Packers: Ranking top 10 moves of Brian Gutekunst’s tenure

Ranking Brian Gutekunst’s top 10 moves as Packers general manager.

Green Bay Packers fans might not agree with every move he makes as general manager, but it’s hard to argue with Brian Gutekunst’s body of work since taking the job in 2018.

Gutekunst inherited a team on the way down. One that failed to reach the postseason and would again fall well short of the playoffs his first year in the job. Gutekunst needed some time to rebuild the roster, and he’s done that in a big way.

With three consecutive 13-win seasons — each resulting in division titles and two times securing the NFC’s top seed — Gutekunst has built a championship roster.

But what have been Gutekunst’s top 10 moves as GM? An honorable mention goes to drafting Eric Stokes. He showed Pro Bowl potential in his rookie season, but it’s too early to fairly grade the pick.

10. Signing Bashaud Breeland

Gutekunst is the master of making in-season additions. Many might forget that when the Packers lost Davon House to injury early in the 2018 season, they signed Bashaud Breeland to cover.

Breeland only played seven games in Green Bay but made an impact that season with eight pass defenses and two interceptions, one of which was a pick-six. According to Pro Football Reference, Breeland didn’t give up a single touchdown and allowed a passer rating of just 49.9 in his coverage.

9. Bringing Tramon Williams home

In Gutekunst’s first offseason as GM, he recognized the Packers had a need at cornerback. One move he made was to bring back veteran Tramon Williams, a Super Bowl winner in Green Bay before leaving in free agency following the 2014 season.

Williams would play two more seasons with the Packers and was excellent in 2019, making eight pass defenses and two interceptions. That season, he was Pro Football Focus’ sixth-ranked cornerback.