Patience Is a Virtue for Packers Fans This Offseason
By GilMartin
Green Bay Packers fans are unique in many ways. No other fanbase literally owns the team they root for and the Packers are a team full of unique traditions and a great history. But Packers fans are just like other NFL fans in one specific way: they want their team to make a big move to improve their team and they’re eager for it to happen as soon as possible.
But that isn’t going to happen this offseason. Packers GM Brian Gutekunst is always looking for ways to improve his football team, but like many NFL teams, the Packers don’t have much room under the reduced NFL salary cap. Fans need to be patient and understand that this offseason, patience may very well pay off for the Packers. And that Gutekunst has already done a lot to make sure the Packers are Super Bowl contenders again in 2021.
For a little perspective, go back a year. The Packers knew they had a large crop of key players who had expiring contracts after the 2020 season. That group included All Pro left tackle David Bakhtiari, center Corey Linsley, cornerback Kevin King, defensive lineman Kenny Clark and running backs Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams.
So, what did Gutekunst do? He prioritized bringing back as many key players as he could. During last season, he signed Clark to a lucrative contract extension to make sure he kept his best defensive lineman.
Later, Bakhtiari was signed to a new deal that made him the highest paid offensive tackle in the league at that time. That ensured that quarterback Aaron Rodgers would have his best pass protector back in Green and Gold in 2021 and beyond.
These two major moves were made before the 2020 season had even ended and they ensured the Packers would not lose too many of these key contributors this offseason.
Even after the NFL salary cap went down for the first time in recent memory, Gutekunst continued to work to keep his most valued players in Green Bay. By restructuring some bonus money and letting go a few veterans, he was able to find enough money to retain Jones, the team’s Pro Bowl running back.
Although the Packers have yet to sign any players in free agency yet this year, this should not be a cause for panic. Because the salary cap has gone down, this year’s free agent class is bigger than usual and full of quality players that teams were forced to release to get under the cap before the start of the new league year. That means there are more starting caliber free agents out there for the taking, but that teams cannot afford to pay them what they would normally be worth.
The very best free agents were signed in the usual free agent frenzy that takes place during the legal tampering period. But because of this glut in the market, teams will be able to add quality starters later in free agency when these players and their agents realize the cap dollars are disappearing and they are still unsigned.
Teams are still in the process of releasing players. Former Pro Bowl cornerback Kyle Fuller was just released a few days ago by the Bears, for example. Another group of players will be released after June 1st when teams can let those players go with less dead money counting against their salary cap totals in future years.
The Packers are barely under the cap right now. But they can still extend some players like Davante Adams or Za’Darius Smith or convert some roster bonuses and performance bonuses to signing bonuses on Aaron Rodgers or some other players to free up enough cap space to add at least one more consequential free agent and one or two moderately-priced players.
As GM of the Packers, Gutekunst’s job is to do everything he can to keep them as Super Bowl contenders for as long as he can. The big cutoff for this team is when Rodgers is no longer able to play at an elite level or when he is no longer the Packers quarterback. That is at least a couple of seasons away. When looking at the big picture, Gutekunst has done a lot in the past year to keep this team competitive and to give them a chance to win it all in 2021.
Free agency isn’t quite over and the Packers are likely to sign another player or two. The draft still awaits and the Packers have three compensatory picks in addition to their regular array of selections. Gutekunst has made a trade in the first round of the draft every year since he took over as GM so we don’t know when the Packers will make their first pick. This team should add quality players between now and the start of training camp.
It’s easy to be frustrated by the team’s failure to make a big splash in the early days of free agency. But while big ticket free agents often make a lot of headlines, they rarely result in Super Bowl wins. This year, patience may be a virtue for the Packers and their fans. Gute has put together a team that has back-to-back 13-3 seasons and consecutive appearances in the NFC Championship Game. He may well yet get this team to take the final step in 2021, but it’s too soon to judge that at this early point in the offseason. Patience isn’t easy, but that’s why, as the saying goes, patience is a virtue.
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Comments (121)
Archie
March 20, 2021 at 12:10 pm
".....As GM of the Packers, Gutekunst’s job is to do everything he can to keep them as Super Bowl contenders for as long as he can...."
I would disagree. His "job is to do everything he can to" make them Super Bowl Champs. 2nd Place is meaningless. If you disagree, consult one Vince Lombardi.
jhtobias
March 20, 2021 at 12:45 pm
I do agree with you , but my question up to today's date 3/20/21 what would you have done differently and please provide evidence such as cap structure if players are added or cut, Trades include all reasons why and how that would get them over the hump including monitary hits .. After you provide all structures/evidence then your moves will be evaluated
GilMartin
March 21, 2021 at 03:17 pm
Thanks for the comment, jhtobias. No doubt if the Packers had let Clark or Bakhtiari or Jones get away as free agents, most fans would have been up in arms. It's a tough offseason which isn't over yet and we'll see what Gute can do the rest of the way.
Archie
March 21, 2021 at 05:08 pm
Easy. Sign both Fullers.
Archie
March 21, 2021 at 05:10 pm
Easy. Restructure Rodgers and extend/restructure Adams.
BradHTX
March 20, 2021 at 01:04 pm
The fallacy of what you wrote that you assume the two are different. That Gute is only concerned with keeping them adequate, and has willfully not done what’s necessary to get them to the Super Bowl.
I would argue he literally cannot, as you put it, “make them Super Bowl champs.” He can only build (or fail to build) a roster that is a contender — which he clearly has done. Eventually, the responsibility for winning and getting the championship falls on the coach and the players. Every year they are a contender, they have the chance to win.
When it was clear they were no longer a contender under McCarthy, they fired him and brought in LaFleur. You can argue that last year’s drafting of Love over a WR (a dead horse already beat into ground meat) wasn’t building a contender roster for 2020, and yet the offense still set records and was ultimately not the reason they lost the NFCCG for the second year in a row. You can go back as far as Gute’s mentor Thompson picking King instead of Watt (another far over-beaten dead horse) to find blame for the loss, but ultimately the point remains:
The GM has to build a competitive roster every year, the coach has to make in-game decisions and the players have to execute them. Not winning the SB last year is not on Gute entirely, if at all.
J_brooks
March 20, 2021 at 01:52 pm
Perfectly stated Brad.
JohnnyLogan
March 20, 2021 at 02:08 pm
We did have an excellent offense in 2020, but still think a legit #2 receiver would have been nice in the 4th quarter when we couldn't do anything and Rodgers had to laser focus on Adams.
BradHTX
March 20, 2021 at 03:32 pm
I don’t disagree in theory, and I’m neither defending nor ripping the Love pick — we don’t yet know if it was brilliant or stupid. But I do accept Gute’s statement that the WRs they thought could immediately be better than Lazard/MVS were gone.
