Thompson never let go any of his draft picks. And that left players that should have not been there. We are see a cleaning up of the roster. And I think that is good. And we should be honest that some of this years picks could be let go eventually too. But I think the top three picks will be good baring injury. Too bad we didn't see Madison stick. He might have been some better OL depth.

Talk is cheap, let's go play. "Johnny Unitas"

Mack cost too much. Does anyone ever think about the future around here?

Gute has done a great job, but overhauling Ted's slow, unathletic roster is a two-year project, not one-year.

Of all the sharp moves Gute has made--and there are many--two shine above the rest: Getting New Orleans's 1st round pick next year, and moving back up to the 18th pick this year for a measly 3rd rounder. Gute should be hauled off to prison for thefts like that.

So far, so awesome.

If the reports are true that Gute didn't want to part ways with both 2019 first round picks seems very disappointing. Expecting drafted players to fill all the gaps on the defense with the best QB in the league not getting any younger smells just like TT.

On Mack, at least it was a swing. TT would not have even tried. And GoodKiss does not seem to have that unhealthy interest on comp picks that TT had. The new man seems to want to “be in on every conversation”. I like that. I expect some boo boos but I have to give him an A minus for effort. So any complaints on the roster from now on have to be on the coaches and players effort.

Like the article but it is absurd to think the team could pull off the Mack trade after taking care of Rogers. The cash up front on both deals would be over $100 million this year. The price to the Pack in draft picks would also have been greater than the Bear's. Having two of the highest paid players, not just one handicaps the team in coming years in many ways. Nice to dream about but not a good business decision. We have the blocking tight end now to play off Mack. We have a lot of speed and watch the quick rhythm throws Rogers is so good at thwart the Bears rush.

The thing I'm most impressed with Gutekunst is that he brings in players with some experience instead of just expecting rookies and UDFA's to produce if there's any injuries.

As has been mentioned, I didn't expect this to be a one year process to overhaul the roster. But after another offseason I think the overall talent on this roster will be very much improved over what Gutekunst was given to work with from the start.

We had a lot of jags on this team because TT leaned on AR to keep winning and get to the playoffs. Gute is cleaning house slowly and weeding out questionable draft picks. We drafted 2 true corners not works in progress and a ILB that has upside. 3 big fast WR's not a special team guys. Got TE's that will make a difference. Of course it all comes down to what the new guys will do on the field.

Overall, I really like what Gutekunst has done in his first year.

He started the year by signing Wilkerson, Graham, Lewis, Williams and Bell. Then he resigned House to add depth to the CB's. Then he drafted Alexander, Jackson (who both have shown their abilities in the preseason). Burks looked like he was a good pick until he got hurt. The 3 WR's all flashed talent as well. He also drafted JK Scott who showed in the last preseason game that he could be the game changing field changing punter we have lacked for a long time.

Also it can't be lost in everything that he added a 1st round pick in next years draft by essentially trading down 4 spots.

Overall a really good first year for Gutekunst. We will have to wait to see how the rookies turn out but early signs are promising at least.

All this dirt thrown on TT, his track record was pretty good, wins and losses are the bottom line.

Mack’s contract almost makes me hope that Trubinsky turns out to be an excellent QB. Imagine their pain when they don’t have enough to resign him.

with his decision-making, hopefully, Gutekunst is playing the long game. acquiring draft choices and always considering the salary cap are big parts of that strategy.. also, finding win-win situations among his GM colleagues is another wise practice.

early in Gute's tenure, i am intrigued by decisions vis-a-vis the Bears. everyone is thinking about the Mack deal now.. depending on how Mack performs in Chicago, the Gutekunst bid for Mack may turn out to be a decision that Packers fans will remember for a while. the future will reveal the decision's legacy. i am also thinking how, very early in Gutekunst's tenure, how the Packers also made a bid for Chicago free agent Kyle Fuller. in both of the bids for Fuller and Mack, the Packers came up short; however, in both of those cases, the Bears were required to pay. now, it is clear that a long-term rival of the Packers will be facing "Salary Cap Hell" in the foreseeable future.

perhaps, Gutekunst has helped push Bears' GM Ryan Pace towards long-term financial struggles. the long game.

I think Gute is doing a good job in all areas. I am impressed and optimistic. I also like what he says in his interviews. Some comments have struck me forcibly.

I do not think there is much evidence to support the notion that draft status no longer drives roster decisions. Gute kept 9 of his 11 draft picks, waiving only Looney and Donnerson, who were both 7th round picks. I note that Gute signed both of them to the practice squad, as well. TT waived 6th and 7th round picks reasonably often, and even some 5th rounders.

Gute cut TT's picks, not his own (for the most part). One could make a decent argument that Triner outplayed Bradley and that Bradley was kept based on draft status.

This narrative is picking up steam, but it is based on very little.

