#PackersDaily: Gutekunst gets to work
From releasing long-time vets to signing new guys, Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst began shaping his 2024 roster in earnest over the last 24 hours.
By PackerAaron
Listen to the podcast here:
PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO OUR CHEESEHEAD NATION WEEKLY NEWSLETTER HERE.
__________________________
Comments (33)
Bitternotsour
March 11, 2024 at 05:13 pm
Making the bold move to draft Jordan Love buys Gutekunst a lot of power in shaping the Packers future. Fortune favors the bold.
I wonder how John Schneider will treat his newfound power in Seattle.
Starrbrite
March 11, 2024 at 08:31 pm
I have always highly regarded Scheidner. I believe he and Gutey are very similar GM’s.
BuckyBadger
March 11, 2024 at 05:27 pm
Don't care to pay for aging RBs who are in decline. Jacobs wasn't very good last year and has a lot of wear on those tires going back to college. Paying at RB is very risky and doesn't pay off very often. I would much rather put that money on the OL.
WestCoastPackerBacker
March 11, 2024 at 05:44 pm
Aging? They went from 30 year old Aaron Jones to 26 year old Josh Jacobs. True that he has had a ton of carriers though. I love that GB is giving Jordan Love a backfield that has to be reckoned with. They looked almost. unstoppable when the run game got going at the end of the year. I think they'll get a second back to share carries with Jacobs; maybe Emmanuel Wilson will get more snaps and they'll draft a RB too.
Packerpasty
March 11, 2024 at 05:57 pm
for sure they will draft a RB somewhere in round 3 or later...this is a good move, Jacobs is a beast when healthy just as Jones was a beast "when healthy"...Jacobs is a powerful guy...
Starrbrite
March 11, 2024 at 08:33 pm
Couldn’t agree with you more West—well said.
LambeauPlain
March 11, 2024 at 05:56 pm
You are probably describing Jones as much as Jacobs.
Jones is one of my all time Packer favorites. But being 30 with his recent injury history, "paying at RB is very risky and doesn't pay off very often."
Starrbrite
March 11, 2024 at 08:47 pm
Right Lambeau—all the great GM’s realize you have to let go. Branch Rickey was the progenitor of this thinking.
KnockTheSnotOutOfYou
March 11, 2024 at 07:02 pm
I am expecting a Jonathan Brooks or a Trey Benson at possibly the #58
Gutey knows the importance of having that Aaron Jones-type talent behind Love. I am confident he will select someone with similar talent whoever it might be in the draft.
Starrbrite
March 11, 2024 at 08:48 pm
I think so too Knock—I like Guerrendo.
SicSemperTyrannis
March 12, 2024 at 07:31 am
I expect Guerrendo to go early after his showing at the combine.
PackerJD
March 11, 2024 at 05:27 pm
After everything today my guess the Packers will move up a couple times in the draft .
Particularly after signing a starting running back and safety.
Don’t need 11 players from the draft.
Quality over quantity!
SicSemperTyrannis
March 12, 2024 at 07:36 am
If Gutey does, I hope it's not via trading any of our first 5 picks. Trading later picks to move up and grab a scouting favorite? Yes please! The past 2 drafts insured that the roster doesn't have 11 holes. There remain about 5 positions of need, including still needing more safeties.
I currently put IOL as the top need, but FA is not the place to acquire that now. Is there any cap space to get a cheap S or ILB? There are some good ones left ...
dobber
March 12, 2024 at 08:19 am
I think the fact that they have all that draft capital, and know they're going to get an influx of young cheap talent, is in part what has emboldened BG to take a stab at a couple first-day signings.
LambeauPlain
March 11, 2024 at 05:35 pm
Gutey is like his boss, the Wise Owl Ted, in that he is not content to keep a player a year too long, even if the fan base is agitated cutting popular, productive players.
One day we will know, but I believe Team Gutey was more than willing to trade Rodgers for all that Denver Gold...because that turned out to a year late farewell.
Where he is not like Ted is going routinely after good fitting FAs. (Sir Charles, Pickett notable exceptions)
Ted focused on signing his own guys, and even then let some good players leave...Casey Hayward, Josh Sitton, M. Hyde, etc.
Gutey is still more draft and develop vs FA oriented... but he is not afraid to go and get the guy(s) that he believes can make an immediate impact.
McKinney and Jacobs are those guys.
Starrbrite
March 11, 2024 at 08:50 pm
Lambeau—a great post and exactly what I believe.
