Brian Gutekunst says the Packers need to 'ramp up our sense of urgency'

[Yoop]

As previously stated, watching GM Brian Gutekunst end his post-season press conference on January 16, by forthrightly stating the Packers need to "ramp up our sense of urgency", I got the distinct impression he was not referring to his own role with the team.

Two months later, and with free agency mostly complete, I still sense that Gutekunst's declaration about a need for greater urgency in Green Bay did not mean that he as GM needed to act with more urgency.

Wonder if others think otherwise and that maybe I'm just missing the ramped up sense of urgency from the GM or, as I do, that Gutekunst was putting others on notice that they needed to ramp up their urgency. I am also curious as to whether the "others" might be coaches, scouts, players or whomever.

Maybe there will yet be some blockbuster personnel move that indicates Mr. Gutekunst was including himself when he announced the need to ramp up the urgency, but no matter what happens I think 2025 is going to be a very interesting year in Green Bay.

who can tell what FO personnel mean concerning most things they say, ever? they are trained bush beaters , we could have used urgency to describe some of the lackluster efforts from some players, some of the very questionable play calling, and obviously our terrible pass-rushing production, but yes, mostly I think it was directed at coaching, and we fired the DL coach who was responsible for the paddy cake session we saw that imitated rushing the QB.

even that though was to improve stopping the run, so it did come with some success.

teams now are using a lot of short zone deception, quick tempo to get the ball out of the QB hands fast, lots of play action, whatever will slow down pass rush and freeze lbers and safeties, only two ways to stop that, coverage which takes excellent DB's and coverage ability at lber, or pass rush, the later is the most affective.

so now were back to what Guty mentioned, urgency, we need to improve pass rush, it's the most urgent thing imho

[RingoCStarrQB]

Gutenscheissenbumpst has proven to be on the learning curve still. So much for hiring an experienced top notch GM.

[Labrev]

It just wasn't a very strong FA class. The headliners were guys like Tee Higgins and Trey Smith, a WR2 and a Guard, neither of whom even became available when the market opened. There was no McKinney or Jacobs out there for us to get, really.

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[Acrobat]

It just wasn't a very strong FA class. The headliners were guys like Tee Higgins and Trey Smith, a WR2 and a Guard, neither of whom even became available when the market opened. There was no McKinney or Jacobs out there for us to get, really.

Page'd

Yeah my only regret is Davante. Wish we would have found a way to keep him 3 years ago and sad we missed out on him again. I think he would have been a seamless addition to the team, knows the offense, and would have given Love a guy that he has the confidence to throw to.

I'm concerned about the WR room, would be cool adding Amari Cooper on the cheap.

[LombardiTime]

I don't know how reliable the guy who wrote the article is but he says "Green Bay has made the fewest external additions (2) in the entire NFL" so far this offseason.

https://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles ... 3_41920902

He also sort of confirms what I thought when I heard Gutekunst say the urgency needed to be ramped up at the close of his end of the season press conference that Gutekunst was not including himself in that statement when he says "Right after the 2024 season, general manager Brian Gutekunst said the Green Bay Packers had to ramp up the sense of urgency to win a championship. The big question now is who was the target of that assessment. At this point, it's impossible to say it was the front office, because the Packers' modus operandi in free agency has been exactly what it always is."

I really wish some or at least one of the Packer beat writers would explore the issue of what Gutekunst meant or did not mean when he made the statement about ramping up urgency two months ago.

[Acrobat]

I don't know how reliable the guy who wrote the article is but he says "Green Bay has made the fewest external additions (2) in the entire NFL" so far this offseason.

https://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles ... 3_41920902

He also sort of confirms what I thought when I heard Gutekunst say the urgency needed to be ramped up at the close of his end of the season press conference that Gutekunst was not including himself in that statement when he says "Right after the 2024 season, general manager Brian Gutekunst said the Green Bay Packers had to ramp up the sense of urgency to win a championship. The big question now is who was the target of that assessment. At this point, it's impossible to say it was the front office, because the Packers' modus operandi in free agency has been exactly what it always is."

I really wish some or at least one of the Packer beat writers would explore the issue of what Gutekunst meant or did not mean when he made the statement about ramping up urgency two months ago.

