INDIANAPOLIS – Packers General Manager Brian Gutekunst conducted a 40-minute sit-down with writers Tuesday at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis amongst other media obligations.
Here are 10 things learned from him, as well as others who took to the podium.
- Lacking a first-round pick doesn't change the Packers' pre-draft process much.
Having spent his 2026 first-round pick (and 2027's) to acquire Micah Parsons last summer, Gutekunst emphasized the Packers won't be ignoring first-round prospects.
They may not interview as many and could use more of their allotted formal interviews on others, but they're still doing the homework because there's no telling what opportunities may present themselves down the line – like trading for a top player like Parsons, who was a first-round pick in 2021.
"It's important that we don't skip any of those steps," Gutekunst said. "Getting to know these players inside and out, whether it be for this draft or going into free agency and their professional career is really, really important for us. So the groundwork that our scouts do on these players in college really does carry over quite a bit into our pro scouting staff and how we look at these players."
- Speaking of Parsons, all indications are his rehab is going well.
Despite Parsons' December knee injury, Gutekunst has "no regrets" about making the trade and expects him to come back "better than ever" next season, whenever he's ready.
Parsons has actively posted rehab updates on social media. Gutekunst joked that Parsons already calls him the "No man" in terms of how much to push, and perhaps in anticipation of when he'll want to be back on the field versus when he'll actually be allowed to return.
"He communicates pretty well and everything's going really well," Gutekunst said. "I'm sure not only with him but a couple others, there's going to be a lot of pressing to get out there and play.
"Obviously we made a very big investment in him and protecting that investment I think is really important."
- Rich Bisaccia's decision to step down wasn't anticipated.
Green Bay's special teams coordinator the past four seasons, Bisaccia stepped down last week and the front office didn't see it coming.
"I wouldn't say we were expecting it at all," Gutekunst said. "It caught us by surprise, but I think there's some other opportunities he wanted to look at. Very appreciative for his run with us."
His departure has left the Packers looking for a new coordinator after the bulk of the hiring cycle has run its course. Gutekunst is looking at the bright side there, as now Head Coach Matt LaFleur doesn't need to rush any decision.
"Kind of glass half full," Gutekunst said. "This actually allows us to take our time. When you get into that coaching cycle, sometimes you've got to move fast without knowing everything you want to know about the candidates. Right now, we don't have a lot of competition so Matt's taking his time, being really thorough."
- There's no word yet on whether the Packers are playing an international game next season.
It was announced Tuesday morning the Detroit Lions would be one of the teams playing in Munich next season, but the Packers haven't heard anything about going abroad.
"I don't (know) and I have nothing to base it on," Gutekunst said. "In my mind I'm expecting to just because I think it'd be a lot easier to expect to and then not have to, but I have not heard anything about that."
- Major roster decisions are looming, but no specifics were divulged.
The Packers have a list of pending free agents as well as players whose contracts will need to be looked at cap-wise as the new league year approaches in a couple of weeks.
Notable changes are coming.
"I don't think it's one of those overhaul-type situations where we feel we've got to overhaul the roster," Gutekunst said. "But there's some significant issues that we've got to make sure that we fix before we get into next season."
He didn't get into which players might be released, retained, allowed to leave in free agency, or have their deals reworked, but discussions with agents take place, and in some cases continue, behind the scenes at the combine as the groundwork is laid for various decisions.
"This week obviously is a big week to gain information," he said. "As soon as we get back, it's a pretty quick turnaround before free agency starts, so you'd like to have as many of those conversations as you can and know where you sit with your players, along with what the market's going to be."
- The open market will be examined thoroughly for potential acquisitions.
The Packers have made big early splashes in free agency each of the last two years, but whether another one is coming remains to be seen.
Gutekunst stressed the lack of a first-round draft pick won't force him into making a major move to compensate. Pursuit will be dictated by who's available, which will include cap casualties from other clubs.
"Every free agent class is different and I think you have to be careful of chasing things that aren't there," he said. "Pretty soon here, we're probably going to have an influx of players that are going to get released, and that'll change it, as well. We're looking at that pretty extensively."
- The Packers are cognizant of gaining compensatory draft picks in 2027 for lost free agents, but that's not driving their decisions.
Pending free agents like quarterback Malik Willis, left tackle Rasheed Walker, receiver Romeo Doubs and linebacker Quay Walker could earn the Packers comp picks in '27 should they depart for other teams.
Any free-agent signings this year also could cancel out those comp picks for next year.
While Gutekunst is aware of all those implications, they're more back of mind than top of mind.
"It's about winning now," he said. "If there's players who we can sign that give us the opportunity to win now more so than holding out for a compensatory pick in 2027, that's the decision we're going to make.
"It's a factor, but the most important thing is our ability to win in 2026."
- Willis is generating interest in the QB market.
The Packers' productive backup the last two seasons is in line for a starting opportunity in free agency, and former Green Bay personnel executive Jon-Eric Sullivan – now Miami's GM – has no doubt he's on multiple teams' radars.
That list includes the Dolphins, with Sullivan and new coach Jeff Hafley working through a difficult QB cap situation with Tua Tagovailoa.
"Any team that is potentially in a needy quarterback situation, if they tell you they're not talking about Malik Willis, that would be a lie," Sullivan said.
"Very happy for Malik on a personal level, the situation he's put himself in. It's a testament to him and how he played in the opportunities he got … I wish Malik the best. A lot of like for the human being. He's a great kid."
- More Packers personnel execs could get their shots to be a GM, too.
It took multiple years of interviews for Sullivan to land his first GM gig after two decades with the Packers, and he expects some of his former colleagues to be next.
"I tell you what, Green Bay is full … they've got a lot of really good people up there in that front office," Sullivan said. "When you look at Milt Hendrickson, John Wojciechowski, Richmond Williams, Lee Gissendaner, all those are very capable of sitting in this chair.
"They all bring a lot to the table. Different personalities, different skill sets, but all will have an opportunity I think in time to do this."
One of those GMs from the Green Bay pipeline, Eliot Wolf, just led the Patriots to a Super Bowl appearance, and now he'll be competing regularly against Sullivan in the AFC East.
"He and I started with the Packers in the same year in 2004," said Wolf, who left Green Bay in 2018. "I've stayed close with him. Just really excited for his opportunity. A little disappointed it's in our division, but I'm excited to try to beat him twice a year."
- Green Bay's ultimate focus remains finding the right players to succeed in the most important moments.
There's no escaping how the Packers' season ended, with a blown playoff lead representing the third winnable game down the stretch that got away, and it's serving as a reminder of mental makeup factoring into evaluations of potential player additions.
"You're always looking for those guys that are wired a certain way," Gutekunst said. "Because in the National Football League, whether you're up by two touchdowns and things start snowballing on you, whether you're behind by two touchdowns ... you have to have the kind of guys in your locker room that can handle all those situations whenever they're thrown at you.
"I think we have a ton of 'em, but that's really important as we move forward, making sure that what happened to us really over the last couple years doesn't happen to us anymore."
