New G.M. Brian Gutekunst says Packers will be aggressive, yet cautious in free agency
Newly hired Packers G.M Brian Gutekunst was asked about free agency at the press event during the 2018 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana. Mainly about the role he would have in regards to it. He was quoted as saying: “Our big thing is, let’s be exceptionally prepared to pull the trigger if the right opportunity presents itself.” This is one mindset his predecessor Ted Thompson didn’t have.
This sounds all well and good, but let’s see if it all pans out. Green Bay seldom dips its hands into the free agent pool and is only known primarily as a draft and develop type of organization. Now, that’s not to say that they don’t ever go after big name free agents, because they do — albeit rarely. The biggest free agent signing in Green Bay’s history (and some say the NFL’s), came in 1993 offseason. “The Minister of Defense” Reggie White was picked up by them via the Philadelphia Eagles. White would go on to lead Green Bay’s ferocious 1996 team’s defense and ultimately to the organization’s third Super Bowl title (its first since 1967), in Super Bowl 31 in January of 1997. He ended up recording 3 tackles for loss and 3 sacks, culminating into a victory 35-21 over the New England Patriots.
They then got veteran CB Charles Woodson from the Oakland Raiders in 2006. Woodson and co. would eventually help Green Bay capture its 4th Super Bowl title in franchise history back in 2010. They also went after former Chicago Bears and Carolina Panthers DE Julius Peppers back in 2014 to bring some veteran juice and leadership to a defense that was well void of it.
Then came the 2016 offseason…Green Bay signed former Patriot tight end Martellus Bennett. A person Packer fans had high hopes for in 2016 and beyond. Those hopes quickly faded away. It wouldn’t end up working out. Bennett would only play in 7 games and record 24 receptions for 233 yards and 0 touchdowns. Packers QB and leader Aaron Rodgers would end up getting injured in week 6 of the 2017 season against the Vikings. This was the proverbial nail in the coffin for Bennett with Green Bay. He ended up feigning a shoulder injury suffered back in March of 2016. He would end up signing back with the Patriots a few days after getting released. Green Bay then failed to receive Bennett’s 4.2M dollar signing bonus due to a failed attempt at a grievance filed against him, a decision that was denied by an independent representative of the NFL Arbitration Committee three days ago.
Let’s just hope that all goes well this year and for years to come in Green Bay. I love the new faces in the front office and the new mindset for free agency they have. It’s aggressive yet cautious. I just hope it’s not too cautious. They’ve got to get some defensive help for Rodgers and the offense if they expect to go far in the postseason. I believe they will do what it takes to make Green Bay the championship caliber team it can be. Packer fans should have the same mindset for hopes that Gutekunst has for free agency: hopeful, yet cautious. We’ll just have to wait and see.
#ParkerMoes @ParkerMoes #DHPF @DieHardPackrFan
