The highly debated Davante Adams trade gave the Green Bay Packers added ammunition for the 2022 NFL Draft. In acquiring the additional first and second-round picks, the green and gold have five total selections in the first 100 picks this April. The Packers are a team that has formed its reputation on building through the draft. Brian Gutekunst is a GM that has nailed his first- and second-day picks during his tenure. This is just the position the Packers want to be in.
Since the days of Ted Thompson, the Packers have prided themselves on building the core of their success through draft and development. The big splash free-agent signings, the blockbuster trades to bring in high-profile players, have all been few and far between. The annual NFL Draft was always priority number one for the core of the Packers roster.
Since being promoted to General Manager in 2018, Brian Gutekunst has begun to make a name for himself in nailing early-round picks. More specifically, his first and second round picks have hit at an astonishing success rate.
In his tenure, “Gute” has selected 13 players in the top 100 picks of his past four drafts. Of those include Jaire Alexander, Rashan Gary, Darnell Savage, Elgton Jenkins, AJ Dillon, Eric Stokes, and Josh Myers. Quite the impressive list of impact contributors. Apart from Gary, who was known to be a project pick, the rest of these individuals stepped in and contributed, to some extent, immediately.
Jaire Alexander has turned into one of the best CBs in the NFL since being taken 18th overall in 2018. Rashan Gary is blooming into a premier pass rusher across the league. Elgton Jenkins has provided nothing but versatility and consistency to the offensive line when healthy. AJ “Quadzilla” Dillon is one half of arguably the leagues top RB tandem to pair with Aaron Jones. Eric Stokes has displayed progress in each week throughout the 2021 season, the potential being through the roof. Josh Myers showed glimpses of a stalwart center when healthy last season as well.
Could we see the same success for the 2022 class of rookies? According to recent trends that is certainly a strong possibility. Green Bay will select 22nd, 28th, 53rd, 59th, and 92nd overall.
This is a team that has been busy reworking contracts, and freeing cap space, throughout this off-season. Some cost-controlled, plug-and-play contributors are certainly assets that would work well for Green Bay.
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Zach has been a lifelong Packers fan since his earliest memories of Brett Favre\\\'s Super Bowl win in Super Bowl XXXII. A proud shareholder of the team, he bleeds Green and Gold despite being born and raised in New Jersey. You can follow him on twitter at @RapMasterZach.
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