Packers: Pat McAfee proved wrong about GM Brian Gutekunst

With Aaron Rodgers trade negotiations under the spotlight, Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst has become a polarizing figure.

He has been met with heavy criticism, while many Packers fans have fiercely defended him.

Gutekunst has made plenty of mistakes -- Aaron Rodgers' contract extension sits atop the list -- but name a GM who hasn't.

Pat McAfee, former All-Pro punter and host of the 'Pat McAfee Show', didn't hold back in a conversation with NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

On a recent episode of his show, McAfee questioned whether Gutekunst was a smart general manager. Rapoport called Gutekunst and New York Jets GM Joe Douglas "two very smart people and very good negotiators".

"Who's the smart person?" McAfee responded. "Oh, Gutekunst? We're just automatically assuming he's a smart person?"

"Oh yeah, there have never been sh-tty f-cking general managers," McAfee added.

Why Pat McAfee has been proved wrong about Packers GM Brian Gutekunst

McAfee certainly took a strong stance on Gutekunst on his show. As a Packers fan, it's time to provide some counterpoints.

In fact, Gutey has proven quite a lot.

Enough, in fact, to take eighth place in NFL.com's GM power rankings. To find Joe Douglas, you'd have to scroll all the way down to 16th.

Author Gregg Rosenthal believes the Packers are "moving on from Rodgers at the right time". He also praised Gutekunst's work in free agency and the recent Elgton Jenkins extension.

"I believe that the Packers think Jordan Love is ready. He wasn't last year. We'll find out if Gutekunst is right -- and that will help determine Gutekunst's legacy in Green Bay more than his above-average drafts (Christian Watson!), savvy targeted free-agent pickups and mostly smart re-signings. (The extension Green Bay gave Elgton Jenkins in December already looks like a steal.)"

- NFL.com's Gregg Rosenthal

But we can go even deeper than that. On the topic of trades, Gutekunst has proven to be a master negotiator.

Under Gutekunst, the Packers traded Ha Ha Clinton-Dix for a fourth-round pick, Brett Hundley for a sixth, Trevor Davis for a sixth, Reggie Gilbert for a sixth, and Ty Montgomery for a seventh.

Gutekunst sent Ka'dar Hollman to the Houston Texans for a seventh-round choice, and the Texans waived him one week later.

None of those players lasted more than a season with their new teams. But Gutekunst was able to receive draft picks in return rather than cutting them.

One of Gutekunst's finest moments came in the 2018 NFL Draft. First, he sent the No. 14 pick and a sixth-rounder to the New Orleans Saints for the No. 27 pick, a fifth-round choice, and a 2019 first-rounder. He then moved up from No. 27, sending a third-rounder to the Seattle Seahawks for the No. 18 pick, which the Packers used to draft Jaire Alexander.

Green Bay effectively gave up a third-rounder for Jaire Alexander and a 2019 first-round pick.

The star players Packers GM Brian Gutekunst has drafted or signed

Not only is Brian Gutekunst's track record in trades a strong one, but he turned a playoff-less team into one that won 13 games three years in a row and reached consecutive NFC Championship Games.

In the draft, Gutekunst has selected star players Jaire Alexander, Rashan Gary, Elgton Jenkins, and Christian Watson, as well as solid starters in Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Darnell Savage, AJ Dillon, Jon Runyan, and Quay Walker.

In free agency, he revolutionized the Packers' pass rush by signing Za'Darius Smith and Preston Smith, and added a quality starting safety in Adrian Amos.

He signed De'Vondre Campbell and Keisean Nixon to affordable one-year deals. Both were first-team All-Pros the same season. Gutekunst signed Rasul Douglas off the Arizona Cardinals' practice squad in October 2021. Douglas was named a Pro Bowl alternate, and has nine interceptions and two pick-sixes in less than two seasons.

Gutekunst is an excellent talent evaluator, and he proves this time and again.

So, yes, we can assume Gutekunst is a "smart person" and, yes, he has proven himself. NFL.com's GM power rankings reflect the great work Gutey has done in Green Bay.