The Green Bay Packers made a lot of changes in the offseason and if today is any indication, it’s clear that under new general manager Brian Gutekunst there is a different approach to player acquisition.Gutekunst kicked off his first go around in free agency with three big moves. Talk about jumping in head first!
First off, he signs tight end Jimmy Graham. It is the third year in a row the Packers have signed a tight end, this time they might have gotten it right. While Graham is 31 he hasn’t exactly been stressed in Seattle the last three years. After catching over 80 passes three years in a row in New Orleans he was shipped to a run first offense in Seattle. Consequently his numbers declined accordingly. Russell Wilson will never known has a prolific passer like Aaron Rodgers or Drew Brees. I never understood that trade in the first place. I think the Packers are getting a guy that is hungry to get back to those numbers and re-establish himself as the best tight end in the league. At least I hope so.
The Packers also signed defensive lineman Muhammad Wilkerson, who visited the team last week. He also played for Packers’ defensive coordinator Mike Pettine while in New York with the Jets. The former Pro Bowler certainly adds competition on the d-line, something Gutenkunst stressed from the start for all positions.
Of course, with addition comes subtraction. In a move I have yet been able to totally process, the Packers released wide receiver Jordy Nelson. I knew somebody had to go, you can’t have three receivers making ten million a year. Somebody had to go and it wasn’t going to be Davante Adams. I could have seen them letting Randall Cobb go and keeping Jordy, but five years older is five years older. It’s tough. Plus, Jordy did not look like Jordy last year. It was probably the right move.
Jordy is an all-time Packers great. But I am glad we don’t have to see him sit on the bench like Donald Driver did in his last year, catching all of seven passes. I have heard rumours of him getting interest from several teams, including New England. Jordy is the one guy I could root for if he went to the evil empire. Class act from day one.
I am excited to see how Gutenkunst fills the holes now at wide receiver and cornerback. Dude must have a plan. Going to be fun to watch.