This is the first of eight installments previewing the NFL Draft and the Green Bay Packers’ needs at each position.
Ted Thompson, the Green Bay Packers’ general manager from 2005 to 2017, had a remarkable ability to draft wide receivers. Thompson chose future standouts including Greg Jennings, James Jones, Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb, and Davante Adams during his time in charge.
Ron Wolf, the Packers’ Hall of Fame General Manager from 1991 to 2000, specialized on quarterbacks. During Wolf’s successful tenure in Green Bay, he traded for Brett Favre and drafted future NFL starters Mark Brunell, Ty Detmer, Matt Hasselbeck, and Aaron Brooks.
Today, Green Bay General Manager Brian Gutekunst appears to have pressed all of the correct buttons when it comes to locating offensive linemen.
Gutekunst chose three offensive lineman per year from 2020 to 2022. Since becoming the Packers’ general manager in 2018, Gutekunst has used 11 of his 61 total draft picks on offensive linemen.
Gutekunst’s focus on the line has also paid off handsomely, as all five starters—and the top six linemen—at the conclusion of 2023 were all guys he had chosen.
“When you’re sitting in that chair, you just realize how important that is,” Gutekunst said of identifying offensive linemen. “It’s just very, very hard to find those guys.”
When the NFL Draft begins on April 25, Gutekunst will be looking for offensive linemen once again.
Green Bay could line up today and feel perfectly comfortable against Rasheed Walker, Elgton Jenkins, Josh Myers, Sean Rhyan, and Zach Tom. Aside from Rhyan, who alternated with Jon Runyan at right guard last season, that group was mostly responsible for the Packers finishing as the NFL’s ninth best offensive line, according to Pro Football Network.
Green Bay has had some setbacks this summer, so Gutekunst will be looking for reinforcements.
Runyan, a reliable, underappreciated three-year starter, inked a free agent contract with the New York Giants. Carolina has signed reserve tackle Yosh Nijman, while former left tackle David Bakhtiari was dismissed after a three-year fight with knee issues.
So expect Gutekunst to do what he does best: use the draft to add two or three offensive linemen.
Since Gutekunst was named General Manager in 2018, Green Bay has lost Bryan Bulaga, Jason Spriggs, Corey Linsley, Lane Taylor, Billy Turner, and Lucas Patrick to free agency. However, Gutekunst’s ability to draft offensive linemen has contributed to Green Bay’s success during his tenure.
“I think we’ve kind of committed to that as we’ve gone along,” Gutekunst said of the offensive linemen draft.
Green Bay holds the 25th pick in the first round. The Packers also own five of the top 91 picks, giving Gutekunst the flexibility to move about the draft board if he so desires.
