The 2026 NFL Draft will bet the ninth for Green Bay Packers GM Brian Gutekunst since he took over the position in 2018. The draft is vital to any NFL team, and the Packers are no exception, especially since that’s the emphasis they place when building a roster. With that in mind, here is a look at the Packers most disappointing picks made by Gutekunst in each round of the NFL Draft. The rankings are based on how these players performed with the Packers. Any success they had with other teams is not taken into consideration.
The Packers Most Disappointing Pick in Each Round of the NFL Draft Under Brian Gutekunst: Round 7, LB Kendall Donnerson
It’s difficult to criticize seventh round picks who don’t contribute to the team as expectations are not sky high. Kendall Donnerson never did play a down in the NFL although he was briefly on the Packers active roster in 2018. He bounced around several NFL practice squads before his career came to a close.
Round 6 K Anders Carlson
The Packers had high hopes for kicker Anders Carlson when they selected him in the sixth round back in 2023. Unfortunately, the Auburn alum never found the necessary consistency to stick. The Packers kept him for one season, but he missed six field goals and five extra points before they waived him after one year.
Then special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia hoped to develop Carlson into a Pro Bowl NFL kicker after working with his brother, but he never panned out.
The Packers Most Disappointing Pick in Each Round of the NFL Draft Under Brian Gutekunst: Round 5, G Cole Madison
Sometimes, off the field issues derail a draft pick before his career can even get started. That happened to Cole Madison, the Packers fifth-round pick in 2018. Madison dealt with mental health issues due to the suicide of a friend and college teammate. The following season, he suffered a torn ACL in practice and was waived before he returned to action.
Round 4 WR J’Mon Moore
The Packers selected three wide receivers on day three of the 2018 draft and J’Mon Moore was the first of them. He also turned out to be the least productive.
In 12 games, Moore caught two passes for 15 yards and returned four kickoffs. He never played in the NFL again.
Meanwhile, both Marquez Valdez-Scantling and Equanimeous St. Brown went on to have solid NFL careers after being taken in the fifth and sixth round.
The Packers Most Disappointing Pick in Each Round of the NFL Draft Under Brian Gutekunst: Round 3, WR Amari Rodgers
While the Packers seemed to have a round three jinx for several years, Amari Rodgers was the biggest disappointment of the bunch. The Packers selected him in the third round back in 2021. He didn’t fit the typical size and athleticism profiles the Packers prefer and he never worked out.
Rodgers caught just eight passes in nearly two years with the Packers. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers even singled him out to the media citing his lack of receiving ability.
Meanwhile, Amari Rodgers also struggled as a punt returner. He often had trouble fielding punts, lost too many of them and was disappointing once he did get his hands on the ball, in part due to poor decision making. After leaving the Packers, Rodgers played six games for the Texans before leaving the NFL for good.
Round 2 CB Josh Jackson
Gutekunst used both his first and second round picks on cornerbacks in 2018. Jaire Alexander turned out to be a great pick in the first round, but in the second, he missed on Josh Jackson.
The Iowa alum lasted three seasons in Green Bay. He started 15 total games during that time with 10 of them coming in his rookie season. Jackson never intercepted a pass, and his lack of speed and awareness just prevented him from developing into a consistent NFL cornerback. Opposing quarterbacks completed 67.6 percent of their passes and had a quarterback rating of 111.8 when throwing to receivers covered by Jackson. He had brief stints with the Chiefs and Steelers before his NFL career came to a close.
The Packers Most Disappointing Pick in Each Round of the NFL Draft Under Brian Gutekunst: Round 1, CB Eric Stokes
Eric Stokes had a great rookie season for the Packers in 2021. But then injuries derailed his career and he was never the same during his remaining time in Green Bay.
After holding receivers to a 49.5 percent completion percentage and a 71.3 quarterback rating as a rookie, his numbers cratered. His best season after that was 2024, when he allowed a quarterback rating of 100.0 when quarterbacks threw to receivers covered by Stokes.
Stokes played well in 2025 after signing with the Raiders as a free agent so hopefully he can get his career back on track. But his inability to stay healthy prevented him from reaching his potential with the Packers.
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