Is Packers QB Trade and Kicker Waiver Wire Selection Signs That Packers On New Track?

Draft and develop. A phrase that has been more than a mantra in Green Bay, it has been a blueprint for doing business in Packerland since Ted Thompson was introduced as GM in 2005. Now, Thompson was in the building in 1993 when Reggie White became the biggest free agent signing in Green Bay history.

He saw the impact a game changing free agent could have for the team. But when Thompson returned in 2005, “draft and develop” was cemented as the cornerstone game plan. Current GM Brian Gutekunst was a Thompson protégé, he was selected to replace Thompson after working under him.

Gutekunst showed up in Green Bay as an intern in 1997. Reggie was still in the building. Gutekunst may have seen for himself the impact a player like Reggie had and learned early the benefits of swinging for the fences in player acquisition. Perhaps Thompson told Gutekunst about White’s impact and how the signing came to fruition. Could these events in the 1990s be impacting Gutekunst’s decisions today?

Now, trading a future 7th round draft pick for a backup QB and showing the trap door to two underwhelming kicking prospects is not comparable in team impact to signing Reggie White. We are still in Green Bay. Baby steps folks.

But having stated publicly that you have a plan to draft and develop quarterbacks, followed by drafting quarterbacks in consecutive years, then not giving them the time to develop that you gave to your current starting quarterback and his predecessor who, despite his covid stance and hallucinating tea drinks, is a sure first ballot Hall of Famer, is puzzling.

It is possible Packer coaches saw faults they believed they could not fix in their two recent QB draft picks. But it is also quite possible that their draft-and-develop plan has been completely abandoned over a position player that, if things go right, will never see the field of play. That urgency has now replaced the patience necessary to implement a draft and develop strategy.

The Unnecessary Gamble: Willis Trade Raises Questions About Packers’ Future Plans

Before this trade, multiple pundits claimed the Packers had to make a trade at second string quarterback. The argument held that if something happened to Jordan Love, Clifford and Pratt would not win games in his absence. Green Bay needed an experienced backup who could win in Love’s absence.

The Packers made the move, but the move they made begs the next question: Is there any fan out there that is going to sleep better at night with Malik Willis and his four total completions in the 2023 regular season or his 42.8 QBR in 8 games in 2022 as our security blanket? It’s one thing to sign a proven backup.

But Willis is arguably just a year ahead of Clifford and Pratt in development. Willis has this year and next year left on his contract before he hits free agency. So, what will the plan be in 2026? The Packers have now invested three draft picks in the backup quarterback position in successive years.

Do they see Willis as a future starter? His reputation includes a rocket arm and elite running ability for the position. Willis will now have less than two weeks to learn the playbook. Will he be able to run the team prior to say … week six?

One thing we have learned is that Gutekunst is not willing to patiently give time to players when he thinks he can improve the team by finding a player outside Green Bay. Aaron Jones being jettisoned was not just frustration with an agent. Gute has now tossed a team leader and three of his own draft picks to reach outside his team to attempt to improve his roster. Draft and develop be damned. The talent on the roster is priority one.

There is an urgency in this move that could improve team competition. But Packer fans hope we never have to see Malik Willis in a regular season game. This is Jordan Love’s team to take to the promised land. And it turns out that commitment by Green Bay to Love could have cost Sean Clifford his job.

Clifford was given a rare opportunity when Love’s agent slow-played signing his contract. Clifford had the keys to the race car. His repeated interceptions day after day in those first practices put his career into the wall. But the Packer coaches must have had concerns about Clifford from last year, otherwise the selection of Pratt makes little sense.

But Clifford is the QB signed for the practice squad for 2024 and Pratt is gone to the Buccaneers. Clifford might be signed just to tutor Willis and be the insurance policy until Willis has the playbook down. But Pratt and the QB coach could have handled that.

A Shift in Strategy: Green Bay’s Unpredictable Roster Decisions

Then there is the kicker switcheroo. The Packers stuck with rookie Anders Carlson for the entire 2023 season, only to watch their patience shoot them in the foot in the playoffs. Now, they kick their two kickers to the curb and take a flier on an undrafted rookie who was not good enough for Tennessee.

Another draft pick, a sixth-round pick, in Carlson dumped. The Packer front office has all said that his 32-yard shank was not the reason for his trap door exit from Lombardi Ave, but it was all most fans needed to pull that lever.
Packer fans, your GM is now willing to sign free agent skill positions (running back Josh Jacobs) and abandon draft picks to trade for, hopefully, a key backup position or special teams difference maker.

How shall we define this new era in decision making in Green Bay? It’s pure chaos time on Lombardi Avenue. And our general manager is pulling the strings. This could be a fun season….