Different year, but still plenty of promise

Mike Spofford

GREEN BAY In reviewing his 2026 draft, Brian Gutekunst called it a "unique year" in which his choices gave him "some peace."

So let's examine what each of those phrases means.

It certainly was different for the Packers general manager to draft only six players, his smallest class and the smallest in Green Bay in 22 years, since before the arrival of Gutekunst's mentor, Ted Thompson.

By trading up twice, sacrificing a fifth-round pick to move up in the third on Friday night (which became Missouri DTChris McClellan) and then spending two seventh-round picks for an extra sixth on Saturday (to get Florida KTrey Smack), Gutekunst went against his usual preference for more bites at the apple.

In some respects, those decisions could be a reflection of the overall lack of depth in this draft, which outside analysts mentioned. It was going to be difficult to maximize value with quantity, especially late, so if a well-regarded player began sitting alone atop the board, better to focus on the quality of that individual.

"I'd like to think it's we were letting the board talk to us and that's what it kind of told us to do," Gutekunst said. "That's the way it fell for us and I think we acted appropriately."

He even admitted to trying another trade up on Friday night, back into the end of the third round, targeting Penn State edge rusherDani Dennis-Sutton. But nothing came together.

Fortunately, Dennis-Sutton was still there 20 picks into the fourth round, and he got him at No. 120 overall.

That's one of the picks that gave Gutekunst some peace, asMicah Parsons' injury timeline is uncertain and veteran pass rushers Rashan Gary and Kingsley Enagbare are gone. Dennis-Sutton joins former first-round pickLukas Van Nessand two draft choices last year,Barryn SorrellandCollin Oliver, in the edge rusher mix that'll have to hold down the fort until Parsons returns.

Early opportunity exists on the defensive side as well for McClellan and the two cornerbacks drafted, South Carolina'sBrandon Cissein the second round and Alabama'sDomani Jacksonin the sixth. Adding multiple corners also counts as a box checked.

"All four of those guys coming in (on defense) can compete for playing time," Head Coach Matt LaFleur said. He added that under new defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon "it's pretty fluid in regards to which direction we can go" as he sees plenty of "flexibility within the scheme."

Drafting only one offensive player may not feel great, but at least it's at the position group Gutekunst never ignores, offensive line. Kentucky's guard/centerJager Burtonprovides immediate depth on the interior and a future starting candidate.

A lot didn't get done on offense, however, as no quarterback, tight end or running back was drafted. Although it didn't take long after the draft for media reports to indicate the Packers were in the process of signing undrafted players at all those spots.

WhetherDesmond RidderorKyle McCord(or a UDFA) can nail down QB2 this spring and summer remains to be seen, and Gutekunst particularly regretted not being able to select an in-line tight end before he'd spent all his picks.

At running back, the re-signing of veteranChris Brookswas important amidst Emanuel Wilson's departure in free agency, but no draft addition there leaves the Packers banking on the oft-injuredMarShawn Lloydto fulfill his promise.

"He's shown up (for offseason workouts), he looks like he's in great shape and we're hopeful that he can put his best stuff out there," LaFleur said of the 2024 third-round pick. "I mean, certainly talent's never been an issue for him."

The biggest surprise was the trade up to use Green Bay's last pick on the kicker, Smack, getting back to that "unique" comment. The strong-legged Gator with long-distance prowess gives the Packers three kickers on the current roster, along withBrandon McManusandLucas Havrisik.

Last season, McManus had fully recovered from a midseason quad injury and was in a groove until he wasn't, missing three kicks worth seven points in the playoff loss in Chicago. When McManus was sidelined earlier, Havrisik kicked the longest field goal in franchise history in one game and struggled mightily in windy conditions in another.

Gutekunst indicated there's no rush to narrow down the field, while LaFleur emphasized, "You can never have enough competition." So stay tuned.

Overall, the Packers like their picks and like their team, but the work is never done. As mentioned, the undrafted frenzy was well underway Saturday night, and a new set of players will be released around the league based on what their teams did in the draft.

Evaluation remains constant.

"I don't know if anything's ever complete," Gutekunst said. "This is 365. Tomorrow we'll gather some time around 9 o'clock, we'll take a look at it and say, 'OK, what's next?' and we'll start with what's coming tomorrow and the next day and that won't change.

"I felt good about our team before this weekend. These guys I think are going to be really good additions to our locker room and then our football team, and I think they'll help us, but tomorrow's another day and we'll see if there's areas we can improve and if we can we will."