Unlike his predecessor, Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst hasn’t let the compensatory pick formula stop him from being aggressive in free agency.
For the second straight year, the Packers did not receive a compensatory draft pick.
Gutekunst went on a spending spree last March, signing Za’Darius Smith, Preston Smith, Adrian Amos and Billy Turner on the first day of free agency, all but guaranteeing the Packers wouldn’t receive a compensatory pick in the 2020 draft.
The Packers now rank fourth in the NFL in compensatory picks awarded since 1994. Green Bay’s 42 picks trail Baltimore’s 52, Dallas’ 43 and New England’s 43.
Former Packers general manager Ted Thompson valued adding compensatory picks, often using the reward as partial justification for his reluctance to dip into free agency.
Gutekunst has broken the mold. Under his rule, the Packers have been aggressive in free agency, signing big-money free agents during each of his offseason in charge without fear of missing out on future picks. Instead, Gutekunst has used trades to acquire additional late-round picks.
The Packers will hold 10 total picks in the 2020 draft.
The highest compensatory pick in 2020 was awarded to the Houston Texans. It is the 97th overall pick in the third round.
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