Pat McAfee owes Packers GM Brian Gutekunst an apology

The offseason Aaron Rodgers trade drama split opinion. Did the Green Bay Packers or the New York Jets hold the leverage?

Pat McAfee often came to Rodgers' defense while also praising Jets general manager Joe Douglas.

"The Jets make use of their picks. The Jets are good drafters," McAfee told NFL insider Ian Rapoport on the 'Pat McAfee Show' in March.

McAfee also had some harsh words for Packers GM Brian Gutekunst.

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

He then doubled down after Rapoport defended Gutekunst.

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

It's fair to say McAfee owes Gutekunst an apology.

Packers GM Brian Gutekunst continues to prove Pat McAfee wrong

Gutekunst? He's looking pretty smart right now. His decision to draft Jordan Love and allow him to develop for three years is beginning to pay off. Love was incredible against the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving and has thrown for 1,107 yards, eight touchdowns, and two interceptions over the past four weeks. Love has shown franchise quarterback potential.

The Packers' 2023 rookie class is delivering.

Luke Musgrave is already a major contributor on offense. Lukas Van Ness is a future starter. Tucker Kraft has made an impact. Seventh-rounders Carrington Valentine and Anthony Johnson Jr. look like draft steals.

Gutekunst traded down twice in the second round, turning the No. 45 pick into Jayden Reed, Dontayvion Wicks, and Karl Brooks, arguably the Packers' three most impressive rookies. A stroke of genius.

Entering Week 12, the Jets' rookies have played a combined 678 snaps. Lukas Van Ness and Jayden Reed have played more than New York's entire rookie class.

In the words of McAfee: Are we sure Joe Douglas is smart?

Instead of drafting an offensive lineman to protect Aaron Rodgers, he used their first-rounder on an edge rusher for the future.

His free-agent signings to build a championship roster around Rodgers?

Douglas signed Randall Cobb, Allen Lazard, Dalvin Cook, and Mecole Hardman. The Jets also hired Nathaniel Hackett.

Cobb has three catches for 20 yards and has been a healthy scratch for multiple games. New York handed Lazard a $44 million contract. He was inactive in Friday's game against the Miami Dolphins, having made only 20 catches and dropped four passes this season.

Cook has 160 rushing yards, while the Jets already gave up on Hardman, trading him back to the Kansas City Chiefs.

When Rodgers got hurt, Douglas did nothing to upgrade the quarterback position. He stuck with Zach Wilson for far too long and has now benched him for Tim Boyle. Meanwhile, the Minnesota Vikings are 2-1 since trading a sixth-round pick for Josh Dobbs.

McAfee was adamant that Douglas was the smart GM with a proven track record and was critical of Gutekunst.

He owes Gutekunst an apology.

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