The Sheboygan Press THURSDAY, MAY 23, 2024 6A SPORTS GREEN BAY Seven seasons into his tenure, Green Bay Packers general manager Brian roster- building philosophy is on full display. He likes premium positions in the opening round. He hesi- tate to use free agency, especially if it helps rebuild a position. And, perhaps most of all, he prioritizes youth. The latter is a core roster principle Gutekunst doubled down on this spring.
a byproduct of his prefer- ence to volume shoot in the draft, a trait he developed over time. four draft classes consisted of 37 players. Only once did he have a dou- ble-digit haul, his class in 2018. Gu- tekunst has drafted 35 players the past three years, each a double-digit class. That he drafted 11 players this spring a year after the youngest roster in a draft he initially hinted at wanting to select more is the clearest evidence yet in his devotion to youth.
Gutekunst ignited a youth movement last year when the Packers passed the torch from Aaron Rodgers to Jordan Love. He continued it this Of their 90 players, 74 have played fewer than four seasons, the length of a rookie contract. 82.2%. Among the 16 players with at least four NFL sea- sons is Love, entering only his second year as starting quarterback. Love, left guard Elgton Jenkins and running back Josh Jacobs are the only projected starters on with at least four NFL seasons.
No more than six, and po- tentially starters on defense have played that long. Anytime a new general man- ager, a team undergoes a transition phase. Seven seasons into tenure, the remnants of Ted Thomp- are almost entirely gone. Kenny Clark is the only remaining player Thompson brought to Green Bay. With blueprint fully en- trenched, the Packers have become a team built on a blend of draft and free agency, and most notably youth.
The byproduct is a roster bustling with competition at almost every posi- tion as the transitions to or- ganized team activities this week. Quarterbacks (3): Jordan Love, Sean Clifford, Michael Pratt (rookie) The Packers traditionally have pre- ferred keeping four quarterbacks on their roster, but this year ures to be a rare exception. Matt La- Fleur referenced their youth at quarter- back, including Love still developing in his second season as starter, as reason to ensure an abundance of reps at the most important position. Love will get a full workload this but keeping three quarterbacks also provides enough sample size to evalu- ate a burgeoning backup quarterback battle between 2023 draft pick and 2024 seventh-round pick Pratt. Running backs (7): Josh Jacobs (newcomer), MarShawn Lloyd (r), AJ Dillon, Emanuel Wilson, Henry Pearson, Ellis Merriweather, Jarveon Howard (r) Aaron Jones will be missed, but there is good reason to think the Pack- ers upgraded at running back this season.
Jacobs is among the few tailbacks capable of being a workhorse, giving the Packers to lean more on their starter. Even if LaFleur sticks with his two-back philosophy, Jacobs is a more reliable bell cow in his age-26 season than the oft-injured Jones at age 30. The Packers do not sac- playmaking in their transition to Jacobs, a productive receiver out of the No, the question is not how they replace Jones, but what kind of depth the Packers might have behind replacement. Dillon re-signed, but on the rare fourth-year qualifying that mitigates risk for teams re- leasing a player, he will have to earn his roster spot. Lloyd likely will be backup even if Dillon cracks the 53.
Receivers (11): Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed, Dontayvion Wicks, Bo Melton, Malik Heath, Samori Toure, Grant DuBose, Julian Hicks (r), Dimitri Stanley (r), Alex McGough There is every reason to think the Packers enter this season with one of the most talented, deepest re- ceiving groups. It was no coincidence emergence as a franchise quar- terback last season coincided with Reed and development into reli- able targets, Watson staying healthy long enough to provide a glimpse at be- ing a true No. 1 option, and con- sistent productivity down the stretch. Outside that quartet, Melton, Heath and Toure have shown enough to indi- cate they are NFL-caliber receivers. That depth helpful for former quarterback McGough, who is transi- tioning to receiver this after the Packers drafted and Pratt the past two years.
worth remem- bering this is mostly a projection, and some caution is warranted with a group this young. Sophom*ore slumps are common, and the Packers badly need Watson to stay healthy for this group to reach its potential. Tight ends (6): Luke Musgrave, Tucker Kraft, Ben Sims, Tyler Davis, Joel Wilson, Messiah Swinson (r) No position on has changed more entering 2024. The Packers went a decade with little certainty at tight end, unable to a long-term replace- ment for Jermichael Finley since 2013. PACKERS Green Bay Packers defensive back Evan Williams, left, warms up with teammates during rookie minicamp.
More than of the roster is made up of players with less than four years of experience. TORK TODAY NETWORK-WISCONSIN Gutekunst doubles down on youth Competition abounds on roster heading into OTAs Ryan Wood Green Bay Press-Gazette USA TODAY NETWORK WISCONSIN See PACKERS, Page 7A The WIAA track and postsea- son continues on Thursday with several Manitowoc and Sheboygan county ath- letes to participate in sectionals. Individuals in the top four at regionals in each event in all three di- visions advance to sectionals. Here are the 44 sectional in alphabetical order, to keep an eye on from the area. Maggie Behler, Kohler Behler won both the and at Cedar Grove-Belgium Division 3 regional.
She the 1,600 with a time of 5 min- utes and 34.69 seconds and 11:55.03 in the 3,200. Evan Behling, Sheboygan Falls Behling competed at the Division 2 Kiel regional, winning the triple jump with a distance of 20 feet and 8.5 inch- es. He also for sectionals in the 100. Sophie Beightol, Cedar Grove-Belgium Beightol was the regional champion in the 400 (1:03.77) in Cedar Grove while also advancing in the 200. Elizabeth Blauert, Manitowoc Lutheran Blauert earned the title in the long jump in Hilbert.
She also qual- for sectionals in the 200. Tessa Campbell, Manitowoc Lincoln Campbell won a pair of regional titles at Division 1 regional at Neenah on Monday. She was in both the 200 (25.80) and 400 (58.59). Bennett Cornwell, Kohler Cornwell was victorious in the long jump (20-7) to advance to sectionals on Thursday. Mason Davies, Oostburg Davies earned the triple jump (42-2) title out of the Kiel regional.
Destiny Duesterbeck, Sheboygan North Duesterbeck won the shot put (40- 4.5) at Neenah to move on to sectionals. Brody Feldmann, Elkhart Lake-Glenbeulah Feldmann secured three regional ti- tles on Monday in Cedar Grove, winning the 200 (23.05) in addition to the 110 hurdles (15.38) and 300 hurdles (41.25). Kaitlyn Feldmann, Elkhart Feldmann won the high jump (4-8) in Cedar Grove to advance to sectionals. Rachel Halverson, heboygan Falls Halverson earned regional titles in the long jump (16-3), triple jump (33- 2.5) and 100 hurdles (16.14) in Kiel. Wyatt Herzog, Plymouth Herzog won the 400 (50.59) at Kiel to advance to sectionals.
HIGH SCHOOL TRACK AND FIELD Manitowoc, Sheboygan athletes to watch at sectionals Tom Dombeck Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter USA TODAY NETWORK WISCONSIN See TRACK, Page 8A.