And furthermore, Rodgers still has to actually throw to that guy in the moment. We saw more than one time he was laser-locked on Adams when someone else was open. Which supports my argument that it’s not solely on the GM to win championships. Players still have to execute.
Thegreatreynoldo
March 21, 2021 at 02:34 am
"the WRs they thought could immediately be better than Lazard/MVS were gone."
I accept Gute's statement, and I accept that he was wrong.
dobber
March 21, 2021 at 08:29 am
...with a whole season of hindsight under our belts?
Thegreatreynoldo
March 22, 2021 at 05:18 am
Edit: No, not with hindsight if we're talking just needs for 2020. However...
Yes, but with the cap and talent needed in the pipeline considerations involved. Only Lazard (RFA) will be under some kind of control in 2022, and I believe in the it takes a year in GB for a receiver to do much thing.
I probably would have taken Queen. Jury is out, but not looking good. I would not have moved up for Queen.
This crop of WRs did pan out pretty well. They either have promising stats, were buried on the depth chart, or got hurt.
CoachDino
March 20, 2021 at 08:07 pm
Wait, the reason the packers lost the NFCCG was because they didn't have a better #2 WR?
It wasn't the kevin King Debacle?
The fumble deep in their own territory
AR missed pass attempts and Interception
(I'm at 21 points already, seeing they lost by 5 the few more examples of how it had nothing to do with the lack of players would just be rubbing it in).
Come on people - It's not that complicated.
Leatherhead
March 21, 2021 at 03:16 pm
Exactly right, Coach Dino. We had multiple opportunities and some of the plays that did the biggest damage featured some of our best players. Pointing fingers at a specific player is just wrong, especially when they worked their ass off just to help the team get to that position.
Most Football Games are not won, they are lost. As true today as it was 50 years ago when I heard it for the first time. That's the hell of football....you beat yourself too damn often.
LayingTheLawe
March 21, 2021 at 06:32 pm
The only way that first round receiver everyone wanted helps the Packer win the NFCCG is if he's somehow covering Scotty Miller instead of King. Otherwise we all know Rodgers was never going to be looking at a rookie who didn't have an off season as a receiver.
Minniman
March 20, 2021 at 05:50 pm
I respectfully disagree re the NFCCG.
I will agree that the King blunder was contributory, BUT I will remind you of the 3 takeaways that the D put up in the second half that were not converted to points...... making That NFCCG an anomaly......It was one of the rare times that the team that won the turnover stats - lost the game.
I’m not treading the ‘should have taken a WR over QB’ path either. Todd Bowles and the TB D won that game - the GB offensive side of the ball (coaches and players) couldn’t solve that puzzle.
Totally agree with your other comments that the best that the GM can do is staff and stock the team to be a contender - after that it’s up to the coaches and players to execute.
GilMartin
March 21, 2021 at 03:22 pm
Well said, Brad and thanks for commenting. Gute doesn't have a lot of money to work with but he still kept the team's best RB, DL and OT and will probably add some inexpensive role players to bolster areas of weakness before the draft. Thanks for the comment.
blondy45
March 21, 2021 at 05:21 pm
I agree GilMartin. Gute and all of the NFL teams have to deal with player evaluations much differently this year. No combine to evaluate prospects, only college pro days to have eyes on prospects. Even the NFL big free agents who have signed are being evaluated on the last few year's performances, little in person visiting. The Pack has been forced to hold off FA signings due to our cap situation. The silver lining is keeping players from our team who have kept the pack winning. They are our players, our system, our evaluation of talent and team mesh. We have to be smart with future cap numbers the next few years. I hope our talent evaluators can judge who will help in the draft this year. We need a strong draft with lower contracts to help ease our cap woes in the next 4 years.
Archie
March 21, 2021 at 05:13 pm
No fallacy. I was disagreeing with the words of the author, not the actions of the GM, at least not at the time I made my comment. Since then, I'd argue he should have grabbed either or both of the Fullers.
KenEllis
March 20, 2021 at 01:07 pm
The motto in Green Bay for the past 10 years has been R-E-L-A-X so why not change it up a little bit and go with P-A-T-I-E-N-C-E in year 11 of the Super Bowl appearance drought?
I mean how could Packer fans seriously be clamoring for more than just winning the incomparable NFC North, shouldn't that be good enough?
Hard to get to Super Bowls with a QB who has only won 3 MVPS over the past 10 years while Gutey, Ted, and the front office were spending all that draft capital on defensive wunderkinds like Nick Perry, Jerrel Worthy, Datone Jones, HaHa, Damarious Randall, Quentin Rollins, Kevin King, Josh Jones, and Josh Jackson -- wonderful 1st and 2nd round picks all.
So go with RELAX or PATIENCE or whatever other word or phrase you want to use to make it all seem better when the Pack is yet again watching the Super Bowl from afar in 2022.
jannesbjornson
March 20, 2021 at 01:39 pm
Bingo.
TarynsEyes
March 20, 2021 at 02:31 pm
RELAX and PATIENCE simply means Comfortably Smug, while not being in the SB.
Minniman
March 20, 2021 at 06:04 pm
No-one can argue with you that all of the above players were ultimately poor draft choices (or more accurately, team fits).
One thing though, I’ve never subscribed to the notion that GM’s work independently of HC’s.
I’d love for MM one day to write a memoir - I’d love to hear his take on these draft selections.
On a related topic - I’ll be keenly watching how Montravious Adams goes at NE. I’ll be keen to see how someone who was reasonably regarded in college, but played so inconsistently in his first stint in the pros, goes in the Bellichick system.......... I’m always keen to see how the players that the Packers regard as unsuitable perform with a fresh start.
BradHTX
March 20, 2021 at 06:12 pm
No one would say those guys weren’t mistakes. No GM is perfect; even first round picks have only a 50-50 shot at being a long term starter.
In the Thompson-Gutekunst era since 2005, the Packers have had six first round picks make the Pro Bowl: Rodgers, Raji, Matthews, Clinton-Dix, Clark and Alexander. That’s over a 33% rate, and Rodgers is a sure fire first ballot HOF.
How about the Patriots, unquestionably the most successful team of the same era? Also six. Their 2014 #1 pick, Dominick Easley, is out of football. Their 2015 pick, Malcom Brown, was not offered a second contract and has bounced from the Saints to the Jags. Even the best teams have busts.
Did Thompson make some head scratcher picks? Absolutely (see: Thornton, Khyri). Maybe some of Gute’s will be looked on the same in retrospect. Does every GM have black marks on his record? Yup.
cms
March 20, 2021 at 08:08 pm
I would like to see the the Packer's GM get the easy stuff right. For example, getting Rodgers another weapon last tear. Every analysts saw it. They drafted backups. Also, they didn't draft a tackle last year. They needed one in the NFCCG and still do long term.