SicSemperTyrannis
March 12, 2024 at 07:38 am
Hopefully MLF utilizes Jacobs to his full potential. If so, he could have a HUGE season.
GPG!
SicSemperTyrannis
March 12, 2024 at 09:44 am
PURE CLASS from Bakh in his exit speech. Highly recommended reading
WestCoastPackerBacker
March 11, 2024 at 05:45 pm
Aaron, am I right that with #33 and #69 gone, Kenny Clark is the only guy left from the Ted Thompson era? Lost Rodgers and Crosby last year and I think Clark is the last man standing not drafted by Gutey.
KnockTheSnotOutOfYou
March 11, 2024 at 07:07 pm
The future is bright for the Packers and they must free up the cap and draft younger talent that will grow with the young team. The Packers are going to be a force for the next 4+ years easily. The fact that Gutey is leading the charge is very reassuring. Best GM in the NFL in my opinion and I have said that for the last 4-years. Only getting better and better the longer the leash is.
SicSemperTyrannis
March 12, 2024 at 07:40 am
Definitely taking a win now approach, that could also stick around for multiple years. Hard to argue with strategy like that :)
KnockTheSnotOutOfYou
March 12, 2024 at 10:21 am
Agree with Sic and Star!
Gutey knows how close they are to getting over the top. He is fully aware of what he has and the areas he needs to tweak and improve. He also knows exactly how important the running game is and he needs talent at the vital RB position. Jones certainly demonstrated the importance to the offense late in the year in particular. Offensively the Packers are very thin at the OL and RB position, otherwise, the offense is poised for huge success. Plug those holes in the event of a key injury.
Bisonball
March 12, 2024 at 02:05 pm
I wouldn't call it a win now approach. He's filling needs with available proven talent that are just entering their prime years, without being anchored to cap unfriendly
contracts should they not pan out as hoped. These two signings open up the draft in so many ways.
Starrbrite
March 11, 2024 at 08:29 pm
Gutey and Ball are savants.
Good job and go Packers!!!
KKB
March 11, 2024 at 08:35 pm
Rosenhaus may find it difficult to do better than the Packers offer, based on recent signings.
Ekeler has agreed to sign with the Commanders on a two-year deal worth up to $11.43M
Barkley will be getting an average of $12.58 million per year from the Eagles
Titans signing ex-Cowboys RB Tony Pollard to three-year, $24 million contract
SicSemperTyrannis
March 12, 2024 at 08:18 am
#33 to the Viqueens, along with Sam Darnold.
dobber
March 12, 2024 at 08:22 am
Jones will be an upgrade over what they ran out last year.
Darnold isn't much better than what they finished the season with at QB, and certainly isn't Kark's equal...especially if they can't protect him.
NFLfan
March 11, 2024 at 08:40 pm
I haven't always been A Gute fan but I congratulate him on all of his current moves.
He had to know the fanbase would holler about Jones but Jones was just not available enough (significant injuries) to warrant his salary desires.
And, his availability will only diminish. The Packers tried to work something out. Bakh had to go, absolutely.
I hate to admit this here, but I follow the Jets as well and I bet they consider and maybe sign Runyon, Bakh, Jones, Dillon-(they aren't taking my warning calls-lol)
The Packers are doing it right and I'm excited.
SicSemperTyrannis
March 12, 2024 at 07:43 am
JRJ signed elsewhere. He's gone. #69 could still be back, IF nobody else signs him, he wants to play, and takes a deal that only guarantees him what he gets via injury settlement, plus some amount per game actually played.
It'll be interesting to see the roster on day 1 of OTAs ...
NitschkeFan
March 11, 2024 at 08:55 pm
The backfield is shaping up to be Jacobs (age 26) plus one of the young draft picks like J. Wright (21) or Trey Benson (21) or Braelon Allen (20). Nicely set up to complement the young WR / TE / QB for the next few seasons.
SinceLombardi
March 12, 2024 at 07:18 am
No complaints here. Now go get a linebacker on day two.
SicSemperTyrannis
March 12, 2024 at 07:46 am
ILBs that are good and cheap are still available. So are safeties and we need more. There's even a hybrid! I don't know if our new DC values that?
I'm surprised Gutey sprang for a premium RB in FA, is there any cap space left to add anyone else?
I hope to see McKinney play like Superman ...
Green Bay Shareholder
March 12, 2024 at 11:48 am
Any Linebacker with the last name Matthews should work out fine !!