Packers GM uses LaFleur's early days in Green Bay to show why new versatile weapon could be a key chess piece for the offense

Gutekunst actually used an example of LaFleur’s early days in Green Bay to show how creative the head coach can be using versatile weapons. Back in 2019 and 2020, the Packers claimed Tyler Ervin off waivers from the Jacksonville Jaguars and he became a real contributor within a gadget role. With Williams, the expectation is even higher.

“I don't look at him as a gadget, we look at him as a receiver,” Gutekunst explained. “Obviously, he's versatile and can do a lot of things. I do think he can do some of those things those other guys did as well. But he's one of those guys we look at as a receiver, do all the things that we ask. I do think it's gonna be interesting how Matt draws some stuff up. When we had Tyler (Ervin), I thought it was pretty unique how Matt was able to see him and find areas where he could help us produce.”

Savion Williams was a high school quarterback, but moved to wide receiver in college and used his background to help his team in any way possible. Going into the NFL, that keeps being his mentality.

“I had some teams calling me and asking me what position I would prefer to play, and I tell them receiver. But I do whatever my team needs me to do,” Williams said after his selection. “Most teams want me to play receiver, but they like the fact that they can move me around the formation.”

At TCU, Savion Williams was not necessarily asked to be a regular receiver. He maximized his opportunities with the ball in his hands—he forced 40 missed tackles in 2024. But that also means he has areas to improve in terms of technique. He had an 11.8% drop rate and is not a polished route runner.

"Because they moved him all around in different ways, I thought that was a little bit of a rawness to his game as far as the polish as a route runner," Gutekunst added. "But his ability to create separation and get behind guys vertically, catch the football, all those things, he seems to fit what we're trying to do."