Building a team is hard and I couldn't do it. But let's get the obvious stuff right please.
Coldworld
March 21, 2021 at 08:55 am
We had the best offense in the league. We didn’t have the best D. So questionable explanation at best.
JonathanSpader
March 21, 2021 at 10:06 am
No one could have seen Bahktiari's injury. If he was healthy we wouldn't of needed a tackle. They did draft 3 OL in last year's draft to start developing for this year and beyond. Runyan has already shown potential. We did get a WR Gute couldn't have foreseen Covid and Funchess opting out. Just my opinion but that seemed obvious.
murf7777
March 21, 2021 at 10:07 am
That’s why they are analysts and not A GM. Their job isn’t on the line trying to build a championship team, they can criticize at will without any consequences.
Leatherhead
March 21, 2021 at 05:30 pm
Touchdown, Murf.
KenEllis
March 21, 2021 at 11:48 am
Maybe you are right, I mean HaHa Clinton-Dix made the Pro Bowl so he obviously was a great 1st round pick.
Just like when Teddy actually went out and signed a free agent and Jeff Saturday made the Pro Bowl. Great signing, right?
As for New England, Packer front office fans undoubtedly beat their chests loudly proclaiming how much better the Pack's drafting has been over the past 21 seasons -- during which time the Packers have 1 Super Bowl appearance and win while Patriot fans have had to console themselves with just winning 6 Super Bowls and playing in 3 others.
Indeed, it was really unfair how the NFL permitted New England to make more player trades than any other team between 2005-2020 and to sign so, so many free agents from big names like Revis and Gilmore to many more back of the roster veterans while at the same time forcing poor Ted to always stick by his own players like M.D. Jennings, Brad Jones, Brandon Bostick, LaDarius Gunter, etc.
I'll try and do better about recognizing the greatness that is all things Packers going forward and remember the mantra that we've been spoiled as Packer fans for a long time.
I mean how many other franchises can boast about winning a single Lombardi over the past 24 years?
GilMartin
March 21, 2021 at 03:29 pm
You list a lot of picks that didn't pan out and they are all legit points. Keep in mind even the best GM only hits on roughly 50 percent of their picks but the good ones find impact players. What else do you think Gute could have done this offseason to improve the team and still stay under the cap? They kept Clark, Jones and Bakhtiari all of whom are Pro Bowl caliber starters. The drop in the cap has hurt most NFL teams. I don't think this organization is perfectly run, but I do think they are trying to win championships, even if we don't always agree with the moves they make to get there. Thanks for the comment, KenEllis, always good to hear from you.
Tundraboy
March 20, 2021 at 10:28 pm
Agreed. Frankly I’m tired of talking about the past and the endless rehashing of the past drafts. What I want to see is an aggressive approach to improving the Defense THIS year. And aggressively solving the disgrace that special teams have become.
I assure anyone who wonders, that Lombardi would have none of this. Sometimes I think he set an impossibly high standard to ever match again, but at the same time he would have not accepted being embarrassed on the road and would have made damn sure, blunders like King made would never ever happen.
GilMartin
March 21, 2021 at 03:35 pm
Agreed, Tundraboy. I think the draft will be the primary way they fortify the defense this year with perhaps one splashy free agent thrown in. Special teams is a mess but hopefully the new coordinator helps and the team signs or drafts a quality return specialist. Thanks for the comment.
LayingTheLawe
March 21, 2021 at 06:40 pm
Special Teams were a disaster. The best hope was for the punt returner to fair catch and for the kick returner to down it in the end zone. Those were best case outcomes. And coverage was just as bad.
Leatherhead
March 21, 2021 at 03:09 pm
So, I'm assuming everybody who upvoted this sentiment would NOT renew or extend Gutekunst if he doesn't win the Super Bowl in the next two years? Because everything he has done is meaningless?
Yeah, I'm going to disagree on this. I think the GM's job is to bring quality people to the organization and keep making the franchise stronger and more successful.
GilMartin
March 21, 2021 at 04:41 pm
I would agree with you Leatherhead. A GM gets enough talent in the organization to win a title, a coach creates a system and game plans to maximize that talent and the players have to execute that game plan and win football games. Thanks for the comment.
GilMartin
March 21, 2021 at 03:14 pm
Thanks for the comment, Archie. All Gute can do is build a contending team. Then it's up to the players to win. The difference between winning and losing in the NFL is often a fine line, a players slips, a ball bounces, a dropped pass. The Packers are one of the top teams in the league and it's Gute's job to keep them there as long as possible with the hope that they win one during that window. Really, there is little practical difference between the two goals so let's say his job is to build a winner capable of winning a championship.
buddrow53
March 20, 2021 at 01:43 pm
We were lucky to even have football last year. Salary cap hurt most teams, not all but most.
Teams with big salary qb contracts hurt.
I am just glad we played and won I enjoyed damn near every week, sure there was letdowns
but at least its just football.
Cant wait for the draft enjoy it every year. I can due without all the bitching, moaning, groaning and someone pissing into my cheerios.
Have a great sunshiny day Pack fans!!! GPG
TarynsEyes
March 20, 2021 at 02:36 pm
" I can due without all the bitching, moaning, groaning and someone pissing into my cheerios."
Easy fix. Logout.
I can do without people crying about others voicing their opinions.
Johnblood27
March 20, 2021 at 08:25 pm
spoken like a true cheerios pisser
thanks a lot soggy O's
Coldworld
March 21, 2021 at 08:57 am
Well said.
GilMartin
March 21, 2021 at 04:45 pm
I always look forward to the draft as well, buddrow53 and I know Gute will make at least one trade during the draft to move up or down in round 1. Thanks for the comment.
splitpea1
March 20, 2021 at 04:15 pm
How much more patience is forthcoming depends on Gute's ability to fill defensive needs from here on out: 1) We need to sign a competent, reasonably-priced veteran CB; 2) At least 7 of the 10 draft picks need to be used to upgrade the defense, both now and in the future; 3) The top picks need to be ready to contribute in a reasonable amount of time as opposed to being long-term projects.
Not only do we just have a couple of seasons left before the Rodgers window probably closes, but expect there to be more competition within the division in the not-too-distant future; the Lions may finally be on their way to respectability (should be first seen to be believed, though). So after 10 seasons without a Super Bowl appearance, you can understand why patience is wearing a little thin.
JonathanSpader
March 21, 2021 at 10:09 am
How on earth do you think they Lions are on their way to being respectable? They lost Golladay and traded Stafford for Goff.
As for the 10 years without a super bowl appearance is it better or worse that we've been one game and sometimes one play away over and over?
splitpea1
March 21, 2021 at 11:15 am
The Lions have a better front office, better coaching staff, and two extra first round picks from the Stafford trade. They'll be better in a couple of years--nowhere to go but up.
