GREEN BAY \u2014 In the days leading up to Monday\u2019s opening day of the NFL\u2019s free-agent negotiation window, there was lots of talk about compensatory picks and how the Green Bay Packers would be cashing in on them once they bid farewell to a host of unrestricted free agents.<\/p>\n
In the wake of No. 2 quarterback Malik Willis, middle linebacker Quay Walker and defensive end Kingsley Engabare agreeing to deals elsewhere on Monday \u2014 and with left tackle Rasheed Walker and wide receiver Romeo Doubs also expected to depart, perhaps as soon as Tuesday \u2014 that is still very much the case.<\/p>\n
The only questions are how many picks (likely the NFL maximum of four) and how high each of them will be (Willis, as of now, figures to fetch the highest, which would likely be a third- or fourth-rounder).<\/p>\n
Having those picks and the 2027 fourth-rounder the Packers got from the Dallas Cowboys for defensive end Rashan Gary \u2014 a player they were set to release had they not found a trade partner \u2014 should give general manager Brian Gutekunst ample ammunition in next year\u2019s draft, even though he won\u2019t have a first-round pick, just as he doesn\u2019t this year.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately for Gutekunst, he didn\u2019t get a windfall of comp picks for this coming April\u2019s draft. Not that he was expecting one.<\/p>\n
The Packers were awarded just one seventh-round pick (No. 255 overall) on Monday, and while that did not come as a surprise, there was an outside chance that they\u2019d get an additional seventh-rounder based on the NFL\u2019s calculus for awarding the picks.<\/p>\n
Last offseason, the Packers signed a pair of relatively big-ticket free agents in left guard Aaron Banks and cornerback Nate Hobbs while watching cornerback Eric Stokes sign with the Las Vegas Raiders, center Josh Myers sign with the New York Jets, defensive tackle T.J. Slaton join the Cincinnati Bengals and linebacker Eric Wilson rejoin the Minnesota Vikings.<\/p>\n
Gutekunst insisted as the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis last month that he wouldn\u2019t intentionally avoid signing an unrestricted free agent for fear of losing out on a compensatory pick next year, but he did acknowledge he considers it when contemplating signing someone from the outside.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s definitely part of the equation as we look at everything as far as re-signing a player or not,\u201d Gutekunst said. \u201cI think in my mind, we have a very good football team that\u2019s capable of winning the Super Bowl.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo if there\u2019s an opportunity to [sign] that player and he\u2019s going to help us get to that end, we\u2019d rather do that than worry about a compensatory pick. But it\u2019s definitely part of the equation.\u201d<\/p>\n
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