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It's still a little early of course. But I think now we can see Gute's strategy and "philosophy."
He became GM January of 2018. I give him a pass on the first draft and first year though Jaire was definitely a homerun pick, and MVS was a major contributor to Packer success, the only player besides Rodgers who almost pulled off an upset (what it was) against the Bucs.
The Packers were in deep controversy in three of his first four years. After the overdue but necessary firing of MM, cold and heartless as it was executed, Gute & Murphy made an excellent choice in MLF, the most winning coach in his debut since the merger. He took over a team that was depleted with no depth at any positions: only a few stars left and some aging vets.
2019 draft This and the 2022 were deep drafts, and Gute procured extra picks in both drafts. Stellar or lucky, take your pick, but he did know what he had. 2020 & 2021 were weak drafts and they made the best of it, with the sole scar being the not so loved Love pick, which still might turn out well. Gary, Savage, and Jenkins were a huge hall though I had wanted McLaurin in the 3rd: that was likely an MLF pick there.
2020 draft They just got solid players in a weak draft. I am of the camp that the Love pick was a disaster, and the FO mishandled Rodgers who repeatedly stated he wanted to end his career in GB. They have now healed that wound. Hopefully, Gute has learned from this and moved on
2021 draft There's a steady trend with Gute. His early picks are consistently safe and solid with less regard than in the past for positiional value. I did NOT like this at the time, but I am on board now. There were far too many reaches and settling for second bests under TT. Now taking good players in the second or third, whether they be running backs or centers opens up more possibilities on the board. He also doesn't try to fit square pegs into round holes. I think it's safe to say this is a key upgrade over the old strategy. Gute still retains much from the TT / Wolf tradition, but this is a pleasant upgrade.
2022 draft This was the culmination. The Davante Adams trade was an absolute steal. Better a year early than a year late, and to get two extra high picks in the deepest draft that I remember was gold. And they capitalized. Gute made great value picks through round five: all starters or key rotational / back up guys. He completes his four year rebuild of the line. It's my favorite draft since I started following 13 years ago: basically a double draft imo (and per usual took a turn I did not expect).
FA's under Gute. Name another team that did a better job the last three years in free agency. Not only was the haul in 2019 a score, but the FA's he's brought in were theft: Lazard, Tonyan, De'vondre Campbel, Rasul Douglas were players any team could have had. Gute has hugely improved on the most glaring defect in the TT regime.
Both in the FA and moving around in the draft, Gute has outperformed Ted Thompson. His overall draft strategy to my mind is superior to TT's (2011-2017). He emerged shining after folks, several times questioned the future of Titletown (albeit the Rodgers / Love miscue was of his own making -- I did NOT think Gute would change and he proved me wrong).
We now have one of the youngest and most talented teams in the league with good coaches (and I was always hopeful for Joe Barry after I dug into his background and pedigree). Gute's next challenge, and biggest, will be the post Rodgers era. But even the best organizations, like the Steelers & Ravens, struggle when it comes to QB.
As to the playoffs, I regard that as somewhat of luck...... 2019 (they were lucky to get so far), 2020 (the Bucs were stacked, the oline lost the game -- Bakh out didn't help), 2021 (that team was decimated and gimpy like no Packer team I remember in 30 years. Healthy, they would have walked through the Superbowl). Next year (and as long as AR is QB) we can really be excited. I know folks are tired of dissapointment, but I really can't blame the team, MLF, or AR unless it be DREADFUL special teams but that was our Achilles, and Crosby's fall off, who could have predicted that??
He became GM January of 2018. I give him a pass on the first draft and first year though Jaire was definitely a homerun pick, and MVS was a major contributor to Packer success, the only player besides Rodgers who almost pulled off an upset (what it was) against the Bucs.
The Packers were in deep controversy in three of his first four years. After the overdue but necessary firing of MM, cold and heartless as it was executed, Gute & Murphy made an excellent choice in MLF, the most winning coach in his debut since the merger. He took over a team that was depleted with no depth at any positions: only a few stars left and some aging vets.
2019 draft This and the 2022 were deep drafts, and Gute procured extra picks in both drafts. Stellar or lucky, take your pick, but he did know what he had. 2020 & 2021 were weak drafts and they made the best of it, with the sole scar being the not so loved Love pick, which still might turn out well. Gary, Savage, and Jenkins were a huge hall though I had wanted McLaurin in the 3rd: that was likely an MLF pick there.
2020 draft They just got solid players in a weak draft. I am of the camp that the Love pick was a disaster, and the FO mishandled Rodgers who repeatedly stated he wanted to end his career in GB. They have now healed that wound. Hopefully, Gute has learned from this and moved on
2021 draft There's a steady trend with Gute. His early picks are consistently safe and solid with less regard than in the past for positiional value. I did NOT like this at the time, but I am on board now. There were far too many reaches and settling for second bests under TT. Now taking good players in the second or third, whether they be running backs or centers opens up more possibilities on the board. He also doesn't try to fit square pegs into round holes. I think it's safe to say this is a key upgrade over the old strategy. Gute still retains much from the TT / Wolf tradition, but this is a pleasant upgrade.
2022 draft This was the culmination. The Davante Adams trade was an absolute steal. Better a year early than a year late, and to get two extra high picks in the deepest draft that I remember was gold. And they capitalized. Gute made great value picks through round five: all starters or key rotational / back up guys. He completes his four year rebuild of the line. It's my favorite draft since I started following 13 years ago: basically a double draft imo (and per usual took a turn I did not expect).
FA's under Gute. Name another team that did a better job the last three years in free agency. Not only was the haul in 2019 a score, but the FA's he's brought in were theft: Lazard, Tonyan, De'vondre Campbel, Rasul Douglas were players any team could have had. Gute has hugely improved on the most glaring defect in the TT regime.
Both in the FA and moving around in the draft, Gute has outperformed Ted Thompson. His overall draft strategy to my mind is superior to TT's (2011-2017). He emerged shining after folks, several times questioned the future of Titletown (albeit the Rodgers / Love miscue was of his own making -- I did NOT think Gute would change and he proved me wrong).
We now have one of the youngest and most talented teams in the league with good coaches (and I was always hopeful for Joe Barry after I dug into his background and pedigree). Gute's next challenge, and biggest, will be the post Rodgers era. But even the best organizations, like the Steelers & Ravens, struggle when it comes to QB.
As to the playoffs, I regard that as somewhat of luck...... 2019 (they were lucky to get so far), 2020 (the Bucs were stacked, the oline lost the game -- Bakh out didn't help), 2021 (that team was decimated and gimpy like no Packer team I remember in 30 years. Healthy, they would have walked through the Superbowl). Next year (and as long as AR is QB) we can really be excited. I know folks are tired of dissapointment, but I really can't blame the team, MLF, or AR unless it be DREADFUL special teams but that was our Achilles, and Crosby's fall off, who could have predicted that??
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