I don't know what you mean with the second part; better or worse than what? The only point I was trying to make was that we can't count on dominating the division forever and that we need to take advantage while Rodgers is still playing at a high level. We don't know anything about Love yet.
GilMartin
March 21, 2021 at 04:48 pm
Your to do list looks reasonable for sure, splitpea1. I can also understand the reason patience is wearing a little thin, but given the cap constraints the Packers are dealing with right now, I am relieved Gute was able to keep Clark, Bakhtiari and Jones. We'll see what the draft and free agency bring. I hope the Packers can get over the hump this year. Thanks as always for the comment.
Fabio
March 20, 2021 at 04:08 pm
The current situation is a consequence of past choices. For example, when Gute chose Graham (however questionable) I could have doubts about the player's worth, but I must recognize the willingness to cover a need that was evident at that moment.
The fundamental problem is that the choice of LOVE came at a time when Rodgers' succession had not yet been planned (unlike Favre who had announced his retirement and was clearly in a downward phase). The choice of LOVE prevented us from having a WR probably last season which this season could be an important update that didn't make it necessary to re-sign AJ.
I love AJ, but we could have spent money in another perhaps more necessary position in D (CB ??) and all of this is a consequence of last season's draft pick.
I also believe that later on there may still be excellent options that will be available, but the reality is that all the next extensions or renegotiations will only serve to economically cover the draft choices and some FAs which, however, will never be the ones that can make us take a leap. forward (unfortunately the good ones still want to be paid).
I contest Gute because the primary needs are currently still in D and once again it is decided not to observe them.
As always I hope to be wrong, but I would like to see for once what we could have with Rodgers and a D elite.
Greetings from Italy
Go Pack Go
Johnblood27
March 20, 2021 at 08:27 pm
I am certain that your hopes will be realized...
GilMartin
March 21, 2021 at 04:52 pm
You make some very good points, Fabio. I agree the defense needs to be upgraded in several positions and we'll see what the draft and free agency brings. I was not in favor of the selection of Love, but I don't think a lack of another WR was the reason we didn't reach the Super Bowl. It will be a critical draft and offseason this year and hopefully we'll see some solid moves. Thanks for the comment, good stuff, Fabio.
Fabio
March 22, 2021 at 04:41 am
Hi Gil
I always follow your articles with real pleasure
I agree with you in saying that the editorial staff of Love instead of a WR did not decide on access to the SB. But the WR this year could have been a starter that wouldn't have required AJ's re-signing and we could have committed that money to a CB or MLB ..... and I think much better additions would have been added to raise the level of the team.
Greetings from Italy Go Pack Go
4thandinches
March 21, 2021 at 11:38 pm
Gute has resigned 3 of our pro bowl players. That's a plus. The off-season involves months of being able to sign free agents plus a draft where we have 10 picks. I know Gute isnt making the moves that are big enough or fast enough for some but the off-season is far from over. So I don't think it's fair to say he hasn't addressed the defense yet. Patience Packer fans! We are going to have a very good team next year!
4thandinches
March 22, 2021 at 11:06 am
Oops. Double post
Lphill
March 20, 2021 at 04:24 pm
Fuller released ok Gutey
Fabio
March 20, 2021 at 04:28 pm
I don't think it's economically possible
Fabio
March 20, 2021 at 04:31 pm
If he comes, I apologize to Gute for what I said about him
GilMartin
March 21, 2021 at 04:54 pm
Doubtful the Packers could have matched the offer. Thanks for the comment, Fabio.
TarynsEyes
March 20, 2021 at 04:35 pm
Fuller signed with Miami already.
packer132
March 20, 2021 at 05:10 pm
Will Fuller signed with Miami on Thursday (WR). Kyle Fuller from Bears released and just signed with Broncos (CB).
Fabio
March 20, 2021 at 05:19 pm
As it was meant to prove
Fabio
March 20, 2021 at 05:22 pm
Question: Was it better to sign Fuller (ex Bears) or was it better to sign AJ?
PeteK
March 20, 2021 at 06:26 pm
Yes, for1 year, 9 mill guaranteed. crazy
Lphill
March 20, 2021 at 05:20 pm
Denver I read.
fastmoving
March 20, 2021 at 05:30 pm
Yeah...like always spot on....with the Miami Broncos.
TarynsEyes
March 20, 2021 at 08:50 pm
Will Fuller to Miami
Kyle Fuller to Denver
Regardless, the Packers aren't getting fuller at either position.
GilMartin
March 21, 2021 at 04:54 pm
Yeah, he wasn't a free agent for long. Thanks for commenting, TarynsEyes.
fastmoving
March 20, 2021 at 05:24 pm
yeah pay Watt the vet min and Fuller Chicago money. Neandertal novalues armchair wannabe in full force......
Gute really is great since getting the job....not a lot of mistakes and driving the always wrongs crazy. The Love pick was just great.
And you are right Stafford was strong at Thanksgiving, Special QB even a better person. A role model for all th good people. Family values and moral, nobody will ever forget that. Good luck to him
GilMartin
March 21, 2021 at 04:55 pm
Gute has made some great moves as GM and also some misses. We can't judge Love yet but it will be interesting to see what the future holds for him with the Pack or elsewhere. Thanks for the comment.
GilMartin
March 21, 2021 at 04:53 pm
Well, that didn't last long, lol. I was hoping the Pack would try to add Fuller as well. Thanks for the comment, Lphill, always good to hear from you.
Lphill
March 20, 2021 at 05:22 pm
Oh well , hey we have a bunch of undrafted guys , should be fine , right?
GilMartin
March 21, 2021 at 04:57 pm
We shall see, Lphill. Hope Gute adds some moderately priced free agents that can help the team. Thanks for commenting.
Thegreatreynoldo
March 20, 2021 at 05:26 pm
CB Kyle Fuller: 1 yr., $9.5M, $9M guaranteed.
WR Juju Smith Schuster: 1 yr., $8M.
Lot of #2/#3 CB types have signed.
GilMartin
March 21, 2021 at 04:58 pm
So far, all quiet on the free agent front. I hope that changes soon but it has to be the right player at the right price with the financial limitations the team has now. Thanks for the comment, Thegreatreynoldo, always good to hear from you.
