Brian Gutekunst decided to keep his draft capital after making big trades before the regular season.
Tork Mason/USA TODAY NETWORK-WisconsinTork Mason / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Yes, general manager Brian Gutekunst said it was time to ramp up the sense of urgency after last season. He did that by trading two first-round picks for edge defender Micah Parsons in August, and he also sent a 2027 sixth-round pick for Darian Kinnard.
However, he decided to stay put ahead of the trade deadline, despite perceived needs at cornerback, defensive tackle, and possibly tight end following Tucker Kraft’s season-ending knee injury. Instead, the moves of the day were signing former Cleveland Browns wide receiver Michael Woods II and tight ends McCallan Castles and Drake Dabney to the practice squad.
The Packers have the rare opportunity to sign a free agent that can PUT THEM OVER THE TOP in 2025The Packers have the rare opportunity to sign a free agent that can PUT THEM OVER THE TOP in 2025
That decision, on brand for the franchise, is related to another core belief that Gutekunst had revealed months before.
Process over windows
The Packers did try to maximize Aaron Rodgers’ twilight years to a certain extent, moving away from their usual salary cap approach — void years became a trend around Green Bay. But that was an exception, not the rule for the franchise.
“We’re really process-driven around here, being in this thing every single year,” Gutekunst said after last season. “You try not to look too far down the road, more than two or three years out, but I’m not a big believer in windows.”
Even if he were, the Packers’ window is not only 2025. Sure, there’s an obvious commitment to this season after trading for Parsons. But a big part of the appeal to make that deal was that Parsons is only 26.
So the Packers now have Jordan Love at 27, Parsons at 26, and several other young and rising players for years to come — Tucker Kraft, Zach Tom, Matthew Golden, Rashan Gary, Lukas Van Ness. Even their free agent additions, like Josh Jacobs and Xavier McKinney, are still young. The current window realistically doesn’t end before 2028.
While 2025 is an important season, it makes sense to have a reasonable approach and keep draft capital. With so many high-priced pieces, the Packers need as many chances as possible to get more inexpensive players for the future.
“When you trade a high pick for a veteran player, you’re trading a young, really good contract for a player who’s proven, but probably expensive, so you’re giving up a pick and salary cap space,” Gutekunst added. “You gotta weigh that. If it’s the right player, if you can feel he can be a dynamic player that can change your football team, you gotta consider that, because there’s not many of those guys out there. But you also have to understand what you’re giving up.”
The Packers created an exception when the opportunity to acquire Parsons arose. But that’s a unique exception, and the basic model is still to value draft picks and cheap labor. This is how the Packers will always operate under this front office tree, and it’s a sensible process.
