Brian Gutekunst has put together six draft classes as Green Bay Packers general manager. We've ranked every single pick.
It's hard to believe Brian Gutekunst has been running the show for six years. He's made some great picks in the draft, some bad. He took a playoff-less Green Bay Packers team and made them regular contenders.
Gutekunst's legacy will be defined by the Jordan Love pick, one that effectively forced Aaron Rodgers out the door three years later. How Love performs as the new starting quarterback, and also Rodgers for the New York Jets, will determine whether Gutekunst made the right call.
Over the past six years, Gutekunst has made a total of 61 draft picks. That's a good sample size to look at.
We've ranked every one of his selections.
Packers: Ranking every Brian Gutekunst draft pick from worst to best
61. OL Simon Stepaniak
We had to start somewhere. Stepaniak was one of three offensive linemen drafted by the Packers in 2020. He never played a game for Green Bay and retired in 2021.
60. EDGE Kendall Donnerson
A seventh-round pick in 2018, Donnerson spent his first season on the Packers' practice squad. He never played a game in Green Bay.
59. EDGE James Looney
Looney played 28 snaps in his rookie season with the Packers, but he was waived the following summer and has been out of the league since.
58. RB Dexter Williams
Williams made seven carries for 19 yards over two seasons. He would end up on five different teams before joining the USFL.
57. OL Cole Madison
Madison sat out of his rookie season due to a personal issue. He returned in 2019, but was inactive all year before suffering a torn ACL in practice.
56. QB Sean Clifford
Clifford will likely back up Jordan Love this season, but it's surprising the Packers drafted him as high as they did, as many analysts believed he would've been available later on. Clifford might need to win the job over the summer.
55. RB Kylin Hill
Hill showed promise during training camp but didn't get many opportunities in the regular season. The Packers released him in 2022, which Matt LaFleur said was to do with off-field reasons rather than performance.
More Articles About Packers Draft History:
54. K Anders Carlson
Carlson will get an opportunity to win the kicking job this summer. He could be Mason Crosby's replacement, but he has to prove himself.
53. LS Hunter Bradley
Bradley was the Packers' long snapper for four seasons, playing in 56 games during that time.
52. DL Jonathan Ford
Ford was a seventh-round pick last year. He made the 53-man roster but was inactive all season. He's a player to watch this summer.
51. WR J'Mon Moore
Moore was a fourth-round pick in 2018. Playing in 12 games, he made just two catches and had a fumble. He was waived the following summer.
50. WR Grant DuBose
DuBose will compete for a roster spot this summer after being selected in the seventh round. With his size and athleticism, he has a chance to make the 53 and rise up these rankings.
49. OL Cole Van Lanen
Van Lanen only played in one game for the Packers. He was traded to the Jacksonville Jaguars for a seventh-round pick, and he was active for 16 games last season.
48. OL Sean Rhyan
A third-round pick last year, Rhyan played just one special teams snap. He enters a make-or-break second season and needs to perform well at training camp.
47. RB Lew Nichols III
Nichols could be the Packers' RB3 this season. In 2021, he rushed for 1,848 yards and 16 touchdowns at Central Michigan. A player to watch at training camp.
46. CB Carrington Valentine
Valentine was another Day 3 pick this year with the chance to make the Packers' 53-man roster. He made 10 pass defenses at Kentucky last season, and he can also help on special teams.
45. OL Rasheed Walker
Walker was limited to just four special teams snaps in his rookie season. He was given a year to develop. Can he step into a backup role this year?
44. WR Amari Rodgers
A third-round pick in 2021, Rodgers made eight receptions and seven fumbles. He was released in his second season.
43. TE Jace Sternberger
Another third-round pick who struggled to make an impact, Sternberger was released in Week 3 of his third season with the Packers.
42. S Vernon Scott
Scott played 18 games for the Packers over two seasons, with most of his work coming on special teams.
41. CB Ka'dar Hollman
Hollman played in 18 games with one start, making three pass defenses and 10 tackles.
40. LB Kamal Martin
Martin impressed during his first training camp before playing 10 games and starting six as a rookie. However, he was a surprise cut the following summer.
39. OL Jake Hanson
Hanson has played in 11 games with one start across three seasons. He offers some positional versatility as a backup.
38. EDGE Jonathan Garvin
Garvin has just 1.5 sacks across 38 games, and he will face competition for one of the final roster spots at edge rusher this season.
37. DT Karl Brooks
Brooks could prove to be one of the steals of the 2023 NFL Draft. It shouldn't be long before he's starting in the Packers' defense, having made 10 sacks last year at Bowling Green.
