This Was the Green Bay Packers Worst Draft Class Under Brian Gutekunst

The Green Bay Packers have drafted well in recent years, getting quality players even on day three of the draft like Zach Tom, Rasheed Walker, Karl Brooks, and Evan Williams. But this season was the Packers worst draft class under Brian Gutekunst who has been GM since 2018.

The Packers Worst Draft Class Under Brian Gutekunst: The First Round

In the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft, the Packers selected cornerback Eric Stokes out of Georgia with the 29^th overall pick.

Stokes had a very good rookie season. He was pressed into the starting lineup due to injuries and started 14 games. He made his first career interception and broke up 14 passes. According to pro-football-reference.com, opposing quarterbacks completed only 49.5 percent of their passes when throwing to receivers covered by Stokes.

But after that promising rookie campaign, Stokes regressed. He never broke up any passes in his final three seasons in the NFL. Injuries robbed him of some of his speed and explosiveness and a lot of his confidence. He played a total of 12 games in 2022 and 2023 combined. In 2024, he couldn’t hold on to his starting job and finished the season as a functional backup.

Stokes signed with the Raiders earlier this week and hopes for a fresh start in Vegas.

Day Two of the 2021 Draft

The Packers had two picks on day two of the draft. In the second round, they added Ohio State center Josh Myers. Pro Bowl center Creed Humphrey was selected by the Chiefs one spot later which frustrated fans to no end.

Myers started as a rookie but only played six games that year due to injuries. He became a steady but unspectacular starter as center for the three years after that. He is now an unrestricted free agent and is unlikely to be back with the Packers. At best, Myers was average. He was tough and smart but wildly inconsistent. When he made mistakes, they were often blatant and spectacular.

In the third round, the Packers took wide receiver Amari Rodgers. Rodgers didn’t fit the Packers usual prototypes for wide receivers, and he never panned out. He was a bust as a receiver and never won the trust of quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

He also struggled as a punt and kick returner and often had issues holding on to the football. Rodgers made poor decisions regarding when to return the ball, when to fair catch it and when to let it roll. He was released midway through his second NFL season and was not on an NFL roster in 2024.

The Packers Worst Draft Class Under Brian Gutekunst: Day Three

Day three of the draft is usually more of a gamble and if you get a starter or real contributor on day three, it’s a bonus.

In the fourth round, the Packers added guard Royce Newman. He started as a rookie but struggled against stunts and blitzes. Unfortunately, Newman never made much progress and was released by the Packers before the 2024 season. He played one game for Tampa Bay in 2024.

In the fifth round, the Packers added defensive tackle T.J. Slaton. Slaton became a good run defender but never provided much pass rush. He was a steady player against the run who’s strength and size helped him occupy blockers. Slaton signed with the Bengals as a free agent earlier this week.

The second fifth-round pick was defensive back Shemar Jean-Charles. He was chosen mostly for his special teams prowess. Jean-Charles spent two years with the Packers and only played a total of 40 snaps on defense. He is now a backup and special teams player with the Saints.

In the sixth round, the Packers added guard Cole Van Lanen, who never panned out due to injuries and linebacker Isaiah McDuffie who the Packers re-signed earlier this month. McDuffie is the only player remaining on the Packers roster from this draft class. He stepped up to start when injuries struck at linebacker and also excelled on special teams. He provides depth and leadership to the defense.

Running back Kylin Hill was the seventh-round selection. The Mississippi State alum played 10 games for the Packers over two seasons. He suffered a serious knee injury returning a kick in 2021 and was released by the Pack after playing two games in 2022. He has since played in Canada.

Conclusion

So, four years after the 2021 draft, there is just one member of that year’s class who is still on the Packers and that’s McDuffie. The Packers got contributions from a few of the players selected in 2021, but long-term, the impact was minimal. This was clearly the least impactful draft of Gutekunst’s tenure so far.