Which Positions Does Brian Gutekunst Value the Most?
What do Gute’s cold, hard capital investments tell us about his team-building philosophy?
I considered joining in on all the fun and analyzing some favorite targets or even conducting a full-fledged mock draft for the upcoming 2026 NFL draft, but the Packers could go in so many different directions with a crop of players that have so many different evaluations depending on which source you check that I conceded to how futile such an effort would be. What I really think is that the 2026 draft class is primarily made up of a whole lot of 3rd-rounders that we could see going way earlier or way later than expected based on team fit, gut feelings, and a whole lot of wheeling and dealing between GMs. So I asked myself, “If Green Bay could use players almost anywhere and the talent tiers are so wide that BPA will largely be irrelevant, what does Brian Gutekunst’s history suggest he’ll do?” Then I dug into the numbers.
Scouring through every draft pick, free agent signing, contract extension, and player trade in Gute’s nine year history with the team, I let his actual investments tell me which positions he cares about. Spoiler alert: he won’t be drafting a Fullback any time soon.
For draft picks, I evaluated both the point value of the picks expended (using the classic Jimmy Johnson trade chart) and the total number of picks.
For free agents, I ignored all 1-year deals, as they don’t signal much commitment and can be the result of simply needing a bridge player or mid-season injury coverage. In terms of financial commitments, I only paid attention to the guaranteed money at signing, according to Spotrac. I also evaluated the total number of free agents.
Extended players follow the exact same criteria as free agents.
Lastly, for player trades, since there’s no real way to objectively measure deals involving multiple veteran players, I simply focused on the total number of times a given position was traded for. Almost all of Gutekunst’s trades have been for throw-away stop-gaps or back of the roster developmental guys, but Micah Parsons is obviously an incredible outlier. For that purpose, even though Gute has only traded for one EDGE player in total, I still rank that position higher than all others when it comes to positional priority in Gute’s trade history.
Putting all of that data together, I averaged out the comparative rankings in each of the seven categories to definitively calculate the positions that inspire Green Bay’s top man to put his money where his mouth is. If there’s an EDGE player remotely qualified to be picked at 52 this coming Friday, I’d put my money on that.
- EDGE
- CB
- OT
- IDL
- ILB
- OG
- QB
- RB
- TE
- FS
- WR
- P
- C
- K
- SS
- LS
- SLOT WR
- NB
- FB
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Cody Cottrell is a proud shareholder of the greatest sports franchise on Earth, the Green Bay Packers. He's also a complicated fella who loves writing a good hot take.
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Comments (15)
splitpea1
April 23, 2026 at 03:35 pm
"If there's an edge player remotely qualified to be picked at 52..." Yeah, that's what scares a lot of us: not the selection of an edge, but the remotely qualified part. That's what's gotten us into this predicament in the first place. You look at all those allocation charts and the amount devoted to this one postion is staggering. I'd rather see Gute spin the wheel on Day 3 here and concentrate on high-floor prospects in other areas with those first two picks.
Cheezehead72
April 24, 2026 at 05:48 am
We do not need an edge unless that guy is out of this world and I doubt there will be that player at 52.
TKWorldWide
April 23, 2026 at 04:51 pm
Well done, interesting.
In the modern era, it’s all about the passing game: passer, pass catcher, pass protector, pass rusher, pass coverage.
And not a fullback in sight.
SicSemperTyrannis
April 24, 2026 at 05:38 am
But I WANT a FB! And a blocking TE. AND IOL.
This priority would help GB win.
GreenandBold
April 23, 2026 at 05:14 pm
Cody you have way too much time on your hands !
Since'75
April 23, 2026 at 06:46 pm
I was thinking the same thing as i was scanning over it, but i respect it..
MooPack
April 23, 2026 at 06:38 pm
"If there’s an EDGE player remotely qualified to be picked at 52 this coming Friday, I’d put my money on that."
Save your money. In other years, maybe. This year with weaker Edge Rusher talent, I'd say no. Edge is going to be over drafted this year. Guys like Zion Young, Malachi Lawrence, and Gabe Jacas, or even Dani Dennis-Sutton are possible, but do they really give the Packers that "Edge" over what they have? You Like that wordplay? I think no. Not to the level that they would beat out CB, DT, OL needs this year.
SicSemperTyrannis
April 24, 2026 at 05:45 am
Agreed.
And top tier CB talent is wasted without at least a good D line. Getting rid of Kenny Clarke, Rashan Gary and Colby Wooden in the same off-season (well, two) is an interesting way to improve the D line. Maybe it can be done? I'd think this needs to be a higher priority than suggested in OP article ...
Since'75
April 23, 2026 at 06:47 pm
I'll tell you what, this article is laid out pretty damn cool, and it shows Packer passion.
Nice Cody!! 👍
SicSemperTyrannis
April 24, 2026 at 05:47 am
Agreed. I like the analysis; an angle I haven't seen from anyone else.
Since'75
April 23, 2026 at 06:56 pm
Notice the edge rushers are at or near the top.
Funny thing, i remember when Guter signed all those free agents, the contracts totaled like 182 million, spent in like 7-10 days.
Which was almost exactly the equivalent of a teams salary cap at the time
What puzzled me...Guter just signed the Smith brothers to over 100 million.
Then....drafts Gary at #12 to sit on the bench for 2 years.
I remember damn near losing my mind.
Sorry...i want the 12th pick of the draft to be a starter (sans QB).
Same as the 13th pick....LVN
SicSemperTyrannis
April 24, 2026 at 05:48 am
WANI!
(Maybe they are?)
Since'75
April 24, 2026 at 12:18 pm
huh?
Cheezehead72
April 24, 2026 at 06:09 am
All I had to do was read the title to tell you that Gute favors edge. But then there are a lot of teams that do. I was rather surprised CB came in second.
Strat
April 24, 2026 at 01:11 pm
CB needs to come in first here. If Big Valencia is still available, maybe. Just move numbers 2, 3 and 4 in front of 1. And don't be drafting anymore raw project, part-time prospects that take three years to prove what you should've already known.