Packers: Ranking 10 best and worst moves of Gutekunst’s tenure
By Evan Siegel
No. 6 best: Addressing safety position in 2019
The year before both Adrian Amos and Darnell Savage were brought in, the Packers could not have been worse at the third level of their defense if they tried. Injuries and trading away Ha Ha Clinton-Dix left the safeties helpless and repeatedly overmatched week after week. Gutekunst even resorted to bringing in Eddie Pleasant of all people late in the season.
Adding a strong veteran like Amos while trading up nine spots in the first round of the draft to solidify the other safety position was a remarkable display by Gutekunst, who also managed to navigate a difficult free agent market at that position. Lamarcus Joyner and Landon Collins each secured gigantic contracts, while Green Bay came away with Amos who is coming off the best season of his career two years into a four-year signing.
No. 6 worst: Letting Bashaud Breeland go
The Packers had been negotiating with Bashaud Breeland in free agency before he ultimately signed a deal with the Carolina Panthers. He then failed a physical due to a foot issue, and after a couple of weeks on the street, signed with the Packers during the season.
Packer fans had every right to be excited about this one. Breeland remains a strong defensive back in this league who began to restart his career in Green Bay. His first game active in Green Bay was against the Patriots in November of 2018.
Later on in the season, he had a pick-six and played so well it allowed the Packers to move Williams to safety. For whatever reason, the Packers didn’t bring Breeland back despite having every last reason to. He signed a dirt cheap deal with the Kansas City Chiefs instead.
The one-year cap hit could have been an issue for the Packers after nabbing four expensive free agents that same offseason, but Breeland would have been a great potential long-term piece on an undervalued deal. Having Breeland on the field instead of Kevin King in the championship game could have been the difference.