Brian Gutekunst has now been the Packers\u2019 general manager for nearly a decade. 2026 will be his ninth draft as GM, and if you needed any more evidence that you\u2019re getting old, here\u2019s a sobering fact: the Packers have now completely cycled two full Gutekunst draft classes on and off the roster.<\/p>\n
Last year the Packers said goodbye to the last remnant of the 2018 draft class when they released Jaire Alexander, the first of Gutekunst\u2019s first round picks. Then, this offseason, the Packers released Elgton Jenkins and traded Rashan Gary, closing the book on Gutekunst\u2019s 2019 class.<\/p>\n
And with the ink finally dry on the transactions that sent Jenkins and Gary out of town, let\u2019s take a minute to review the 2019 class. How did Gutekunst do in his second draft with the Packers? Here\u2019s a pick-by-pick look back.<\/p>\n
1 (12th overall) – Rashan Gary – EDGE – Michigan<\/p>\n
Gary was a traits-over-production project when he was selected, but he had the benefit of slotting in as the Packers\u2019 third edge rusher as a rookie, filling in behind free agent acquisitions Za\u2019Darius Smith and Preston Smith. Over time, he blossomed into a productive pass rusher, and after Za\u2019Darius Smith\u2019s departure, took over as the Packers\u2019 primary quarterback hunter.<\/p>\n
He was on his way to a career year in 2022 when he tore his ACL, but came back strong to start the 2023 season. Unfortunately, things tailed off after he signed a big contract extension toward the middle of that season, gradually decreasing year by year until he was getting outsnapped by rotational defensive lineman in the playoffs last season.<\/p>\n
2 (21st overall) – Darnell Savage – S – Maryland<\/p>\n
Another high-traits pick, Savage had eye-popping testing numbers coupled with a fairly solid college background as both a slot defender and safety. The Packers played him mainly as a deep safety, and things got off to a fairly strong start. Though his overall play was up and down, he did make plenty of plays on the ball, recording eight interceptions and 26 passes defensed through his first three seasons.<\/p>\n
But, like Gary, his play tailed off. Even though the Packers picked up his fifth year option, he was far from a sure thing in the secondary through his final two seasons in Green Bay. He went out with a bang, recording a pick-6 in the Packers\u2019 2023 playoff win over the Cowboys before departing for Jacksonville in free agency. He was released by the Jaguars midway through the 2025 season and spent the rest of the year with Buffalo and Washington. He signed with the Steelers this spring.<\/p>\n
3 (44th overall) – Elgton Jenkins – OL – Mississippi State<\/p>\n
In some ways, Jenkins\u2019 Packers career is a complete circle. He was a center when the Packers drafted him, though he had plenty of positional versatility in college, making starts at guard and tackle, too. The Packers initially viewed him as a backup center with guard potential, and that\u2019s the path he walked. He took over at left guard early in the 2019 season, then moved around the offensive line from there before finally ending up back at center for the 2025 season, his last in Green Bay.<\/p>\n
4 (75th overall) – Jace Sternberger – TE – Texas A&M<\/p>\n
Sternberger was a head scratcher from the jump. The recipe for success with drafting tight ends is looking for guys who profiled as big, athletic playmakers at the college level. Sternberger, who had one moderately productive college season, really wasn\u2019t any of those things. And it showed! He finished his NFL career with just 12 catches for 114 yards and a touchdown.<\/p>\n