Re-grading Green Bay Packers 2019 NFL Draft Class

With the Green Bay Packers dive into mediocracy and rebuilding, I thought I’d take a trip down memory lane to review how they got here. I’m going year-by-year to analyze Brian Gutekunst’s draft classes–beginning with his first in 2018 here and continuing with the 2019 class in this article.

After I review the drafts, I’ll go back and review the entire offseason. That should give us a clear picture of how he has performed in his job as one of the key decision-makers in the Packers’ front office.

So, without further ado, here is a grade for selection from the 2019 NFL Draft.

Let’s look back at the Green Bay Packers’ vaunted 2019 NFL Draft class, Brian Gutekunst’s second draft as the general manager.

Similar to his first class, Gutekunst began 2019 with a bang. He swung for the fences and hit a grand slam in the process. Gary was selected in the same offseason they signed Preston Smith and Za’Darius Smith, but the extra years behind them helped his development. He’s gotten better every single season and should be one of the best edge players in the NFL in 2023 if he can return to pre-injury form.

Grade: A+

Darnell Savage’s career has been a roller-coaster. At times, he’s looked like an ascending player who could become one of the better safeties in the NFL. His stretch down the second half of the 2020 season still stands out in my mind as his best football. Unfortunately, it’s been mostly downhill since then, and he’s coming off his worst season as a pro. He’s playing the final year of his rookie deal, but he’s a lame-duck safety for Green Bay.

Grade: D

Elgton Jenkins was another amazing pick, the second in three tries so far. His versatility has been extremely valuable, as he can play four positions along the offensive line. Left guard is his best and he can become one of the best guards in the NFL if he can settle into that role. He’s currently the second-highest-paid left guard in the league.

Grade: A+

I know the Packers’ third-round picks have been bad, but it doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt when we review them. After grabbing Oren Burks with his 2018 third-rounder and critics saying it couldn’t get worse, Gutey said hold my beer. He only lasted two years with the Packers before being waived in 2021.

Grade: F

Kingsley Keke once had a bright future and had a strong case to be on the football field ahead of players such as Dean Lowry. However, the coaching staff saw it differently, leading to a disagreement and him being waived. That quickly ended a somewhat promising Packers career. Even though his career only lasted three years, it’s not as big of a negative mark due to his fifth-round draft status.

Grade: C-

Ka’Dar Hollman only lasted two years in Green Bay, but that doesn’t sting as much since he was a sixth-round selection. He was traded to the Houston Texans for a seventh-rounder, adding some points to his grade.

Grade: C

Dexter Williams also only played in Green Bay for two seasons before being cut. He appeared in seven total games and fell further down the depth chart when A.J. Dillon was drafted. The difference between Williams and Hollman is Hollman was traded for a seventh-round pick, adding additional value to his selection.

Grade: C-

Ty Summers played a ton of special teams snaps in Green Bay and was a decent player in that department. He was never cut out for defense and the Packers only used him there in cases of emergency. That’s a solid career for a seventh-round pick.

Grade: B

Gary, who should sign a contract extension this offseason, and Jenkins, who begins his contract extension in 2023, are the only prizes to come out of this draft class. It helps the overall grade that they are significant players on the Packers’ and some of the better players at their positions.

The miss on Savage hurts badly. It’s extra painful, considering Green Bay didn’t get another playmaker anywhere else in the draft and missed horribly in the third round. There are likely only two players on the Packers’ roster from this draft class heading into the 2024 season.

Overall Grade: C-