Fabio
March 20, 2021 at 05:48 pm
Question: Was it better to sign Fuller (ex Bears) or was it better to sign AJ?
dobber
March 20, 2021 at 08:44 pm
Ask again next February...
packer132
March 20, 2021 at 08:55 pm
I saw that Fuller (CB) signed a $9 million guaranteed deal with Denver. He was the 52nd best corner out of 64, so either he had an off year or is on the decline. I thought Jones was gone, as way too much money for a running back. He also is a good receiver, and he fits the Packers scheme. Packers did a good job on the contract, as really only a 2 year deal with outs. We will see how the year goes, and main needs now are DT and CB. I thought it would be DIllon and Williams at RB, though Jones is so much better than Williams. Gute wanted to bring back most of the players, which I think is smart. To answer the question: Jones
PhantomII
March 21, 2021 at 01:57 pm
If you let Jones walk then you sign Fuller and draft Etienne from Clemson. Nobody on this site wants to use RB at #1, but he is faster and more elusive than Jones. There are always options, like not signing Bak, etc. It shoots holes in your boat, but it doesn't mean there are not players to fill the hole for a lot less money.
GilMartin
March 21, 2021 at 04:59 pm
Tough question to answer. I like keeping Jones, but if Dillon stays healthy you could argue they would be better off adding Fuller or a good starting CB. What do you think?
Cheesey51
March 20, 2021 at 05:57 pm
Gil, very well written article.
It is so hard to be patient when Kyle Fuller is right there
No picks, no trading
Actually have a player from within the division
Right there starring out you
I realize the ramifications/domino effect this might involve
Extending contracts is betting on the cap to go up in 2022. We know it will in 2023
Yet we have been to the well numerous times and came back empty handed
Here is hoping Russ Ball can pull off his wizardry again
packer132
March 20, 2021 at 08:43 pm
Fuller signed for $9 million on a 1 year guaranteed deal. Too much money when you can draft a CB or pick up a cheaper FA. Other holes to fill for that high dollar.
Cheesey51
March 20, 2021 at 09:51 pm
$9mil guaranteed to the Broncos, Guess Fullers going to play for his old coach
Patrick Pederson signed for $10mil/1yr
$9mil a deal for a player you had signed 2 yrs ago.
We need a seasoned vet with Vic F knowledge and since Troy Hill already signed, Fuller was our next best option
Desmond King is already signed
Xavier Rhodes anyone?
Coldworld
March 21, 2021 at 09:03 am
Would have liked Fuller at CB, but at that price it wasn’t happening. Some serious overpaying for arguably over the hill or never that good CBs.
Lphill
March 21, 2021 at 09:43 am
You can't start a rookie opposite Alexander , he would get picked on all game .
Cheesey51
March 20, 2021 at 05:57 pm
Gil, very well written article.
It is so hard to be patient when Kyle Fuller is right there
No picks, no trading
Actually have a player from within the division
Right there starring out you
I realize the ramifications/domino effect this might involve
Extending contracts is betting on the cap to go up in 2022. We know it will in 2023
Yet we have been to the well numerous times and came back empty handed
Here is hoping Russ Ball can pull off his wizardry again
GilMartin
March 21, 2021 at 05:49 pm
Thanks for the kind words, Cheesey51. I would have loved to see the Packers sign Fuller, but the money didn't quite work. I hope they find a way to add a starting caliber CB in free agency and draft one early this year. We shall see. Thanks for the comment.
Roadrunner23
March 20, 2021 at 06:16 pm
The Packers will be fine and are not mortgaging their future salary cap too badly.
They will:
*re-negotiate a few more contracts (Adams/Lowery)
*rummage sale some great one year deals on veterans to fill gaps (O. Line/Corner/D. Line)
*deftly move around the draft board with 10 picks to get the key players they desire
*Will win the Super Bowl in the 2021/22 season (3rd times a charm!)
Can't wait, Let's Go!!!!!!!!
GilMartin
March 21, 2021 at 05:50 pm
I like the way you think, nostradanus. I only hope your analysis proves accurate. Thanks for the comment.
stockholder
March 20, 2021 at 09:00 pm
We had patience after Lombardi left. How many years was it before Wolf turned it around. How many years did we go through the draft and development. How many years since 2010. You only remember the years from Farvre to Rodgers. But the people TT had, all went on to be Gms, or end up with a title in management. You think because a gm makes moves, that makes him good. Remember Sherman? What makes him Good is Rodgers. Nothing more!!! Ball could run this club. All he needs is a good coach. And Rodgers! So while you watch TTs guys fail. (Dosey,McKenzie etc.) Don't forget Gute was part of his Inner circle too.
GilMartin
March 21, 2021 at 05:59 pm
Having an elite QB always helps a team win. After Lombardi left, there were issues with the team's corporate structure, GMs and coaches among other things but there were a lot of issues. It went well beyond "patience" or not having patience. I hope Gute can keep this team among the league's elite in 2021 and beyond. We'll see what he can do. Thanks for the comment, stockholder, always good to hear from you.
CoachDino
March 20, 2021 at 09:15 pm
Instead of going off on individuals I'll just make my own post.
Packer fans who don't think that Gute has gone "all In" are clueless. It's not even difficult to prove it. Just keep an open mind.
Roster Construction:
The biggest contracts are perfect. Your QB,WR,Edge,DL,OT. Then they have a CB that is going to have a top contract. This is textbook roster construction with zero mistakes. From your draft no less. Name another team with that type of draft success? Baltimore comes to mind, Gute/Packers have done this draft late to very in most every draft for close to 20 some years.
Now remember they have signed the highest paid players to the most critical positions and have done one of, if not, the best job in the league doing it.
QB - AR - Draft
WR - D Adams - Draft
OT - Bahk - DRAFT
DL - K Clarke - draft
CB/DB/Edge - J A - Savage - Gary soon to be Draft picks getting Paid
Have even done well in FA when they did have cap space and signed
Safety - Amos
Edge - Z
OT/G - Turner
Edge - Preston - This contract was so good that they were able to cut his pay in half after a down year.
How about the positions not considered as Critical that they drafted studs for
C - Linsey
RB - Jones
G - Jenkins
The rest of the guys "Role players" are all on basically min/low Salaries. Why is a role player ok if he is avg on a min salary - BECAUSE THERE IS A CAP. For every one of the min Salary role playeryou want to upgrade you need to cut a Critical Position High Salary. NEVER see that included in FA talk do we...
ALL IN:
What is "All In" when it comes to the NFL? It has a very clear definition. The abandonment of future success for present maximization of success.
What are the indicators of this? Basically Making Roster moves predicated on pushing salary cap money to the future. Simple enough. So what have the Packers done the last few years and in particular this FA period. Easy - moved money to future years. It's not guess work to determine if it's being done and at what magnitude. Sportrac has the packers and dallas dead last in cap space available in 2022. They are the only 2 teams that are already over the projected cap in 2022. On top of that it's with only 28 signed players. How about 2023? They are the 4th worst.
So what am I missing about this All in Argument? Is there a better way to determine it than future salary cap?
Conclusion: They have been All In since they signed the Big 4 FAs - That's obvious. And have made moves this year that are unprecedented and clearly defined as the very definition of all In.
