Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst answered questions from the assembled media for nearly a half hour on Tuesday, just two days before the start of the 2026 NFL draft.
Gutekunst covered a wide range of topics related to the draft and his team's offseason, including the plans for the first round. Despite not having a first-round pick, Gutekunst said his staff did the work on first-round prospects and will be around Thursday night, but he's expecting a different, less chaotic opening to the draft.
Here are the biggest things learned from Gutekunst before the draft:
The Packers added Desmond Ridder, an 18-game NFL starter, to end the 2025 season and then signed Kyle McCord, a 2025 draft pick, in January. But drafting one this week is still very much on the table now that Malik Willis, the backup the last two years, is in Miami. Gutekunst said the Packers evaluate quarterbacks "very thoroughly" every year, and this year's class has a few good players at the game's most difficult position.
"There are some good (quarterbacks) in this draft and we have an opportunity to add to that room, we will."
Quote: "There is probably more appetite for a pure nose because some of the snaps that we're going to play have that, where maybe we wouldn't have had that with Jeff."
Gutekunst said Devonte Wyatt and Javon Hargrave have the versatility to play up and down the line, and the Packers are expecting both veterans to play "a lot" of snaps in 2026. He also likes Nazir Stackhouse, Jonathan Ford and Warren Brinson as potential nose tackle tackles in the 3-4. But reading between the lines, it appears a legitimate role at nose tackle has opened up, and the 2026 draft class has several potential options for the Packers. Taking a versatile defensive lineman with the size and ability to play snaps on the nose is a potential priority for Green Bay in this draft.
Quote: "Excited about some of the opportunities some of these guys are going to get."
Gutekunst traded Dontayvion Wicks to the Eagles, and he admitted Wicks likely wasn't part of the team's long-term plans, so it "made a lot sense" to get a pair of picks in exchange for a player at a log jam position entering a contract year. Without Wicks and Romeo Doubs, a lot of snaps are now opening up for Matthew Golden and Savion Williams, two 2025 draft picks.
Later, Gutekunst said there would be "positives" from continuity and more clearly defined roles at receiver, although depth is required to survive injuries throughout a season. Losing Wicks and Doubs might open the door to a draft pick at receiver.
Quote: "I feel really good about (our depth.) I really like our starting five...I feel really good about our whole group and the competition in that room. We're always trying to add to the offensive line, there's only so many big guys in the world that can play at a high level."
The Packers lost Rasheed Walker and Elgton Jenkins this offseason, but Gutekunst brought back Darian Kinnard on a one-year deal and a few others will return from injuries, including Zach Tom and Travis Glover. Gutekunst specifically mentioned Jacob Monk, who he thought played well in the 2025 season finale. The Packers will likely add an offensive lineman via the draft, but Gutekunst's comments suggest that finding a pure center backup might not be a draft priority for the Packers. As always, versatility is the name of the game for offensive linemen coming to Green Bay.
Quote: "That's probably the group, that from a numbers perspective, where we're gonna need to add the most numbers."
Cornerback appears to be the roster's most pressing long-term need, given the contract situations after 2026. The Packers have Keisean Nixon, Carrington Valentine and Benjamin St-Juste, and Javon Bullard returns in the slot, but Green Bay has only six perimeter corners on the roster, and only one (St-Juste) is signed past 2026.
Needless to say, the Packers are going to add cornerbacks via the draft and undrafted free agency. "We are going to add numbers there."
-- Gutekunst confirmed Zach Tom had surgery on his knee during the offseason but is doing well. "He's going to be ready to roll as we get going here."
-- Knowing he has compensatory picks coming next year, Gutekunst said the Packers could still trade up if the "right player" falls into range this year.
-- Gutekunst is hopeful the Packers will get a third-round compensatory pick for losing Willis to the Dolphins. "Hopeful that he plays a lot, and plays well. We'll see how is shakes out."
-- Gutekunst wasn't sure if the Packers would be a player in the veteran free agent market post-draft, saying his roster is currently "a little heavy." Green Bay is at 74 players currently.
-- Gutekunst admitted the "consensus" in the football world is next year's draft will be a good one.