Two Straight Big Drafts Helped Create the Packers Last Two Championship Seasons, Can Gute Make History Repeat Itself?
By GilMartin
The Green Bay Packers have been a draft-and-develop team since Ron Wolf took over as GM in 1992. While the Packers made some big free agent signings over the last 32 seasons, they created the structure of their team through the draft and then added a few needed players here and there via free agency and trades.
The last two times the Packers have won Super Bowls, they came one year after a very deep and impactful draft which was followed up by a draft that also added some key pieces.
The Packers entered the 1995 NFL Draft having made back-to-back playoff appearances for the first time since the Lombardi Era. Still, the Pack couldn’t get past the divisional playoff round and needed more talent to reach the next level.
The 1995 draft class didn’t feature any Hall of Famers, but it added several players who played key roles in the team’s rise from wild card team to division champion to Super Bowl champions.
In the first round, they added cornerback Craig Newsome who started immediately as a rookie. Unfortunately, injuries shortened Newsome’s career, but he gave the team three strong seasons as a starter including their Super Bowl season in 1996.
The Packers had four picks in the third round and added three starters including fullback William Henderson, linebacker Brian Williams and wide receiver Antonio Freeman. The fourth, defensive tackle Darius Holland, became a useful depth piece on the defensive line.
In the fifth round the Packers added special teams ace Travis Jervey who earned Pro Bowl honors on special teams in 1997. In the seventh round, Wolf selected guard Adam Timmerman who became a starter in 1996 and later went to a pair of Pro Bowls with the Rams.
That means the draft added five starters and two useful special teams and depth players that helped the team become true contenders.
In 1996, the Packers added more useful pieces like guard Marco Rivera, cornerback Tyrone Williams, edge rusher Keith McKenzie and offensive linemen John Michels and Mike Flanagan. They won the Super Bowl that season.
In 2009, the Packers again had an outstanding draft. They had two first round picks, and both made a big impact. With the ninth overall selection, Ted Thompson added nose tackle B.J. Raji who helped solidify the middle of the Green Bay defensive line.
Then, with the 26th pick, the Packers selected linebacker Clay Matthews. The USC alum had an immediate impact as a rookie and went to six Pro Bowls during his NFL career. Matthews became a fierce pass rusher and added speed and attitude to the defense as well.
In the fourth round of the draft, the Packers found offensive lineman T.J. Lang who started at guard for six seasons in Green Bay and went to a pair of Pro Bowls during his 10-year NFL career.
In the seventh round, the Pack added linebacker Brad Jones who became a starter as well when he was healthy.
In 2010, the Pack added tackle Bryan Bulaga in the first round. Bulaga became an instant starter as a rookie. Other key players added in 2010 include Mike Neal, Morgan Burnett, Andrew Quarless, and James Starks.
Adding key players in back-to-back drafts made a big impact on the Packers ability to win a championship and both times the team was set up for consistent success for several years even if they didn’t repeat as Super Bowl champions.
We all know the potential of the Packers 2023 draft class. Players like Luke Musgrave, Jayden Reed, and Tucker Kraft are already playing major roles on the team while Karl Brooks, Dontayvion Wicks, Carrington Valentine, and Lukas Van Ness have shown a lot of potential.
Can GM Brian Gutekunst take the 11 picks he has in this year’s draft and put together another strong class that will take this team back over the top?
Like the 1996 and 2010 teams, the Packers have a young and talented quarterback and a roster on the way up. This year’s draft will be critical if the Packers hope to take the next step in their development and make the similarities to their last two championship seasons yield similar results.
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You can follow Gil Martin on Twitter @GilPackers
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Comments (20)
marpag1
April 18, 2024 at 12:31 pm
Didn't I just read this article two days ago?
Draft day can't come soon enough...
Johnblood27
April 18, 2024 at 12:39 pm
ummm... stop checking every day during the off-season!
We are all thirsty for more fresh Packer news!
The draft will supply us with a lot of research opportunities as we get to know the newest Packers and they integrate into the team through OTA's and TC.