What all this All In has done is forced the Packers to most likely Cut AR who has the highest cap hit in the league this year and next depending on how Ryan and Dak pan out. Thank Gute they have another option to start a rebuild/transition with
All I hear from media types is: "its telling where the Packers stand due to AR not restructured or extended". How about it's telling where ARod stands by not agreeing to a team friendly extension or restructure? There is only 1 Tom Brady and Arod is nowhere close when it comes to being humble and selfless. More or less the opposite. That's not a bad thing, Arod has been a true blessing for us Packer fans but he's like the 99.9% not the .1%. So don't blame the FO for something they can't control. Even pushing money out over the next 2 years for AR would put his cap # over 40Mil. he's not worth that much of a cap hit and becomes detrimental to the remaining roster, but that's an debate for a different time.
So there's my rant on how clueless in both talent/roster evaluation and cap constraints packers fans are that think Packers:
should/could sign another 20 mil in Fa's (2 mid tier)
Are cheap
Just want to be good but not really win a SB
Quit listening to the media and do you own homework and thinking. PS and stop depending on cliches as your logic.
Thegreatreynoldo
March 21, 2021 at 04:07 am
There is a lot to agree with here. The thing I like most about Gute might be his ability so far to find "plus" players in the draft. Wolf's standard of 3 starters per draft is fine, but it is a whole lot better if at least one of them is a genuinely "plus" player even if the other two are just average NFL starters.
I also agree that the Packers are definitely more "all-in" than they have been since Wolf. The Packers have a better idea of what the 2022 (and for that matter, the 2023) cap limit might be, but even they cannot know for sure. I have some confidence that the vaccines will allow the NFL to have fans in the stands, but there is at least some uncertainty.
There is a lot with which to disagree (or at least nitpick!). Filling QB, WR (teams need more than one), OT, and DL through the draft is good, but those positions are a testament to TT. CB and Safety, plus Edge (since Gary seemed to blossom before our very eyes at the end of the season) have been filled.
Gute's had 15 picks in rounds 3 - 7 in 2018 and 2019. So far MVS has been productive and Keke has flashed a bit but didn't beat out Lowry. Gute is going to have to do better than 2 out of 15. Yes, it's a little early to judge 2019.
It is a shame that the drafts were so poor late in TT's tenure that Gute had to spend astronomical amounts to buy 4 starters just to make GB a reasonable contender. Then he had to hit on Jaire, Savage and Jenkins to make them a serious contender. I suppose that's closer to all-in, but if the 2021 cap had been the expected $210M instead of the covid $182.5M, the all-in/Packers future cap liabilities argument you're making would have been far less credible. Covid was not foreseeable in March of 2019. Simple as that.
I have kept an eye on GB's cap liabilities for 2022. See the Packer Tracker article. I have GB at $220M (with 51 players on the roster) which does not include UFAs Davante, Jaire, MVS (?) and Lucas Patrick (?). It is not hard to think it might be $240M with just the first two noted above signed to back-loaded deals. The Packers have to generate at least $10M more in cap space in 2021, so presumably some of that will get dumped into 2022.
GB will be forced to extend/trade/release AR in 2023. I don't see an extension as a bad thing if he is still good, and they will release him if his suddenly turns into a noodle. If he won't extend for just one year or two years, they will have to trade him (if he is still good) or release him. I don't think those are bad outcomes, and I see good options for the Packers in a lot of scenarios.
I am a more concerned about Z's contract situation. I haven't thought that through, it just seems like the player is in the driver's seat.
I agree with you in that I see no way to add two mid-tier FAs. I don't see even one. Cheap, cheap, cheap is what GB can do, if that.
https://cheeseheadtv.com/blog/packer-tracker-as-of-march-14-2021-billy-t...
canadapacker
March 21, 2021 at 08:57 am
Once again mostly agree with this analysis and Dino's with some exceptions. I dont know what is up with the extension to Z Smith - maybe it is a sign that if his production tails off he becomes a cap casualty although at 28 he still will have gas in the tank. But if we dont have some other way of getting some room ( AR contract) how can we get the 3 free agent holes temporarily filled. The Oline might be ok but Taylor and Wagner are still out there. But the real need iof experience is to replace King - that killed us last year and will again - draft picks are unlikely be able to start where we are picking in the draft. Now Rivers and Manning - 39 and 40 had declining skills but AR is more like Brady and could play at least 3 more years without declining skills. So why move on unless he simply will not renegotiate a reasonable extension. Every year is different and the last 2 years nobody thought that our record would be what it was ( 13-3 with a rookie coach and 13 - 3 with a hard schedule) - both might be hard to duplicate this upcoming season - although as long as we beat Minnie - we should win the division as the Bears and Lions are on mini-rebuilds. I agree with cheap cheap cheap - Daniels as weight on the Dline - maybe Casey H as a dback mentor and BJ Goodson as a linebacker rotational - favoring guys who were here before and at least know the area.
Coldworld
March 21, 2021 at 09:10 am
Brady’s skills have declined, he’s just getting buy on first class instincts and a good surrounding class and coaching. Manning was essentially overcome by physical problems. One just never knows when everything catches up. Had we been coached better, the post championship game attitude to Brady’s performance would likely have been scathing.
canadapacker
March 21, 2021 at 10:29 am
If Brady's skills have declined it is only maybe a little - both those passes against King were perfect plus a lot more. The passing in the Superbowl were on target. Now I do agree he got paniced in the second half against us and threw up a couple that we got but on average he is still the pocket guy. AR still has an amazing arm and can still move and even if he stops moving around quite as much down the road his arm will not decline as much as Manning ( I agree he took too many hits later in his career and as a guy who didnt move really well it affected his play) he will still get the ball out and on target. Rivers got the ball out but his technique was never prototypicla and arm strength went downhill fast last year. If we should have learned anything from Favre - was that these top guys still have a few years in them - Favre had 2 good years left (Jets and NFC championship game year at age 40 ) and his last year he had really declined.
GilMartin
March 21, 2021 at 06:13 pm
Bringing back some guys who know the system and can give the Packers a season or two without breaking the bank isn't a bad idea. We shall see if they go that route. No doubt free agency will not include a blockbuster signing this year, but the alternative was to lose Clark, Bakhtiari and Jones. Should be interesting to see what happens. Always good to hear from you canadapacker.
GilMartin
March 21, 2021 at 06:06 pm
Good analysis Thegreatreynoldo. I wonder what would have happened if there was no covid and the cap didn't go down. You're right about the lower round picks and how he needs to hit a little more on that. 2019's free agent class was four hits out of four and that's impressive. We shall see what the future holds for AR and the Packers. I hope he can continue to play at a high level and stay in GB, but it may not be possible. Thanks for the comment.