36. S Tariq Carpenter
Carpenter barely played early in his rookie season, but had become an important special teams contributor late in the year. That will help his chances of making the roster this season.
35. S Anthony Johnson Jr.
Johnson was a seventh-round pick this year, but could eventually start for the Packers on defense. He is a former cornerback and can play multiple positions in the secondary. He is a player to watch over the summer.
34. WR Dontayvion Wicks
Wicks has the size and athleticism to become a solid complementary receiver for the Packers, but he made too many drops at Virginia.
33. CB Shemar Jean-Charles
Jean-Charles hasn't started a game for the Packers, but he has been active for 20 over his first two seasons and offers good depth at slot corner.
32. WR Samori Toure
Toure had limited opportunities as a rookie but made one of the Packers' most impressive touchdown catches of the season. Matt LaFleur keeps mentioning Toure as a player they will rely on this year.
31. LB Ty Summers
Summers played 46 games for the Packers across three seasons, with most of his snaps coming on special teams. He occasionally stepped in as a backup on defense.
30. DL Kingsley Keke
Keke spent three seasons in Green Bay. He started 17 games between 2020 and 2021, making 6.5 sacks and 12 quarterback hits. However, he was surprisingly released in January 2022, with Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 in Houston reporting that it was due to a disagreement with the coaching staff.
29. P JK Scott
Scott was the Packers' punter for three seasons, averaging a solid 44.6 yards per punt. However, he was inconsistent, especially as the conditions got tougher in Green Bay late in the season.
28. CB Josh Jackson
Jackson started 10 games in his rookie season, making 10 pass defenses. However, he would only start another five games over the next two years. According to Pro Football Reference, Jackson allowed a passer rating of 143.7 in his coverage in 2019. In 2021, the Packers traded Jackson to the New York Giants.
27. LB Isaiah McDuffie
McDuffie saw his role expand in year two, and he made the most of his opportunities. According to Pro Football Reference, he ranked third on the team in special teams snaps. He also impressed in a backup role on defense. McDuffie should be the Packers' No. 3 inside linebacker behind De'Vondre Campbell and Quay Walker this season.
26. TE Josiah Deguara
Deguara can line up at multiple positions on offense, but he has been limited to a backup role in his first three seasons. He played on the fifth-most special teams snaps last year, but it's unlikely his opportunities on offense will increase too much after the Packers drafted Luke Musgrave and Tucker Kraft.
25. WR Equanimeous St. Brown
St. Brown was a solid backup wide receiver during his four seasons in Green Bay. He made some impressive plays as a rookie, making 21 catches for 328 yards, but was limited to a backup role, only making another 16 catches the rest of his time with the Packers.
24. DL Colby Wooden
The Packers needed to add another starter along the defensive line, and they may have found one with Auburn's Colby Wooden. He made 10.5 sacks in his final two seasons in college. He provides interior pass rush and solid run defense, which is exactly what the Packers need.
23. DL T.J. Slaton
Without Jarran Reed and Dean Lowry, Slaton could be a starter for the Packers this season. He has been active for all 34 games over his first two seasons, but has made just two starts. Slaton should see an increased role in year three.
22. LB Oren Burks
Burks only started seven of 59 games for the Packers over four seasons, but he was a core special teams player during that time. He wasn't re-signed after his rookie contract, but signed a deal with the San Francisco 49ers.
21. WR Jayden Reed
The Packers have a new-look receiving corps this season, and second-round pick Jayden Reed should have a featured role immediately. He can line up in the slot, outside, out of the backfield, and can return kicks and punts. Reed can do it all for the Packers.
20. TE Tucker Kraft
Kraft should play a significant number of snaps early in his career. The third-round pick has great size and athleticism and is a talented pass-catcher. The Packers needed to upgrade their tight end room, and Kraft should contribute as a receiver right away.
19. OL Royce Newman
Newman started 16 games in his rookie season. He was too inconsistent, leading to a reduced number of snaps in 2022, making just six starts. If he can improve his consistency, Newman can become a dependable backup with positional versatility.
18. EDGE Kingsley Enagbare
Enagbare showed potential in his rookie season, making three sacks and eight quarterback hits. He stepped up following Rashan Gary's season-ending injury and should be an important part of the pass-rush rotation in year two.
17. EDGE Lukas Van Ness
Van Ness has the opportunity to make an instant impact in Green Bay. He is an elite athlete and is so powerful. The Packers will have him line up on the edge and inside. If he reaches his potential, he'll soon rank much higher on this list.
16. TE Luke Musgrave
In the second round of this year's draft, the Packers took arguably the best player available and also fixed their biggest need. Musgrave needs some development, but his rare combination of size, speed, and athleticism can make him a difference-maker in Green Bay's offense.