Championship number 14 coming up!
splitpea1
April 18, 2024 at 01:17 pm
2010 team: Ted accumulated a nice collection of talent right from the start, and there were also some very good holdovers from the previous regime, including OLs Clifton and Wells, and DL Jenkins. The signing of Woodson in 2006 to solidify the defensive backfield and provide leadership was also key. So really the 2009 and 2010 drafts just added the finishing touches.
1996: Previous free agent signings, along with pre-Wolf selection Butler, provided the defensive backbone for the team with White, Dotson, Jones, and Robinson, . But agreed, the 1995 draft was golden with Freeman, Henderson, and Timmerman (started all sixteen games and three playoff games and did the same thing with Rams in 1999). The signing of T Bruce Wilkerson in 1996 for insurance really paid off for the playoffs. We also had a top-notch ST unit, something we haven't seen in almost forever.
Now: Most of the pieces could already be in place on offense. As has been discussed ad nauseam, the OL needs a little more mauler in it, but in pass protection, Love didn't get sacked many times and it wasn't because of his slipperiness or happy feet. Backup QB remains a bit of a question, and hopefully we won't need to find out.
On defense, hopefully McKinney will have a Woodson-like influence on this team and stabilize the secondary. Gute has done well previously in free agency with the Smiths and Amos. We need a strong defensive class this time from Gute. Since he took over he's drafted some promising players and some disappointments, and only one Pro-Bowler on defense, so his record here is somewhere between mediocre and yet-to-be-determined. It will be fun to see exactly how promising some of his recent selections are when handed the new schemes they will be responsible for executing. It probably won't happen overnight, but the faster the progress, the faster we end up on top of the football world again.
jannesbjornson
April 18, 2024 at 02:48 pm
Yes, one guy, Jaire for the defensive side and Jenkins as a guard. He inherited the rest from Ted.
jannesbjornson
April 18, 2024 at 03:24 pm
I would get another veteran LB to fill the depth chart. Five of His top Picks are still on the defensive roster, but this team will go to a SB through its offense. I still condense Risk and advocate for tone setters up front, not Projects, to Protect Love:
#25 Jordan Morgan LT Arizona
#46 Cooper Beebe OG K State
#58 Caelen Carson CB Wake
#88 Brandon Coleman OG TCU
#91 Malik Mustapha SS Wake
#117 Eichenberg MLB OSU
#145 Nelson Ceasar SLB Houston
#202 Kam Kinchens FS Miami
#219 Jordan McGee WLB Temple
#245 Elijah Jones CB BC
#255 Blake Watson RB Memphis
Press-cover guys and Mustapha is climbing up the boards. Smart, takes no prisoners. Wolf spent a small fortune to bring in an ALL PRO defensive front and SP Teams All-Stars. Who is the Tramon Williams guy?
LLCHESTY
April 18, 2024 at 03:44 pm
Bulaga was a very fortuitous pick with Tauscher going down early in the season and Starks had a steady postseason but other than that they didn't get much from those rookies. I think they will need more from this draft class to think about reaching the SB, a starting SS, a semi starting LB and a possible C or RG starter for sure. Then the backup T spots are pretty dire as are both backup safety spots.
crayzpackfan
April 18, 2024 at 01:29 pm
Certainly, among other things, the one main thing those 2 GB Super Bowl teams shared were they had a defense that created turnovers, had average to above average special teams, and got after the QB. Those are the commonalities that went along with great offensive play. If we wish to win Super Bowls with this current team, the same needs to happen. We have the offense. But we can create more opportunities if those other things happen.
EnemyTerritory
April 18, 2024 at 04:21 pm
Three things. Above averageQB play. The most important component
Leatherhead
April 18, 2024 at 01:29 pm
Bitternotsour opined the other day that the Packers could line up right now, without any help from the draft, and win the division. I agree. This draft is not about this year as much as it's about the next four years. We'll either win a Super Bowl with the guys we're drafting next week or it'll be time to start over.
When I rewatch our games from last year, when Love has time, he gets the ball to our receivers, who are too good to keep covered forever. So my thinking is that we make sure he's going to have time for the next four years.