CoachDino
March 23, 2021 at 06:25 am
Good stuff... So true on TT, I blame Murphy not making a move earlier considering MR Thompson's condition.
I agree on some rough drafts, though I probably see it better in 2018 with The Huge hit on JA and the trade impact for savage.
WR2 or 3 (starter)
WR4 that stuck
2 ST players who started immediately
Plus UDFA
Lancaster (Starter DL)
Raven Green (starter/sub package)
Tim Boyle (Backup QB
2019
Savage Starter
Gary Starter 2020/21
Jenkins Starter
Jace
Ty
Keke Starter if not hurt/ will be starter yr 3
Kadar still around
Dexter still around
No Free Agents
Those drafts/UDFA are Cplus to A- range
FA have done well considering return on $
Z - stud (but scares me)
Amos stud
Turner worked out due to flexibility more than performance
preston 1 good year/ 1 not so good. Cut his salary in 1/2
Kirksy bad
Wagner good
That's an impressive piece of work by Gute.
2020
I get the reason why they did this but Its more of a scheme force draft pcs than good value - critical positions other than backup QB
Potential:
Starting RB 2022
Starting HB
Starting ILB
Starting ILB (URFA)
Depth Guards (2) maybe a potential starter.
Still looks to be very solid though not impressive. (No OT/CB/WR picks / lack of positional value and 2 areas that are tenable in 2021)
barutanseijin
March 21, 2021 at 01:48 pm
Thanks for setting us straight, Coach. In the future i will stuck to listening to self-proclaimed experts such as yourself. After all, they know that they know best!
CoachDino
March 23, 2021 at 03:51 am
I hear ya, strong wording both in confidence and tone. I'm sure of one thing, I could be wrong. I feel confident in arguments I make is not based on my subjective analysis but on the quantitative data available PFF/NGS/Sportrac/Overthecap that can be used to measure known NFL Evaluation norms. Performance Indicator data Not just for players but for GM: draft and FA performance areas of PID.
These aren't my evaluation/grades this material is used by the NFL. I know I don't have enough knowledge of the game or operations to do so with any real confidence let alone time expenditure.
Doesn't mean that you can't come to some strong arguments of logic.
My frustration stems in how easy it really is, but to many this information is irrelevant, that they know more and could do better than The Front Office without even considering it.
GilMartin
March 21, 2021 at 06:02 pm
Good analysis of the Packers priorities and how they go about building their roster. Has the process been perfect? Far from it. But back to back 13-3 seasons with appearances in the NFC title game is nothing to sneeze at. Obviously, you want to take that final step and win a Super Bowl but hopefully they'll be in a position to do that while Rodgers is still the QB. Thanks for the comment, CoachDino, great stuff.
NoNonsense
March 20, 2021 at 09:46 pm
1 player I really want Gute to sign probably for the vet minimum is RB Mike Boone from the Vikings. They didn't tender him. He would make a good inexpensive third option behind Dillon and Jones.
After that Casey Hayward is still out there at CB, offer him $5 million with some unlikely to be earned incentives to give him a shot to earn more without it costing a lot this year, or tack some void years on the deal to keep his cap hit low.
I assume Gute will take another CB early but it would be nice not to need to keeping drafting DBs in rounds 1 and 2.
And it would be irresponsible of me not to mention a possible trade for Akiem Hicks :-). Gute likes to give away 4th rounders it seems (3 4th rounders given up in trades the last two years). Why not throw a 4th rounder at the Bears for Hicks and see if they bite. Of course I'd start with offering them a 6th and go from there but that usually goes without saying.
Coldworld
March 21, 2021 at 09:11 am
Hicks wants a great deal of money. Cap prohibitive.
GilMartin
March 21, 2021 at 06:16 pm
I think it would take a lot more than a 4th to pry Hicks away from the Bears and I doubt they'd want to trade him within the division. Heyward would be an interesting stop gap possibility at CB. We'll see what happens. Thanks for commenting, NoNonsense.
Fabio
March 21, 2021 at 05:30 am
I continue to criticize the choices. Having reported P. Smith means that we still spend money on two players (Smith and Gary) to each of which we will not give all the shots and therefore it is money for a non-fundamental surplus. We could have tried to trade Preston with Gilmore from NE (even for just a year and make draft picks for a future replacement) or not select LOVE and have today a WR that could be a starter without having to sign AJ and use the money for MLB or CB.
If the gaps were covered I could have nothing to blame Gute on the possible performance of the acquired players (see Graham). The problem is the vision .....
And if the problem must always and only be Rodgers and his contract, let's ask ourselves if other teams were willing to offer the same salary to AR (Atlanta has offered a little less for Ryan so I think there would have been many that would have offered for AR)
We continue to mask the GM's weaknesses behind the AR contract. If he has not covered the gaps it is not for lack of money, but because he considers other roles more important.
I criticize this
And if the problem must necessarily be AR then have the courage to download it at least now you can receive several first-round choices in exchange and free a lot of money from the roof ...
Then I want to see what good choices he makes to take us to SB .....
But perhaps this is a risk that he would have everything on his shoulders and therefore it is dangerous to take all these risks ....
Little Gute Man
I keep thinking that, for better or for worse, AR has been and still is, a great lightning rod for management ....
Greetings to all from Italy
Go Pack Go
CoachDino
March 23, 2021 at 04:02 am
It would be nice if Just in Time delivery was an option in the NFL. There are multiple reasons why have as many EDGE/Pass Rushing guys usually up to 4.
I'd say they have a vision on what the want out of their edge players and one of the traits is being able to play the edge or Kick inside so the usage becomes even higher. Edge is one of the 2 most critical positions and expensive. So drafting guys on rookie deals can delay the eventual Big Contract and Cap hit. There even more reasons why it is a good thing let alone a bad one that shows lack of vision.
Vision is fine but they aren't in a vacuum, they just can't get what they want, when they want, for what they want. Injuries, Schemes, Age, Contracts, life choices and on and on. They have a plan to reach their vision.
blacke00
March 21, 2021 at 08:08 am
I think they want to bring back King on the cheap. One-year prove it contract. How do they know anyone recently released will be any better. I just hope they don't blow their 1st pick on a CB. Unless the that guy is a "blue-chipper" it's going to require time for draft pick to develop and the mantra is "win now". Anyone else you draft will be no better than King. Now a lower pick or FA is just fine with me, maybe we'll get lucky
GilMartin
March 21, 2021 at 06:18 pm
If they can bring back King on a one-year, prove-it deal, they may. He knows the system and his teammates and if he can ever stay healthy, he can be a good CB2. If he can ever stay healthy is asking a lot. Let's see how that plays out. Thanks for the comment, blacke00.
Coldworld
March 21, 2021 at 09:13 am
We need to restock at CB, I think the ideal would be a high draft pick and a FA, with some depth later.
