Green Bay Packers: Brian Gutekunst has Career Defining Draft

The 2020 NFL Drat has turned into a career-defining one for Green Bay Packers’ general manager, Brian Gutekunst.

We all know the story quite well by now, instead of addressing the wide receiver position or any other of their perceived major needs early on, GM Brian Gutekunst took the Green Bay Packers in an entirely different direction during the first three rounds of the NFL Draft.

This is a Packers team that is coming off of a 13-3 season, winners of the NFC North, the overall No. 2 seed in the NFC playoffs, and they wound up just one game shy of the Super Bowl.

However, throughout the season it was clear that the wide receiver position was underwhelming for the most part, the interior defensive line was shredded by opposing running games, and Green Bay could have used more speed at the linebacker position. Not to mention that they do not have their long-term answer at right tackle on the roster.

In a draft loaded with wide receiver and linebacker talent, along with some solid tackle and defensive tackle options early on, it seemed like the perfect place to fill a few of these holes on the roster. Instead, Gutey and Company threw fans and draft analysts for a loop on Days 1 and 2.

Of course, the ‘loop’ that I’m referring to are the selections of quarterback Jordan Love in Round 1, running back A.J. Dillon in Round 2, and soon to be H-back, Josiah Deguara in Round 3.

While a general manager’s job is always on the line and he is going to be heavily scrutinized for what takes place in the draft, this year Gutey pushed all his chips to the center of the table in what will end up being a career-defining draft for him.

Sure there are still a number of question marks surrounding his 2018 class and while last year’s class looks like it could be a good one overall, there are still many who question his decision to take Rashan Gary with the 12th pick. But even so, worst-case scenario from the first two drafts for him is that he whiffs on a few draft picks, which happens all the time.

This year’s draft, however, is far different. With the first three picks, Gutey set the Green Bay Packers’ franchise in a different direction.

We all know that Aaron Rodgers is on the back-nine of his career but it wasn’t until the Jordan Love selection that made many realize just how close the end might be. Although Rodgers has four years left on his current contract, realistically he may only be around for two or three of those years depending on his play and the development of Love.

Despite what Gutey and Matt LaFleur said after the draft, Rodgers’ clock is now officially ticking.

On top of that, with the additions of Dillon and Deguara, it all but confirms that the Green Bay Packers are in fact looking to become a more “run-oriented” offense as it was reported. The days of Rodgers in shotgun formation with five wide as he carries them up and down the field are behind him. And relatively unknown players like Dillon, Deguara, and Sternberger are going to have major roles moving forward, with the run game dictating what the offense is going to do far more than it ever has in the Rodgers-era.

As is the case with every draft, only time will tell. If Love develops into a franchise quarterback and the new gameplan brings life to this Green Bay Packers’ offense, then Gutey will look like a genius and many will wonder why they ever doubted him.

But on the flip side, if Love just does not pan out and the remaining few years of Rodgers’ career in Green Bay end in disappointment, well, that’ll be the end of the Gutekunst/LaFleur regime with the Packers.

Ultimately, there doesn’t seem to be a middle ground for this situation. Either it works out and Gutey is the GM in Titletown for a long time or it doesn’t and he is sent packing. This 2020 NFL Draft was about as all-in as a general manager can go. Now, we wait and see how everything plays out over the next few seasons.