Brian Gutekunst poised for year of reckoning for recent Packers drafts

Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst will be put to the test this season regarding his recent draft picks.

At multiple key positions, all in starting roles, five of his top-two selections from 2022 to 2025 must prove themselves worthy.

All five find themselves in a similar boat. The Packers have high hopes for all of them this season. At the same time, none has justified his status as a top-55 pick.

Fair or not, how they fare this season will shape the verdict on Gutekunst's recent draft judgment. Let's hope it's a favorable one.

Packers' offensive line play will be a dominant narrative this season

To be clear, Gutekunst has hit on most of his other selections in the first or second round since 2022: Edgerrin Cooper, Javon Bullard, Christian Watson, Jayden Reed, Luke Musgrave, and Quay Walker.

It's too early to tell about 2026 second-round cornerback Brandon Cisse, but he could be starting as soon as this season. It's hard not to be extremely excited about his NFL future.

Those successes notwithstanding, the Packers' 2026 season hinges in a major way on the five names above. If they shoulder the load and fulfill their potential, Gutekunst will look like a genius for banking on internal growth instead of splashing around in free agency. If they drop the ball and the season suffers, second-guessing and ridicule will ensue. That's the narrative game.

On the offensive line, the Packers have planted their flag with Morgan, Belton, and Sean Rhyan. How well will Morgan re-transition to left tackle, his position in college, after spending most of last season at guard? He's earned the benefit of the doubt and should be just fine. Hopefully that's the case, seeing as the Packers spent a first-round pick on the Arizona alum.

Belton did not progress last season like Morgan and Rhyan did in their own new roles. The former college tackle has played mostly right guard for the Packers. After a rocky rookie year, they have entrusted him as a starter, upping the stakes exponentially.

Many Packers fans balked at Gutekunst's choice of Belton at No. 54 overall. The GM will be sure to hear about it if Belton's struggles continue, especially after last season's inconsistencies across the offensive line.

Brian Gutekunst's first-rounders must prove their mettle in 2026

Golden is a rather different case, but as the Packers' only first-round receiver since 2002, the pressure is on – and on Gutekunst as well for the pick to pan out. Despite being disappointing as a rookie, Golden has been bestowed WR3 status in his sophomore season.

The Packers are right to believe in him, given his physical tools and talent. They showed him just how much by letting Romeo Doubs walk, trading Dontayvion Wicks, and declining to draft another receiver. Now Gutekunst needs him to reciprocate that faith. After Watson, Reed, and Golden, the rotation is a melee.

If any Packer is under as much pressure as Golden, it's defensive end Lukas Van Ness. Thus far, the two highest picks of Gutekunst's GM tenure, Rashan Gary at 12th and Van Ness at 13th, have not answered the hype.

Somewhat surprisingly, the Packers exercised the latter's $13.75 fifth-year option earlier this offseason, committing themselves to the former Iowa Hawkeye through 2027. With Gary gone, Van Ness will start alongside Micah Parsons. A young, uncertain pass rush needs him to finally show up for real.

The Packers picked up Devonte Wyatt's option a year ago. Now he's entering a contract year. Thus far, he hasn't delivered full value on Gutekunst's investment. Certainly he hasn't been Green Bay's next Kenny Clark. The 2026 season will determine how the Wyatt pick ages, as well as the decision to exercise his option after only five career starts. Perhaps the Packers extend him before the season starts, but thus far, he hasn't given them a reason to.

For Green Bay, for those five players, and for Gutekunst, the 2026 season will be a year of reckoning. We'll see how it all plays out.

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