GilMartin
March 21, 2021 at 06:18 pm
That's exactly what I'm thinking, Coldworld. Thanks for commenting.
packerbackerjim
March 21, 2021 at 10:13 am
There seems to be widespread belief AR “won’t” renegotiate whereas it is likely Gute “won’t” renegotiate the contract for 2 reasons: it pushes more money onto future years cap and the other is it inhibits the ability to move on from AR after this year If AR declines and/or Love takes a quantum leap.
canadapacker
March 21, 2021 at 02:04 pm
Anybody who thinks that Love will make a quantum leap is dreaming in Technicolor. The best that probably would be an 8-8 team under Love if he was the starter - and that is only because of Lafleur and his scheming ability. And he isnt an RG3 type of a guy who only went 10-6 his first year until they finally caught up to him.
Leatherhead
March 21, 2021 at 05:42 pm
CanadaPacker.....Rodgers, in his fourth year in the league, took over a 13-3 team and went 6-10. But you think Love could take over a 13-3 team and go 8-8. Wouldn’t that be a good thing?
canadapacker
March 21, 2021 at 08:06 pm
I said that that would be the BEST - given that Lafleur seems to be a better coach at this time of his tenure than MM was at that point. MM apparently ran some pretty good ( or at least highly ranked Quarter back schools) quarterback development but wonders because nobody who graduated from the Quarterback backup schools from the Packers went on to major acclaim and the last one supposedly Tolzein flopped in Indy. But that being said probably 6-10 would be all that would happen
GilMartin
March 21, 2021 at 06:20 pm
Moving on from AR is something Gute seems to want to be able to do if the situation is right. I was concerned about drafting a QB last year because you lose so much of his entry level contract without him seeing the field. We'll see how this drama plays out. Thanks for the comment, packbackerjim.
canadapacker
March 21, 2021 at 08:51 pm
I just wonder what the organization would like to do about the QB position when AR either doesnt want to be in GB or his skills are so bad and or he gets hurt. Just looking at the current way that teams seem to build to get a QB is to tank and get the first overall. Not necessarily a guarantee for success though -
Burrow Tua Hurts ( 2nd round) 2020
Kyler murray dwayne haskins daniel Jones =2019
Baker Mayfield Sam Darnold Josh Allen Josh Rosen Lamar Jackson (32) - 2018
Trubisky Mahommes Deshawn Watson 2017
Goff Wentz Paxton Lynch (26) 2016
Winston Mariota 2015
How many of these guys are HOF - or even guys who can carry a team - 4 or maybe 5 out of 19 first rounders with some maybe having some future potential.
Just think that the Pack needs to ride AR into the sunset - unless Love becomes THE guy and we wont really know until year 4 or since he is a first rounder do the 5th year option
Leatherhead
March 21, 2021 at 03:26 pm
[wiseassremark] But what's the point of patience if the future is now? That's what I've been told in the past...or maybe it was in the present, which would make it the future now. [/wiseassremark]
Gutekunst is a very good GM. We should be thankful we have him. We've had worse, I guarantee you. The organization as a whole, from the Executive Board to Murphy and the triumvirate of Ball-Gutekunst-LaFleur are all solid people who make lots of good decisions. They don't just wake up in the morning and go "Hey....we should pick up this guy". LaFleur doesn't just show up with some new plays that he thought of last night.
There is not one damn thing that any GM, armchair or otherwise, can do to guarantee a Super Bowl. All you can do is have a plan and work at the plan hard everyday. We're one of the model franchises in the league. That's not an accident.
GilMartin
March 21, 2021 at 06:20 pm
Well said, Leatherhead.
joefan
March 22, 2021 at 02:06 am
The Packers certainly have had worse GMs in the past. However, I'm not impressed with what the organization has done in recent years. Sure, maybe that sounds funny coming from someone who isn't an elite like Murphy or Gutekunst, but I'm limited in that I can only observe.
It's true that no super bowl is guaranteed, however, to actually win a superbowl requires more commitment than what the Packers have shown. Gutekunst inherited a situation a lot of GMs don't have. He has one of the best quarterbacks and wide receiver in the NFL. So his job was a lot easier than most. He was able to inject some life into the defense and had a few good picks in the draft, but also a lot of questionable picks. Overall, I don't see what great work he has done.
The Packers plan is to basically coast on Rodgers for as long as possible, which they've been able to do well because they play in a bad division. Now that Rodgers is getting older they got scared and drafted a replacement. Or at least I think that's what they could have thought by picking Love. Instead of maximizing their window with an already great quarterback, they looked toward the future.
A lot of people are okay with this for various reasons. As you say, the superbowl isn't guaranteed, so some fans feel like going "all in" doesn't matter. After all, if there is no guarantee then why try? I feel like this is something that developed after the Packers last super bowl win as a wildcard and after their divisional loss to the wildcard giants in 2011. Fans developed this idea that the superbowl was mostly about luck. The only thing that mattered was being good enough to get to the playoffs because then the team might get lucky or go on a run. Of course, those wild card runs to the playoffs are rare. And the Packers have had their share of bad playoff losses, which shows they weren't really competitive to begin with like 2012 and 2019 losses to the 49ers.
Thegreatreynoldo
March 22, 2021 at 04:26 am
Thumbs up from me!
Gute is a good GM.
All I know is that the "Future is uncertain and the end is always near. Let it roll!"
draftpete
March 21, 2021 at 06:36 pm
AR's contract may best be restructured next year if his play stays consistent in 2021. That may be the way the 2022 Cap space could be handled. I would think that a restructured contract for DA would be the next one done to help this year.
joefan
March 22, 2021 at 01:44 am
I'm not sure about this. Was it really a surprise the Packers signed Clark and Bahktiari? Most teams keep their most important players. I think one of these examples works and that would be Aaron Jones. I was certain that he would be released and sign with someone else. It's true that the Packers are in a salary cap bind. However, part of being a good GM means creating some space and so far Gutekunst was able to do just enough to get under the cap and sign Jones. Unfortunately, that won't be good enough. There are too many holes left. The Packers would have to hit on multiple picks in the draft to make up for it, and that's probably not going to happen.
canadapacker
March 22, 2021 at 06:52 pm
The team is basically the same on O when Bak gets back - we played without Bak - we played with Bak but without Linesly - so basically other guys on the Oline will step in whilst we find their replacements. We have all the receivers plus will get Degura back and are only missing Williams as as far as running backs. The D has some holes especially on the cornerback area and we need to get better in the linebacker department but we had a surprise when Kirksey didnt work out in the middle. So the team needs to either get some cap space to bring in a free agent or as you said hit in the draft. But there are not "too many holes" just a few and hopefully the D will respond to a new voice and philosophy.