Brian Gutekunst's time as the Green Bay Packers general manager can be considered a success.
Sure, there are plenty of decisions he would likely want back, but that's true of every general manager, coach, and player in the NFL.
Gutekunst has made some genius moves over the years, including his first draft pick five years ago. We'll get to that shortly.
With the 2023 NFL Draft in the books, let's revisit some of Gutekunst's greatest moves as Packers general manager.
10. Drafting Marquez Valdes-Scantling in Round 5
Wide receiver was a need for the Packers in 2018, Gutekunst's first draft as GM, so he drafted three on the final day. One of them was Marquez Valdes-Scantling, a fifth-round pick.
Gutekunst has taken a similar approach in the past at other positions of need, doubling or tripling down in the hopes at least one of the picks pays off. He did it in this year's draft by selecting two tight ends.
Valdes-Scantling became a game-changer in the Packers' offense. With his speed, defenses had a tough job stopping him from making huge plays. In 2020, no receiver averaged more yards per reception than Valdes-Scantling's 20.9. Of his 16 touchdown catches in Green Bay, nine were of 40+ yards.
MVS stepped up big in the playoffs, too, catching a 50-yard touchdown in the NFC Championship Game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He continued that success with two postseason touchdowns in the Kansas City Chiefs' recent Super Bowl run.
Valdes-Scantling became an excellent receiver in Green Bay, and Gutekunst drafted him in the fifth round.
9. Drafting Christian Watson
It may be a little early to call the Christian Watson pick a home run, but it sure looks like it will be. Watson is one of the best athletes the Packers have had at wide receiver in recent memory, and his size and speed make him so tough to defend. Watson scored eight touchdowns in the final eight games last season.
The Packers traded up to get him, and it's looking like a genius move by Gutekunst.
8. Signing Keisean Nixon
Last offseason, the Packers desperately needed special teams help. They turned to Keisean Nixon, who had worked with Rich Bisaccia in Las Vegas. Nixon signed a one-year, $965,000 deal with the Packers.
Nixon added depth at cornerback, but more importantly, he led the NFL in kickoff return yards, being named a first-team All-Pro. The Packers re-signed him to a new deal this offseason.
7. Signing Rasul Douglas off the Cardinals' practice squad
Brian Gutekunst is the master of the in-season signing. Following Jaire Alexander's injury in 2021, the Packers signed Rasul Douglas off the Arizona Cardinals' practice squad, a move that didn't grab many headlines.
That all changed only weeks later when Douglas made the game-winning interception against the Cardinals, the team that let him go.
Douglas finished the season with a Packers-best five interceptions and two pick-sixes and earned a new multi-year contract in the offseason.
6. Signing De'Vondre Campbell
Gutekunst added some inside linebacker depth in June 2021, signing veteran De'Vondre Campbell to a one-year deal worth $2 million. There was no better player on defense for Green Bay than Campbell that season.
He made a team-best 146 tackles, two sacks, six quarterback hits, five pass defenses, two interceptions, and forced two fumbles. Campbell was named a first-team All-Pro and landed a big contract extension with the Packers the following offseason.
5. Signing Allen Lazard off the Jaguars' practice squad
An underrated move by Brian Gutekunst came in his first season as the Packers' GM. Allen Lazard signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars as an undrafted free agent in 2018. In December of that year, the Packers signed Lazard off the Jaguars' practice squad.
The rest was history.
By last season, Lazard was the Packers' WR1. During his time in Green Bay, he started in 40 regular season games and made 169 catches for 2,236 yards and 20 touchdowns. It didn't take long for Lazard to become one of Aaron Rodgers' most trusted targets, something that has led to the two reuniting with the New York Jets this offseason.
Lazard was an excellent player for the Packers. Signing him off the Jaguars' practice squad was an outstanding move by Gutekunst.
4. Aaron Rodgers trade
Yes, the Packers never should've given Aaron Rodgers a massive contract extension a year ago. That's on Gutekunst. So was not trading him to the Denver Broncos. However, despite the tough financial situation the Packers found themselves in with Rodgers' contract, Gutekunst negotiated a great deal for Green Bay.
By trading Rodgers to the New York Jets, the Packers swapped first-rounders with the Jets and received two second-rounders, with one likely to become a first in 2024. If Rodgers plays 65 percent of the snaps, the Packers will receive the Jets' first-rounder.
That's a fantastic deal for a 39-year-old quarterback on a huge contract who said he was 90% retired. Amazing work by Gutey.
3. Packers 2019 free agency
Teams that spend big in free agency often regret some of their signings. Gutekunst was almost perfect in 2019. The Packers signed safety Adrian Amos, offensive lineman Billy Turner, and edge rushers Za'Darius and Preston Smith in the first week of free agency in 2019. And all four moves paid off.
Amos started all 66 games over four seasons and was one of the most consistent safeties in the league during that time. Turner was excellent at right tackle, and he started 43 games in Green Bay. The Smith Bros. dominated for a couple of seasons. Za'Darius Smith made two Pro Bowls, and Preston Smith is still a starter for the Packers' defense now.
The Packers' 2019 free agency additions helped turn a playoff-less team into NFC North champions with consecutive conference championship appearances.
2. Top three picks in 2019 draft
As good as the Packers' free agency class was in 2019, their top three draft picks were even better. Gutekunst selected edge rusher Rashan Gary, safety Darnell Savage, and offensive lineman Elgton Jenkins in the opening two rounds.
Gary has become a dominant pass rusher, one of the best in the league. While Savage has never consistently reached a Pro Bowl level, he has started 59 games for the Packers. Jenkins is a two-time Pro Bowler and can play all five positions along the offensive line.
Between them, they have started 141 games for the Packers.
1. Trading for Jaire Alexander and first-round pick
Ted Thompson's first draft pick as Green Bay Packers general manager was Aaron Rodgers in 2005.
Gutekunst made an impressive start in his first draft, too. In 2018, Green Bay traded down from No. 14 overall, a move that netted the New Orleans Saints' 2019 first-round selection as well as the No. 27 pick in that draft.
Gutekunst then moved back up from No. 27 to No. 18, giving away a third-rounder to do so. The Packers used that pick to select Jaire Alexander, a two-time All-Pro, two-time Pro Bowler, and one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL.
From No. 14 overall, the Packers gave up a third-rounder for Jaire Alexander and a future first. A genius move from Brian Gutekunst.