Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst has a reputation for making his best draft picks well after the opening round.
That trait should come in handy the next couple of years.
Green Bay sent its 2026 and 2027 to the Dallas Cowboys last August as part of the package to acquire pass rusher who had last season before tearing his That injury ended Parsons鈥� 2025 season early and likely will cause his 2026 season to start
Any regrets?
鈥淶ero. None,鈥� Gutekunst said during the NFL scouting combine. 鈥淗e impacted our football team, not only on the field, but in our locker room in such a positive way. We鈥檙e really excited for years to come.鈥�
The Packers have eight total picks 鈥� including two each in the fifth and seventh rounds 鈥� and plenty of holes to fill after several departures followed a 9-8-1 season that ended with an in Chicago.
Free agency losses included left tackle (Carolina), receiver (New England), linebacker (Las Vegas), defensive lineman (New York Jets), backup quarterback (Miami) and backup running back Emanuel Wilson (Seattle).
The Packers released two-time Pro Bowl offensive lineman who went to Cleveland. They traded 2024 Pro Bowl defensive lineman Rashan Gary to Dallas and sent receiver to Philadelphia. They added former Indianapolis linebacker in a trade and signed cornerback , defensive tackle Javon Hargrave and receiver/kick returner Skyy Moore.
Gutekunst鈥檚 had mixed results drafting in the first round.
The bold decision to trade up and select quarterback in 2020 when was still on the roster paid off in the long run. Gutekunst鈥檚 past three first-round picks 鈥� edge rusher offensive lineman (2024) and receiver (2025) 鈥� haven鈥檛 made much of an impact yet. Morgan is expected to take over as Green Bay鈥檚 starting left tackle this upcoming season.
Gutekunst does have a knack for finding big contributors later in drafts. For instance, he took linebacker and safety Javon Bullard in the second round and got safety Evan Williams in the fourth round two years ago. All are key contributors.
Tucker Kraft, one of the game鈥檚 top young tight ends, was a third-round pick in 2023. Rasheed Walker (2022) and cornerback Carrington Valentine (2023) are seventh-round selections who developed into starters.
Late start
Assuming the Packers don鈥檛 trade up, their first selection will be at No. 52. That would be the latest they鈥檝e ever made their first pick.
This is the first time Green Bay has entered a draft without a first-round pick since 1986, though the Packers traded out of the first round on draft day in 2008 and 2017.
Needs
Green Bay鈥檚 to end last season exposed the Packers鈥� lack of depth at cornerback and on the offensive and defensive lines. Green Bay must add some complementary edge rushers who can benefit from the attention offenses give Parsons.
The Packers need to find a backup quarterback, unless they鈥檙e satisfied with the late-season addition of Wilson鈥檚 exit also leaves Green Bay seeking a backup running back to help Josh Jacobs.
Don鈥檛 need
The Packers appear set at safety with Xavier McKinney leading a group that also includes Williams and Bullard.
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