GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Green Bay’s confidence in its returning players was evident from the way the Packers approached this week’s draft.
With virtually all their starting positions already settled, the Packers made just six draft selections to match their lowest total in franchise history.
It represented a major contrast for general manager Brian Gutekunst, who had averaged 10 picks over his previous eight drafts.
“I’ve talked a little about (how) I like the depth of our football team,” Gutekunst said. I like the way our roster is shaping up. Yeah, I would have loved to have more. But the board didn’t line up like that would have been a good thing for us."
The other years in which the Packers had only six draft selections were 2001, 2002 and 2004. That 2004 draft also marked the only other time Green Bay selected just one offensive player.
Green Bay’s lone offensive draft pick in 2004 was the seventh-round selection of guard Scott Wells. This year the only offensive player Green Bay selected was Kentucky lineman Jager Burton in the fifth round at No. 153 overall.
The Packers focused on adding defensive depth to help new coordinator Jonathan Gannon. Green Bay selected South Carolina cornerback Brandon Cisse in the second round (No. 52 overall), Missouri defensive tackle Chris McClellan in the third (No. 77), Penn State edge rusher Dani Dennis-Sutton in the fourth (No. 120) and Alabama cornerback Domani Jackson in the fifth (No. 201).
Green Bay traded its 2026 and 2027 first-round picks to Dallas last August as part of the package to acquire All-Pro pass rusher Micah Parsons. The Packers also sent a fifth-round pick to Tampa Bay move up seven spots in the second round to take McClellan. They traded their two seventh-round picks to Seattle for a second sixth-round selection that they used on Florida kicker Trey Smack (No. 216).
Smack was the only kicker drafted. He will compete with incumbent Brandon McManus, who signed a three-year, $15.3 million contract last year.
“It’s a surreal feeling,” Smack said. “I’ve still got the shakes a little bit. I’m like, ‘Wow is this really happening right now?’ ”
McManus missed two field goals and an extra-point attempt in Green Bay’s 31-27 wild-card playoff loss at Chicago.
Green Bay also has Lucas Havrisik, who went 4 of 4 on field-goal attempts while filling in for an injured McManus last season.
“Just like any other position, you can never have enough competition," coach Matt LaFleur said.
Smack made 82.8% of his field-goal attempts at Florida and went 10 of 13 from at least 50 yards.
The selection of Dennis-Sutton had the apparent approval of Parsons, who also starred at Penn State. Parsons posted on Instagram a post Penn State released after the pick was made.
Dennis-Sutton said he spoke with his new teammate a couple of times when Parsons visited Penn State’s campus.
“Obviously he’s the best in the league and yeah, it’s really cool to be alongside him and get the opportunity to play for the Packers," Dennis-Sutton said.
Dennis-Sutton had 23½ sacks at Penn State, including 8½ each of the past two years. Packers director of player personnel John Wojciechowski said he didn’t expect Dennis-Sutton to remain available in the fourth round.
“It definitely leaves a chip on my shoulder,” Dennis-Sutton said.
Green Bay loves drafting versatile offensive linemen, and the Packers believe they’ve found another one in Burton. He made 47 total starts at three different positions (left guard, right guard and center).