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Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst has conducted eight drafts and selected 80 players. Here are his 10 best selections.
Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Brian Gutekunst has selected 80 players during his first eight seasons as the Green Bay Packers’ general manager.
There have been some strokes of genius. And there have been a fair share of stinkers.
That’s life in the NFL.
With the NFL Draft on April 23 rapidly approaching, we’ll do a deep dive into Gutekunst’s drafts these next 3 ½ weeks.
We’ll start with a “best of” edition, and look at Gutekunst’s top-10 picks.
A player’s overall performance was the No. 1 criteria in putting together this list. But if it’s relatively close between players, the one taken later in the draft gets the nod.
First round picks are supposed to succeed. Seventh rounders rarely do. So if a Gutekunst unearths a gem later in the draft, that pick receives bonus points.
Here are Gutekunst’s top-10 draft picks.
1. Jordan Love, QB
Year: 2020
Round: 1
Overall: No. 26
Analysis: With Aaron Rodgers still performing at a high level, Gutekunst showed incredible courage, traded up four spots in the first round and drafted his quarterback of the future. It turned out to be arguably his best decision as GM as Love has developed into one of the elite quarterbacks in football.
In his three years as a starter, Love has thrown 80 touchdowns, 28 interceptions, thrown for nearly 11,000 yards and led Green Bay to the playoffs each year. Love won't turn 28 until November 2.
2. Elgton Jenkins, OL
Year: 2019
Round: 2
Overall pick: No. 44
Analysis: During his seven seasons in Green Bay, Jenkins was named to two Pro Bowls and the 2019 Pro Football Writers Association All-Rookie Team. He started 94 games across four different positions and played in 96 games with the Packers.
In 2020, Jenkins became Green Bay’s first offensive lineman since the 1970 merger to start a game at guard, center and tackle. Jenkins was released on March 9 and signed with Cleveland two days later.
3. Tucker Kraft, TE
Year: 2023
Round: 3
Overall pick: 78
Analysis: Kraft was on his way to an All-Pro season in 2025 before suffering a torn ACL in Week 8. Despite playing less than half the season, Kraft tied for the team-lead in touchdown receptions (six), finished fourth in catches (32) and third in receiving yards (489).
If the 25-year-old Kraft makes a full recovery, he should remain one of the NFL’s top tight ends the rest of the decade.
4. Zach Tom, RT
Year: 2022
Round: 4
Overall pick: No. 140
Analysis: Former Packers general manager Ted Thompson found fourth gems along the offensive line with guards Josh Sitton and T.J. Lang. Gutekunst continued that tradition with Tom, who is Green Bay’s best offensive lineman today.
Tom had an injury plagued 2025 that included a torn patellar tendon in his knee that required postseason surgery. Tom didn't miss a start in either 2023 or 2024, though, and is expected to anchor the Packers’ offensive line the next few seasons.
5. Jaire Alexander, CB
Year: 2018
Round: 1
Overall pick: No. 18
Analysis: Alexander was Gutekunst’s first-ever draft pick, and was one of the NFL’s top cornerbacks early in his seven-year Green Bay career.
Alexander was named to two Pro Bowls (2020, 2022) and was a second-team All-Pro twice. Alexander couldn’t stay healthy, though, playing in seven games or fewer in three of his final four seasons in Green Bay.
Alexander was released in June, 2025, had a dreadful season with Baltimore last year and is currently on Philadelphia’s roster.
6. Christian Watson, WR
Year: 2022
Round: 2
Overall pick: 34
Analysis: Watson made a magnificent recovery from a torn ACL late in the 2024 season and looked like a legitimate No. 1 receiver after returning midway through the 2025 season.
Watson has blazing speed, which has helped him average 17.0 yards per catch during his career. He’s extremely bright and a consistent presence in the locker room. Watson will become a free agent in March, 2027, and the Packers would love to lock him up for the next few seasons.
7. Edgerrin Cooper, LB
Year: 2024
Round: 2
Overall pick: 45
Analysis: Cooper has had a terrific start to his Green Bay career and could have Pro Bowls and All-Pro selections in his future.
Cooper was the only player in the NFL with at least 75 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, three sacks, an interception, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery during his 2024 rookie season. He wasn’t quite as impactful in 2025, but had a grade of 75.7 from Pro Football Focus that ranked 17th among 88 qualified linebackers.
8. Rasheed Walker, LT
Year: 2022
Round: 7
Overall pick: 249
Analysis: Walker made 48 starts at left tackle the last three seasons. And while he was a mid-level starter, at best, he certainly gave the Packers more than they could have ever hoped when they took him with the 249th pick in 2022.
Walker signed with Carolina during free agency on March 14.
9. Rashan Gary, DE
Year: 2019
Round: 1
Overall pick: No. 12
Analysis: Gary’s rapid decline in 2025 — which led to him being traded to Dallas — is the last memory Packer Nation has of him. But Gary had several productive years in Green Bay and ranks sixth in team history with 46.5 career sacks.
Gary had four seasons where he posted between 7.5-9.0 sacks and was named to the Pro Bowl in 2024. Granted, expectations were extremely high for Gary, the 12th overall pick in 2019. And it can be argued from both sides whether Gary fully lived up to those hopes.
For a stretch, though, Gary was a No. 1 edge rusher. It just wasn’t as long as the Packers hoped for.
10. Evan Williams, S
Year: 2024
Round: 4
Overall pick: 111
Analysis: Williams is just two years into his career, but if healthy, looks like he could carve out a 10-year career. He’s smart, fearless, instinctive and is the first Packer since 2000 to register at least 100 tackles, four interceptions and five tackles for a loss over his first two NFL seasons.
The fact Williams was taken in the fourth round makes this pick even more impressive for Gutekunst.
Others considered: OL Jon Runyan (R6, No. 192, 2020), OL Josh Myers (R2, No. 62, 2021), LB Quay Walker (R1, No. 22, 2022), DT Devonte Wyatt (R1, No. 28, 2022), WR Romeo Doubs (R4, No. 132, 2022), S Javon Bullard (R2, No. 58, 2024), WR Jayden Reed (R2, No. 50, 2023).
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