Brian Gutekunst has established himself as one of the league's most consistent and successful general managers. He continues to build competitive Green Bay Packers rosters and has overseen a quick turnaround from the Aaron Rodgers era.
There have been mistakes along the way, including the handling of Davante Adams' final year in Green Bay, which led to his departure, but Gutekunst deserves credit for how he made up for that. Not only did the Packers land two premium picks for Adams, but Gutekunst rebuilt the receiving corps in only two draft classes.
Gutekunst's Packers have maintained many philosophies passed down from Ron Wolf to Ted Thompson, including prioritizing draft picks over big free agency spending.
Like Thompson, Gutekunst drafted a quarterback in the first round when they already had a Hall-of-Famer leading the offense. Also like his predecessor, it looks like Gutekunst hit a home run.
During his seven offseasons as Packers general manager, what are Gutekunst's greatest decisions?
10. Overhauling Packers' tight end room in one offseason
The Packers desperately needed change at tight end following the 2022 season. As Aaron Rodgers passed the torch to Jordan Love, there must've been the temptation to surround an inexperienced quarterback with veteran tight ends. Gutekunst did the opposite, allowing Robert Tonyan and Marcedes Lewis to walk in free agency.
It was a roll of the dice, but the Packers' decision to dive into a deep tight end rookie class has paid off beautifully, selecting Luke Musgrave and Tucker Kraft. Both players have demonstrated the talent and potential to become game-changers in Matt LaFleur's offense.
Musgrave adds the speed and athleticism the Packers haven't had at tight end in years. He has unlimited potential as a big-time pass-catcher in the middle of the field. Kraft's development as a blocker was impressive to see throughout the year, and he offers incredible yards-after-catch ability with the ball in his hands. In one offseason, the Packers landed arguably the most exciting tight end duo in the league.
9. Signing De'Vondre Campbell for nothing in 2021
We live in a world where Green Bay prioritizes the linebacker position, having used three top-100 picks in the past three drafts. That wasn't always the case. Back in 2021, the Packers needed some veteran leadership in the middle of the defense and signed De'Vondre Campbell to a one-year, $2 million deal.
Campbell became a first-team All-Pro that season, with 146 tackles, two sacks, and two interceptions, and would start 40 games for Green Bay across three years.
8. Signing Rasul Douglas off Cardinals' practice squad
Following a significant injury to Jaire Alexander early in the 2021 season, Gutekunst picked up Rasul Douglas off the Arizona Cardinals' practice squad.
Twenty-eight starts, 10 interceptions, and 32 pass defenses later, the Packers traded Douglas to the Buffalo Bills in a deal that landed them a third-round pick. Douglas was a key player and leader for three seasons in Green Bay.
7. Packers' top three picks in 2019 NFL Draft
The Packers kicked off the 2019 NFL Draft by selecting Rashan Gary, Darnell Savage, and Elgton Jenkins.
Gary has become one of the league's best pass rushers, with 24.5 sacks and 62 QB hits in his past 38 games. Jenkins is a two-time Pro Bowler at left guard but has also played tackle, making him one of the Packers' most important players. Savage is no longer in Green Bay but started 69 games over five seasons.
6. Trading for Jaire Alexander and future first-round pick
Gutekunst entered his first draft class as general manager with the 14th overall pick. He left the first round with Jaire Alexander and a 2019 first-rounder from the New Orleans Saints.
It was the first sign of Gutekunst's excellent trading ability. He traded down then back up to land his top target while acquiring a future premium pick, which he used to trade up again for Darnell Savage the following year. It was an incredible piece of business.
5. Finding four starters in 2019 free agency
Spending big in the opening week of free agency is a gamble that rarely pays off. It did for the Packers in 2019, and in a significant way. Green Bay landed Za'Darius Smith, Preston Smith, Adrian Amos, and Billy Turner.
Za'Darius Smith made two Pro Bowls for the Packers. Preston Smith has made 24.5 sacks across 79 starts and is still a key player. Adrian Amos never missed a snap in four seasons. Billy Turner offered positional versatility and was outstanding at right tackle. The Packers swung big in free agency, and it transformed their roster.
4. Trading down for Jayden Reed, Dontayvion Wicks, and Karl Brooks
Gutekunst has made several smart draft-day trades, but few are as impressive as his work in the 2023 NFL Draft. In two quick trade-downs with the Detroit Lions and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Green Bay moved from No. 45 overall to No. 50, selecting Jayden Reed.
With the two additional picks in the fifth and sixth rounds, the Packers added Dontayvion Wicks and Karl Brooks. All three made significant contributions as rookies and are breakout candidates for 2024.
3. Packers' Day 3 selections in 2022 NFL Draft
Finding three starters in an entire draft class is considered a success. The Packers found three starters between Rounds 4 and 7 in 2022: Left tackle Rasheed Walker, right tackle Zach Tom, and wide receiver Romeo Doubs. Gutekunst also landed edge rusher Kingsley Enagbare, who has become an important part of the pass-rush rotation.
On Day 3 of the draft alone, Gutekunst found two quality starting tackles (many teams have zero), one of Jordan Love's most trusted targets, and a reliable pass rusher.
2. Packers trade Aaron Rodgers to Jets
Aaron Rodgers said he was 90 percent retired. There was effectively zero chance he would play for the Packers again. Green Bay either had to trade him or be stuck with his contract. Despite those factors working against Gutekunst, he still fleeced the Jets. Only injury prevented the Packers from receiving the Jets' 2024 first-round pick, but they still landed the No. 41 selection, which they used to select Edgerrin Cooper.
The full details of the trade are complete. Gutekunst swapped a player who was likely done in Green Bay, regardless, for Lukas Van Ness, Luke Musgrave, Edgerrin Cooper, Evan Williams, Jacob Monk, and Anders Carlson. Chef's kiss.
1. Drafting Jordan Love
Gutekunst knew the reaction he would receive for drafting Jordan Love, especially after trading up. He accepted it might anger Aaron Rodgers and lead to his Packers departure. Gutekunst also understood that if Love never became a franchise quarterback, he would likely lose his job.
But he stuck to the process. He believed in Love's potential, viewed him as a first-round talent, and thought he could become a quality starter with time to develop in Green Bay. And Gutekunst was right. He was so right.
Love looked like a star in the second half of the season, throwing for 2,150 yards, 18 touchdowns, and one pick, with a 112.7 rating in the final eight games. He then dispatched the Dallas Cowboys and their dominant defense with a near-perfect passer rating in his playoff debut. That's an MVP-level run.
Drafting Love when they didn't need a quarterback ensured the Packers' rebuild lasted all of eight games. Gutekunst deserves all the credit in the world.