Packerpasty
April 18, 2024 at 01:52 pm
a possiblity perhaps but id be more confident if they added depth and an edge & line backer...defensive help..
crayzpackfan
April 18, 2024 at 02:07 pm
I agree on LB but CB/S (lets call it DB.s) is more of a need than edge.
Untylu1968
April 18, 2024 at 02:31 pm
I know that I'm in the minority, but I'm a strong proponent for scooping up another receiver with one of our first 5-7 picks. Even though I think Watson finds his groove this year, one never knows. The bottom portion of the depth chart can always be improved upon.
Gute is going to nail the first three rounds, and I predict a new pass catcher in the mix.
Cheezehead72
April 18, 2024 at 02:57 pm
I would not be surprised if that happens but do not reach to get one. BAP and if it happens to be a WR take him.
Packman60
April 18, 2024 at 05:52 pm
I couldn't disagree more. They have needs to fill at LB and Safety and depth required at those positions as well as RB, and both IOL and OT and could potentially use an Edge as well with Engabure out till November or so and this likely being Preston's last year. Unless you want to bypass positions of major need in the 1st 3 rounds you'd likely be wasting a draft pick, as I don't know if anyone selected after the 3rd round could beat out Wicks, Melton, Doubs etc. for playing time. They also don't know what they have in Grant Dubose and Malik Heath fills a specific niche for the team. The only way I would want to see a WR drafted is if they don't feel they got any answers from sending Watson to Madison, if they believe they know what is behind his hamstring issues and are working to address them there is no need / room for another wideout
Untylu1968
April 18, 2024 at 09:10 pm
So you somehow get lucky and get, say, an Amon-Ra St Brown in the 4th. That'd be a bad thing? There's no guarantee, just because you're picking a guy for need, that he'll succeed. Middle rounds you don't pass on talent, just because.
SJPack
April 18, 2024 at 02:51 pm
I'd suggest we have already had the two big drafts in 2022(6 starters) and 2023. 2024 fills a few holes and adds upgraded depth. No time like the present to win the next Lombardi and repeat with back-to-back Championships.
Cheezehead72
April 18, 2024 at 02:55 pm
The article mentioned Henderson. I always liked Henderson. He did his job and kept his mouth shut. He was a very good FB and only made one pro bowl. He went to pro bowl only once because most of those years he was going against Alstott who was not your typical FB. My son and I met Henderson and he is a very nice guy.
jannesbjornson
April 18, 2024 at 03:55 pm
His father was a Carpenter and he worked with him as a kid building homes. They sat behind us at one of William's games. He didn't take any shit from anybody, including Favre. LaFleur does not seem to lean in the direction of using a hard-core guy to be the Lead Dog out in front of the RB, as Shanahan presents.
LambeauPlain
April 18, 2024 at 03:08 pm
Looking at the 1996 and 2010 winning SB teams, their draft successes certainly helped win the Lombardis.
Ron Wolf, early in his tenure as GM stated his primary objectives were to find a top, game changing QB and surround him with a top Defense.
After Wolf had secured his QB in 1992, Holmgren and Wolf brought in Fritz Schumer in 1994. While the drafts helped, Wolf helped meet his goal of a top D via free agents and Fritz was soon coaching Reggie, Jones, Brown and Dotson and a #1 NFL Defense. Favre and that Defense earned the Lombardi.
In 2009, with Rodgers looking to be Ted's game changing QB, McCarthy and Ted brought in Capers to coach some top young D talent and by 2010, the D was complementary to the O, got into the playoffs and ran the table.
Now, after Gutey has his top QB...with lots of investments on Defensive talent, ML and Brian hired Hafley to coach them. Can Hafley generate as much Defensive success the change to Schumer and Capers did? We will see...but I am excited about the direction!
A game changing QB and a top D with talent/new coaches seem to be the key Packer ingredients for a Lombardi. Wolf was the Master Chef. Ted followed the recipe. Gutey is wearing the Chef's hat now.
Starrbrite
April 18, 2024 at 06:32 pm
Darius Holland sucked—he helped lose the SB to Denver when Wilkins was hurt early in the game.