First,, Mack is a tremendous OLB, probably HOF.
But,,, he's not a shutdown CB like Sherman was when AR would not throw to right side of field against SeaHawks. Do you actually think Mack is worth 2 Richard Sherman's???
Look at Mack's career, he is 27 in one of the most demanding, violent positions. He is at his prime now and will start trending down hill in next 2-3 yrs. (there's only one Peppers)
Look at team sacks last year, Pack was 16th at 2.3 per game. Mack will add 3 more than Mathews or Perry over 16 games raising Pack to 2.5 or # 13. TEAM SACKS are what is important not 1 player.
At what cost? His cash contract is too much. He is worth Perry plus 2 Jimmy Grahams
AND next years 2 first round picks and probably a 3rd round pick. The pick cost is our FIRST THREE 2018 picks in lost opportunity.
The big value in Mack is fan enthusiasm not in team value.
Mack is only 1 major injury away from crippling the entire Bears team for a few years to come. For the Bears, it's important to be seen as the "Monsters or the Midway", a smashmouth team,,,
NOT to actually win games anymore. IMO, growing up in Chicago, the Bears value making money more than winning,,, thus cheating fans since Pappa Bear died. He wanted to win as badly as Lombardi did.
I think Gute did the right thing.

I like the idea that Mack also has to play against our division opponents. I would love to hear the whine out of MN if he force ably sacks Cousins. We need to win the division first and by passing on Mack he also made it harder for any other NFC team to skate to the playoffs.

I like what I've seen so far, at least on paper. We got what look like 4 immediate impact guys in the draft and 3 more that may be at WR. We are are getting rid of slow, stupid, and bad lockeroom guys, or guys that weren't developing. I was a fan of the Mack idea, but not @ that price. Even less heralded moves seem good; as an example, re-signing Davon House has been criticized in some circles, but it look like he will be a 5th corner. Not a great corner, but a pretty good 5th corner. Now we have to go play and see if what it looks like is what it is. Please, please, AR, quick rhythm throws. We should be able to scheme 1 or 2 open pretty consistently.

Gute has done a solid job so far. It's good to see that he is willing to churn players like Beigel, Hawkins and even Waters to try to improve the team.

As for Mack, I'm confident that Gute looked at it but the Bears had more to offer since they will probably win less than the Packers the Raiders will get much better picks for the next 2 seasons.

Gute has addressed DL depth by signing Wilkerson, WR depth with draft picks, CB depth with draft picks, and he kept 4 TEs. It's obvious that the Packers are putting this season in Rodgers hands by keeping plenty of weapons for him to utilize at WR and TE. No doubt they are hoping for the defense to improve just enough to play with a lead and enable the offense to out score their opponents. In 2019 we'll likely see Gute address the remaining needs at OL and OLB.

It remains to be seen how Gute's decisions will work out once the real games begin but at least he has demonstrated that he is willing to use every avenue available to improve the team. So far so good. Thanks, Since '61

"I was shocked when the Packers kept seven wide receivers on the 53-man roster. But it’s likely for a limited time because when Aaron Jones returns from his two-game suspension, one of those wideouts will be shown the door"

Nah. These are the Packers: they'll have someone to shuttle onto IR by that point.

Like any fan, I have liked some of what Gute as done (rebuild secondary, get second #1 for next season) and disliked some of the others (no edge rusher?). However, before we start taking a victory lap its all about the result. I really doubt if we finish 8-8 and miss the playoffs fans are going to be saying, "well our roster is really more athletic for the future". This the NFL. As Jerry Glanville (maybe the only intelligent thing he ever said) once opined that stands for Not For Long if you don't WIN.

One of the best threads on the site in a long time.

Let me point out that the choice between having had Mack on the field and CM3 and/or Perry
is a FAKE choice.

Last year two great Ds had only 2 LBs among the top 14 players by snap count. Jacksonville and the queens. Guess how many snaps in GB went to LBs which is and was the weakest position of DL, LB, DB?

Mack would take his snaps from Kyle F and the terrible choices teddie put on the roster. It would not be adding the difference in sacks between CM3 and Mack it would adding Mack to nothing.

After watching the pre-season, it seemed to me the ability of the defense to stop the run seemed highly suspect and could derail an otherwise promising season. If you can't stop the run your in trouble, and with the loss of Jack Ryan and a diminished Burkes trouble was right around the corner. What impressed me was how quickly Gute addressed the issue releasing scrubs, and picking up proven talent. It was like he saw he had a leak in his basement then went to the hardware store and picked up 2 plugs. Problem solved.

TTs take on draft and develop was hardline. He was satisfied just to make the playoffs. I don’t see the with GoodKiss. Sure, there remain elements of that plan. Yet his stated goal is to win. Teddy was satisfied if winning happened down the road because of the development of drafted players. And that’s ok. But I think there is more of a balanced approach now.
IF we go 8-8 and have athletic players for the next year and good picks in the draft, I guess I COULD be ok with that too. But I doubt that will happen. I like his balanced approach.

I admire the fact that regardless of the court of public opinion, BG speaks of his predecessor with nothing but reverence and respect. It says a great deal about the man.

It does Mark, it does. We are fans of a classy organization. Perhaps a player like Mack who would sit out in order to get what he wants is not the kind of player that we should have anyway.

Gute has started to churn more of the bottom of the roster which I thought he was do earlier. I Like it. We will see, so far solid performance.