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Packers take two corners early, try to make up for 2015

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Brian Gutekunst

The Green Bay Packers selected back-to-back corners in the 2015 draft but Damarious Randall and Quinten Rollins turned out to be major disappointments.  Randall is now with Cleveland and Rollins is recovering from a torn Achilles.

In great need of corner help, the Packers spent back-to-back picks at the top of the draft, with a little wheeling and dealing mixed in.

GM Brian Gutekunst selected Jaire Alexander (CB) out of Louisville with the 18th pick in the first round.  He came back the next day and selected Iowa’s Josh Jackson with the 45th overall pick.

Gutekunst started the day on Friday not thinking about taking another defensive back, but when Josh Jackson was still on the board, that changed things.

Jackson had a fantastic season at Iowa last season.  He led the nation with eight interceptions.  He had two last season that he returned for touchdowns against the Badgers. [Read more…]

Gutekunst era in Green Bay off to a flying start (AUDIO)

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Packers GM Brian Gutekunst

New Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst could have stayed put and safely made the Packers first round selection at number-14 overall.  After all, they still had at least a handful of solid defensive difference makers on the board at the time.  Players like Derwin James (DB-Florida State) and Tremaine Edmunds (LB-Virgina Tech) went with the 16th and 17th picks.

But Gutekunst, willing to rock the boat for the long-term good of the organization, sent the 14th overall pick to New Orleans, in exchange for the Saints number-one pick (27th) this year, the 147th pick this year (5th round) and the Saints 2019 first round draft pick.

Gutekunst said he knew when he went down to 27, that he would have a chance to get back up in the first round and that he did.  The Packers sent the 27th pick, along with third (number 76) and sixth round (number 186) picks to Seattle for the 18th pick in this draft as well as a seventh round pick (number 248) this year. [Read more…]

Packers send Randall to Cleveland for Kizer

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Damarious Randall is dealt to Cleveland.

It didn’t take new General Manager Brian Gutekunst long to make his first potential impactful deal with the Green Bay Packers.  Gutekunst send defensive back Damarious Randall to the Cleveland Browns on Friday for quarterback DeShone Kizer.

The NFL Network also reported that the deal included the Packers and Browns swapping 4th and 5th round draft picks, giving the Packers the opportunity to draft at the front of both rounds.

Kizer gives the Packers another young quarterback to compete with Brett Hundley for the backup job behind Aaron Rodgers.  He started 15 games for the winless Browns last season.

But the move also takes away the team’s top defensive playmaker in the secondary to finish last season.  Randall did miss the last two games of the season with a knee injury.  After being benched and sent to the locker room in a Week 4 game against Chicago, he turned things around and went on to lead the team with a career-high four interceptions. [Read more…]

Packers looking to add to WR group

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Brian Gutekunst

New Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst and head coach Mike McCarthy met with reporters on Wednesday at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.

It would appear that the Packers would like to have wide receivers Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb back and it could come with some financial concessions.

“They still have value,” McCarthy said.  “There’s no question about it.  Their leadership, their instincts, their awareness as players, it increases as their years go on.  You’re always going to measure the physical part of it. That’s the science and chess match of this whole thing.  Jordy and Randall can still play.  But we need to improve.”

Nelson finished last season with 53 catches for 482 yards.  His six touchdown receptions came in the first five games with Aaron Rodgers at quarterback.

Cobb had 66 receptions for 653 yards and four TDs in 15 games.

For Nelson, Gutekunst believes his six touchdowns in the first five games with Aaron Rodgers is a more accurate indication of what he can do for the Packers offense.

The Packers signed Davante Adams to a new contract and they’re hoping to add depth at the position, whether it’s through the draft or the use of free agency.

The Scouting Combine continues today.  Running backs and offensive linemen will work out for NFL scouts today.

 

 

Packers awarded compensatory picks

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Packers G.M. Brian Gutekunst

New Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst will have some additional draft picks when the April Draft rolls around.

The Packers were awarded four compensatory picks for the 2018 Draft on Friday: one in the fourth round (No. 133 overall), two fifth-round picks (172 & 174) and a sixth-round pick (No. 207).

The Packers’ will now have 12 draft picks, their most since 2006.

The four compensatory picks were awarded to the Packers as a result of losing players in free agency the previous year.  The Packers lost tight end Jared Cook, safety Micah Hyde, guard T.J. Lang, running back Eddie Lacy, center J.C. Tretter and pass rushers Julius Peppers and Datone Jones.  The only free agent gained under the NFL’s formula for awarding draft picks was guard Jahri Evans.

A total of 32 compensatory draft picks were awarded to 15 teams.

The Packers were one of four teams that received four picks, joining Dallas, Cincinnati and Oakland.

Unlike in the past, compensatory draft picks can now be used in trades.  That rule went into effect prior to the 2017 draft.

The Packers have seven of their own picks, four compensatory selections and a seventh-round pick that came from Buffalo in a 2016 trade for linebacker Lerentee McCray.