15. WR Romeo Doubs
Doubs was one of the stars of training camp last summer, and he took that into the regular season with 31 receptions, 314 yards, and three touchdowns in the opening nine games. However, an injury cost him four games, and Doubs was never able to rediscover his consistency from earlier in the year. Still, he will be a big part of the offense moving forward.
14. DL Devonte Wyatt
It made no sense when the Packers kept playing Dean Lowry over Wyatt, but the first-round pick made an impact when he got opportunities, including one sack and three quarterback hits in the final four games. Wyatt should start next to Kenny Clark in year two.
13. OL Josh Myers
Myers has been inconsistent in his first two seasons, but he has still started all 23 games he has played. He may face competition for a starting job this summer, but Myers is talented enough to start long-term. He just needs to become more consistent.
12. LB Quay Walker
The Packers will also need Walker to improve his consistency in year two, but the 2022 first-round pick has Pro Bowl potential. He showed off his outstanding speed and athleticism, leading the Packers in tackles last season.
11. OL Zach Tom
Tom stepped into some difficult positions last season, but he delivered. An argument can be made that he can start at any of the five offensive line positions. It won't be surprising if he's in the Week 1 starting lineup this season.
10. CB Eric Stokes
Stokes impressed in his rookie season, with 14 pass defenses and one interception. He struggled in the games he played in 2022, getting beaten too easily. He also suffered a season-ending injury that limited him to only nine games. However, Stokes showed his potential in 2021 and can be an excellent starter in the Packers' secondary.
9. RB AJ Dillon
Dillon has only made five starts in three seasons, but that doesn't matter. He plays a significant role on offense alongside Aaron Jones. Over the past two years, Dillon has 2,092 all-purpose yards and 14 total touchdowns. He is a fan favorite and an important player on offense for the Packers.
8. QB Jordan Love
Love only has one career start, and his performance this season will determine whether he moves up or down these rankings. However, he has shown significant improvements from his rookie season and looked great against the Philadelphia Eagles in 2022. Love showed he's ready to start, and he gets that opportunity after three years of learning from Aaron Rodgers.
7. G Jon Runyan Jr.
The Packers are masters of finding starting offensive linemen on Day 3 of the draft, and Runyan is another example of this. He has provided solid, consistent play at guard, starting 33 games over the past two seasons.
6. WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling
The Packers drafted three wide receivers in 2018. Valdes-Scantling was easily the best. He struggled with drops early in his career, but made significant improvements to his game. According to Pro Football Reference, he had 15 drops in his first three seasons, but none in 2021.
MVS quickly became one of the best deep threats in the NFL during his time in Green Bay, averaging 17.5 yards per reception over four seasons with the Packers. He caught 13 touchdowns in the regular season.
5. S Darnell Savage
The Packers traded up to get Savage in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft. He has started almost every game since. He has played in 62 games for the Packers over four seasons, with 59 starts. Savage hasn't reached the Pro Bowl level many believed he would, but he formed a solid starting duo with Adrian Amos at safety.
Savage has made 31 pass defenses and nine interceptions, with one pick-six.
4. WR Christian Watson
Watson has only been in the league for one season, but he showed star potential. With his size, speed, and athleticism, defenders can only watch as he runs past them with the ball in his hands.
Despite making a slow start, in part due to injuries, Watson put his name in the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year conversation by scoring eight touchdowns in the final eight games.
3. OL Elgton Jenkins
The Packers drafted Jenkins over DK Metcalf and A.J. Brown in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft, but it's a decision that has paid off. Jenkins is a dominant offensive lineman who can play at all five positions.
His best position is left guard, where he has made the Pro Bowl twice. Jenkins is a key starter for the Packers.
2. EDGE Rashan Gary
Had it not been for a torn ACL ending his season early, Gary would've been in the Pro Bowl conversation in 2022. After dominating throughout training camp, Gary made an impressive start to the season, making six sacks and 12 quarterback hits in nine games. Even when he wasn't getting sacks, Gary was putting quarterbacks under pressure.
Gary is one of the best pass rushers in the NFL and is a star in the Packers' defense.
1. CB Jaire Alexander
The Packers desperately needed a CB1 in 2018, and drafting Alexander in the first round proved to be a great decision. Alexander is one of the best cornerbacks in the league and has been an All-Pro and Pro Bowler twice in the past three seasons.
Alexander is a star, making 58 pass defenses and 10 interceptions in five seasons. Many of the league's top receivers have struggled to make a catch in Alexander's coverage.