Some of us have been belly-aching for years that when selecting their top draft choices, the Packers need to obtain collegians who are ready to become starters right away. My personal argument has been that in doing so teams can control their payroll, as those four-year rookie contracts are such a bargain.
In his fourth year as Green Bay’s draft leader, Gutekunst finally jumped on this bandwagon. His three top picks should all see plenty of playing time almost immediately. All three might well become starters by mid-season.
The sure-fire way to pick draftees who are ready to play at the pro level, as opposed to requiring years of development, is pretty simple: pick guys who have been on the field for three or more years on teams in the Southeast, Atlantic Coast, or Big Ten conferences. Better yet, look for players from perennial powerhouses, such as Alabama, Clemson, Ohio State, and the like. Such teams have the best coaches and training personnel – the development has already been done.
For extra credit, in the early rounds go after players who can fill positions of need, who man the skills positions, who are highly athletic, who have no lengthy injury histories, and who are without “character” issues. The Pack’s general manager has marked all the boxes in his fourth year on the job.
With the 29th pick, Gutey acquired Eric Stokes, who has spent four years (counting a red-shirt season) honing his skills in Athens, Georgia, where he often faced off against the likes of Alabama, Auburn, Florida, and LSU. His progression has been steady – in 2019, he was named second-team All-SEC, and in 2020 he earned a berth on the conference’s first team.
Late in the second round, Gutey chose Ohio State center Josh Myers. His progression goes like this: high school All-American in 2016, second team All-Big Ten in 2019, and then first team in 2020. With the departure of Corey Linsley, this was a position of need for Green Bay. Some project that Josh will be a starter from the opening game of the upcoming season.
With his late third-round pick, Gutey went with wide receiver Amari Rodgers, another four-year collegian – who spent much of that time lining up in the slot. Once again, his progression has been steadily skyward: 19 catches as a freshman, then 55 (for the 2018 national champs), then 30 receptions in 2019 despite incurring an ACL tear during spring practice, and finally with 77 receptions, for 1,020 yards and seven TDs in his senior year. Amari topped off his college career by being named first-team All-ACC.
He was quarterback Trevor Lawrence’s favorite target en route to the QB becoming the first player chosen in this year’s draft. In the three years Lawrence and Amari played together, the Tigers recorded 34 wins and two losses. You might say that Rodgers was Trevor’s secret weapon.
All-conference credentials are the best a team that chooses 29th in the draft can realistically hope for. It’s much easier to pick off All-Americans if you’re the Jaguars’ general manager.
The GM’s New Challenge
Other than letting Jordy Nelson go before it was time, the only bone I’ve had to pick with Brian Gutekunst is his eclectic draft choice selections – but he’s been rock-steady during this draft. Otherwise, he has earned not only my praise, but my respect for the way he has handled himself at a difficult job.
I was particularly impressed by how well Brian responded to questions from the press regarding the Aaron Rodgers’ blow-up. In his public relations dealings, he has always been open, available, forthright, and honest. He said all the right things when asked the tough questions, and did so respectfully and responsibly. Rather than fanning the flames, or attacking or criticizing the MVP quarterback, Gutey repeatedly, and effectively, made the case that, while he’s made mistakes as GM, he has always acted in the team’s best interests.
Gutekunst’s humility and business-like approach to his job is in stark contrast to the way Rodgers and his surrogates have gone about establishing their narrative. One Rodgers supporter went so far as to over-dramatically claim that Rodgers has reaches his “breaking point” with the team’s front office. Sorry Aaron, but you have been acting like one would expect of a pampered, idolized, and self-obsessed multi-millionaire.
I’ve glanced at a few hundred fan comments regarding the crisis, and I can tell you that the Packers’ front office is handily winning the public relations battle. The rich and inspiring history of our Green Bay Packers will continue regardless of the maneuverings and plotting of one ego-driven player.
It’s ironic that a man who has cultivated and nurtured such a pure-as-the-driven-snow public image is suddenly coming across as self-centered and manipulative. He’s following in the steps of the quarterback he replaced – this isn’t the first time Packers fans have had to endure a superstar quarterback who turned into a Diva.
I stand fully behind the Packers’ front office in this dispute, and the early returns indicate that so does most of Packer Nation. Aaron has three years left of a four-year $134 million contract that he freely agreed to – he needs to honor and comply with it. I view the timing of his campaign, and the resorting to innuendo, rumors, and threats, and to surrogates to push his agenda, as stabbing close to 100 of his teammates, coaches, and trainers in the back. If the reports are true, it’s mutiny.
All season long Rodgers had been saying he was never happier or more at peace. What’s changed? Rodgers needs to step up and personally and publicly address this issue – right away.
If this crisis truly revolves around the drafting of Jordan Love in the first round of 2020, Rodgers needs to apologize for thrusting an innocent teammate into the role of villain. Love, by the way, has quietly and responsibly gone about his business since being drafted a year ago.
How can Rodgers so easily forget what he had to endure back in 2005 when he was drafted to become the heir apparent to a living legend?
Man up, Aaron!