Wolf is headed for Cleveland

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Eliot Wolf

When the Green Bay Packers hired Brian Gutekunst as their next general manager, they passed on Eliot Wolf.  Now Wolf is taking his expertise with him to Cleveland, joining John Dorsey and the Cleveland Browns.

Wolf was a 14-year veteran of the Packers scouting team.  He had an offer to remain with the Packers and could have joined Reggie McKenzie and Jon Gruden in Oakland as well.  But in the end, after meeting with the Browns on Tuesday, he decided that would be the best place for him.

Wolf served as the Packers director of football operations from 2016 to 2017.  He most likely would have been named as an assistant GM in Green Bay, working alongside Gutekunst.  But Wolf being passed over for the position that his father Ron Wolf once held, likely played a factor in his decision to move.

It’s not a matter of whether or not Wolf becomes a GM in the NFL some day.  It’s more a matter of when.  Wolf was qualified for the Packers opening and will continue to get other opportunities moving forward. [Read more…]

Wolf interviewing in Cleveland with the Browns

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Eliot Wolf

After being passed over for the GM job in Green Bay, Packers Director of Football Operations Eliot Wolf is interviewing with the Cleveland Browns today.

The Browns just hired John Dorsey as their new General Manager and he quickly hired another Green Bay Packers personnel executive, Alonzo Highsmith as a vice president in the personnel department.

New Packers GM Brian Gutekunst offered Wolf a prominent position to stay in Green Bay, but he may be looking to move on.

Former Packers GM Ron Wolf was not happy to see his son get passed over for the GM job in Green Bay.  he told ESPN on Sunday night, “Obviously the people up there don’t think he’s worthy or they would’ve hired him. End of discussion.”

Eliot Wolf is still under contract with the Packers and Gutekunst could prevent him from interviewing for any other NFL job except for GM.  But it appears Gutekunst would let Wolf go elsewhere, even though he’s like to see him return to Green Bay to allow the two, who have become good friends, to work together.

 

Packers stay in house, selecting Brian Gutekunst as next GM

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Brian Gutekunst

The Green Bay Packers didn’t take long to find their new General Manager.  Team President Mark Murphy has decided on long-time scout Brian Gutekunst to replace former G.M. Ted Thompson.  The Packers are expected to make the announcement official today.

Gutekunst was chosen over fellow in-house candidates Russ Ball and Eliot Wolf.

The 44-year-old Gutekunst gets a five-year contract with the Packers and presumably will suit head coach Mike McCarthy just fine.  Last week, McCarthy repeatedly sent the message that Thompson’s successor needed to be a good fit with the coach.  It is likely that McCarthy’s comments last week at least had some influence on hiring Gutekunst, not to mention contacting the Seattle Seahawks about the availability of their general manager John Schneider.

Gutekunst becomes the sixth scout hired by Ron wolf to go on to become a general manager in the NFL.

Now the pressure is on McCarthy, who still needs to hire coaching staff replacements in a number of areas, including coordinators on both sides of the ball.  McCarthy has two years left on his contract. [Read more…]

Thompson steps down from GM post

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Ted Thompson

It would appear that the Green Bay Packers are serious about shaking things up after a disappointing 7-9 season that saw them miss the playoffs for the first time since 2008.

The NFL Network first reported that GM Ted Thompson would step down and a search for his replacement would begin immediately.  Thompson’s contract is set to expire after next season and he’s expected to move into an advisory position within the personnel department.

The search won’t be limited to just in-house candidates.  That list includes director of football operations Eliot Wolf, director of player personnel Brian Gutekunst, senior personnel advisor Alonzo Highsmith and vice president of football administration/player finance Russ Ball.

Among the top candidates outside of the organization are Minnesota assistant general manager George Paton, Eagles vice president of player personnel Joe Douglas and Baltimore Ravens assistant general manager Eric DeCosta.

Also to be considered is what to do with head coach Mike McCarthy, who is entering the final year of his contract.  Team president Mark Murphy must decide whether to extend McCarthy’s contract regardless of who the new GM is, or he can leave McCarthy’s fate in the hands of the new GM.

Thompson was hired by Ron Wolf in 1992 and stayed with the Packers until 2000, when he left to join former Packers coach Mike Holmgren with the Seattle Seahawks.  Thompson served as Seattle’s vice president of football operations until 2005 when he was hired to take over the general manager position in Green Bay.

Mark Murphy is expected to meet with reporters to discuss the latest move on Tuesday.

 

 

Gutekunst interviews with Buffalo

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Brian Gutekunst

Members of the Green Bay Packers’ personnel department continue to attract attention for open jobs around the NFL.

On Monday, the Buffalo Bills announced they interviewed Packers director of player personnel Brian Gutekunst as they search for a new general manager.

Gutekunst was one of four personnel executives the Bills announced they talked to for the job.  The group also includes Philadelphia Eagles director of college scouting Trey Brown, Carolina Panthers assistant general manager Brandon Beane and Houston Texans director of player personnel Brian Gaine.

Gutekunst has been with the Packers for 18 seasons, including the last two as their director of player personnel.  He interviewed for the San Francisco 49ers’ vacancy earlier this off-season, but the 49ers hired former NFL safety John Lynch.