Packers GM Brian Gutekunst Has Flopped With His Third Round Picks
· Yahoo Sports
Running back MarShawn Lloyd is arguably the worst third round draft pick of the Brian Gutekunst-era.
Getty ImagesBrian Gutekunst has done an admirable job building rosters as the Green Bay Packers’ general manager since Jan., 2018.
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The majority of Gutekunst’s forays into free agency have been successful. His first round draft picks have been respectable, and his second rounders have been even better.
The third wound has been a wasteland, though, for Gutekunst.
Gutekunst has drafted nine players in the third round, and by subjective count, he’s hit on just two of those (22.2%). Gutekunst missed badly on five third rounders (55.6%), and a case could be made that running back Marshawn Lloyd and wideout Amari Rodgers were the two worst picks of his career.
The jury remains out on two other third rounders (22.2%), but early returns haven’t been promising there either.
Here’s a look at Gutekunst’s third round picks.
THE HITS
TUCKER KRAFT, TE
2023, No. 78
The skinny: This qualifies as one of Gutekunst’s finest picks.
Kraft was having an All-Pro season in 2025 when he suffered a torn ACL in a Week 9 loss to Carolina. As it was, Kraft still finished tied for the team lead in touchdown catches (six), third in receiving yards (489) and fourth in receptions (32).
Kraft is incredibly tough, outstanding after the catch, a high level blocker and plenty fast. Kraft is still just 25 and seems a good bet to return to his pre-injury form.
SEAN RHYAN, OL
2022, No. 92
The skinny: Rhyan has bounced around Green Bay’s offensive line during his four years with the team. He found a home at center last season, though, and the Packers signed him to a three-year, $33 million contract extension.
Rhyan is still just 25, and while he may never be an elite player, he’s been an extremely solid and versatile piece of Green Bay’s offensive line.
THE FLOPS
MARSHAWN LLOYD, RB
2024, No. 88
The skinny: One game. Ten snaps. Six rushing attempts. Fifteen yards.
That’s what Lloyd has given Green Bay during his two injury plagued seasons. Lloyd played just one game as a rookie in 2024 — the only game he’s played with the Packers — due to hamstring and ankle injuries and an appendicitis.
Then in 2025, Lloyd spent the entire season on the injured reserve list with hamstring and groin injuries.
It’s hard to imagine getting less from a premium draft pick than what Green Bay has received from Lloyd.
AMARI RODGERS, WR
2021, No. 85
The skinny: Not only was Rodgers dreadful during his 18 months in Green Bay, Gutekunst traded a pair of draft picks to move up and select him.
Rodgers had just eight catches in 26 career games with Green Bay. He lost his kick return job early in the 2022 season, then fumbled five punts in just 10 games that same season. After Rodgers fumbled against Dallas midway through that campaign, the Packers had seen enough and waived him two days later.
JOSIAH DEGUARA, TE
2020, No. 94
The skinny: Deguara played just two games as a rookie after tearing his ACL, then didn’t move the needle after returning.
While Deguara was a high-level blocker, he had just 46 receptions and averaged 9.3 yards per catch the next three seasons. The Packers made little effort to resign Deguara when he reached free agency, and he’s had minimal impact for Jacksonville and Arizona since.
JACE STERNBERGER, TE
2019, No. 75
The skinny: Two seasons, 12 catches, one touchdown. That’s what the Packers got from Sternberger, their 2019 third round pick.
Along the way, Sternberger was also suspended two games for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy. Sternberger was waived early in the 2021 season, spent time on four more NFL rosters and never played in another NFL game.
OREN BURKS, LB
2018, No. 88
The skinny: Burks was a solid special teams player during his four seasons in Green Bay, but averaged just 23 tackles per season. Burks has received more playing time from scrimmage in San Francisco (2022-’24) and Cincinnati (2025), where he’s remained a core special teams player.
During his time in Green Bay, though, Burks failed to make much of an impact.
JURY REMAINS OUT
SAVION WILLIAMS, WR
2025, No. 87
The skinny: Williams had little impact as a rookie, finishing with 10 receptions for 78 yards and one touchdown.
There should be more opportunities for Williams in 2026 after Green Bay lost wideout Romeo Doubs in free agency and traded Dontayvion Wicks last week. Williams remains raw, though, and will have a lot to prove when training camp arrives.
TY’RON HOPPER, LB
2024, No. 91
The skinny: Hopper has just 33 tackles in two years and is buried on the depth chart. When Hopper received his most playing time in a Week 18 loss at Minnesota last season, he failed to impress.
It’s too early to call Hopper a bust, but it’s getting closer.
This article was originally published on Forbes.com