The biggest thing for GB to be successful in 2026 is to have less traumatic injuries. All teams have injuries but GB got hit as hard as anyone in the league. Let's keep our fingers crossed.

There is plenty of time to find a couple more hole filling, position group strengthening, reasonable FA signings. we will need to be smart but if we can land a RB like Antonio Gibson for vet minimum I would do it sooner than later. Not resigning Wilson creates a big hole @ back up RB. Surely, we will sign another vet Edge rusher and maybe CB or OL if the price is right and they are upgrades over players we have.

This draft is super important. Not having a first round pick is a big deal but we really haven't selected anyone close to being a game changer in years. More than a few couldn't even win a starting position, which should be the goal for players picked in the first 3 rounds. We need picks and there will be options at our top 3 needs between #52 and #80, so move back and gain 2 picks if possible.

As far as our first pick goes, I would ask the question, At what positions from the groups at CB, DT, OL, & Edge, does a player we pick have the greatest chance of playing and contributing. No O-lineman we select will start over what we have now. Edge would also be a low probability of seeing meaningful snaps, especially if and when we buy a FA Edge rusher.

That leaves CB & DT as the most logical player groups that have a legitimate chance to challenge for playing time and meaningful snaps. I don't think there will be a player that the Packers absolutely need that can start this year at pick #52. Again, that is why I would trade back and gain some picks. #52 is going to be the easiest pick to move, and if we could score a pick between #100-120, that would also be an easy one to move. Gutey will have to be at his best when selecting players and skillfully trading back for more swings of the bat.

"More than a few couldn't even win a starting position, which should be the goal for players picked in the first 3 rounds"
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Yea '61...i've read, from Ron Wolf i think it was, that a successful draft yields 3 starters.

But i also think sometimes players become starters based on need, more than merit.

Sometimes its draft slot, sometimes they just don't have a better option, or both.

Also agree about game changers...
If a GM drafts a real game changer, it's usually deemed a successful draft, regardless of the other picks.

Championship caliber teams that are coached up to be at that level do not take off long stretches of a game regardless of injuries to personel and this happened repeatedly to this team last year prior to the injury bug and after. It really is inexplicable how we can be up 3 scores at halftime and come out at halftime then look like we shouldn't be in the league. This happens over and over and over, is discussed repeatedly in post game analysis by the critical players and coaches then happens all over again the following week. When I see full games being played again, regardless of the opposition, I will know that the Packers are hungry as a team and well coached to make a deep Playoff run. Until that happens it is just noise - wash/ rinse / repeat with different players.