a deal to draft Jaire Alexander. Burks has failed to make any sort of impact either on defense or special teams. With Krys Barnes likely being one of the starters in the middle of the defense next year, Burks could easily get cut by Green Bay. Trading up for Burks is going down as one of this general manager’s worst moves.