"Sense of Urgency" is such a loaded phrase and could literally apply to so many different people within the organization. From afar, it's easy for us to look at that phrase and think "OMG he means that we are going to sign several high price Free Agents" but he could have been referring to accountability in the locker room, position coaches developing players, the scouting team doing a better job, etc.

And I don't think we'll ever get a response from Gute on what he really meant. He made that loaded phrase on purpose instead of directly answering the question.

[go pak go]

I don't know how reliable the guy who wrote the article is but he says "Green Bay has made the fewest external additions (2) in the entire NFL" so far this offseason.

I mean we went into one of the poorest Free Agent classes with a team that already had like 46 players under contract (one of the most in the NFL). Noboby should have ever expected us to have this large external addition.

[LombardiTime]

I don't know how reliable the guy who wrote the article is but he says "Green Bay has made the fewest external additions (2) in the entire NFL" so far this offseason.

https://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles ... 3_41920902

He also sort of confirms what I thought when I heard Gutekunst say the urgency needed to be ramped up at the close of his end of the season press conference that Gutekunst was not including himself in that statement when he says "Right after the 2024 season, general manager Brian Gutekunst said the Green Bay Packers had to ramp up the sense of urgency to win a championship. The big question now is who was the target of that assessment. At this point, it's impossible to say it was the front office, because the Packers' modus operandi in free agency has been exactly what it always is."

I really wish some or at least one of the Packer beat writers would explore the issue of what Gutekunst meant or did not mean when he made the statement about ramping up urgency two months ago.

"Sense of Urgency" is such a loaded phrase and could literally apply to so many different people within the organization. From afar, it's easy for us to look at that phrase and think "OMG he means that we are going to sign several high price Free Agents" but he could have been referring to accountability in the locker room, position coaches developing players, the scouting team doing a better job, etc.

And I don't think we'll ever get a response from Gute on what he really meant. He made that loaded phrase on purpose instead of directly answering the question.

I pretty much agree with your post.

I personally did not think sense of urgency meant that Green Bay would sign a bunch of free agents, in what as others have said, is a relatively weak free agency class, because I did not believe Gutekunst was including himself when he said the urgency needed to be ramped up. I also did not think it meant that the Packers would add the fewest players from outside the NFL so far this offseason but here we are.

I also agree that Gutekunst would not likely elaborate on who he was alluding to when he declared the urgency needed to be ramped up but I'd sure like to see him get asked that question, because you are 100% correct it could refer to anyone and I don't think Gutekunst just threw that comment out there without a purpose behind it.

Anyway I think this is going to be a very interesting season for a lot of key people in Green Bay.

[Yoop]

I don't know how reliable the guy who wrote the article is but he says "Green Bay has made the fewest external additions (2) in the entire NFL" so far this offseason.

I mean we went into one of the poorest Free Agent classes with a team that already had like 46 players under contract (one of the most in the NFL). Noboby should have ever expected us to have this large external addition.

haha, excuses excuses I don't know if it was a weak UFA group this year, but it sure as heck was expensive for the buyers, glad we got our FS and RB last year, heck even the po dunk WR and edge rushers were out of our price range

[Pckfn23]

I don't know how reliable the guy who wrote the article is but he says "Green Bay has made the fewest external additions (2) in the entire NFL" so far this offseason.

I mean we went into one of the poorest Free Agent classes with a team that already had like 46 players under contract (one of the most in the NFL). Noboby should have ever expected us to have this large external addition.

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/2025 ... -of-moves/
Bengals have 2 outside additions. Ravens have 3.

[go pak go]

I don't know how reliable the guy who wrote the article is but he says "Green Bay has made the fewest external additions (2) in the entire NFL" so far this offseason.

I mean we went into one of the poorest Free Agent classes with a team that already had like 46 players under contract (one of the most in the NFL). Noboby should have ever expected us to have this large external addition.

I don't know if it was a weak UFA group this year,

but it sure as heck was expensive for the buyers, glad we got our FS and RB last year, heck even the po dunk WR and edge rushers were out of our price range

You do realize you just answered your own question right?

[LombardiTime]

I don't know how reliable the guy who wrote the article is but he says "Green Bay has made the fewest external additions (2) in the entire NFL" so far this offseason.

I mean we went into one of the poorest Free Agent classes with a team that already had like 46 players under contract (one of the most in the NFL). Noboby should have ever expected us to have this large external addition.

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/2025 ... -of-moves/
Bengals have 2 outside additions. Ravens have 3.

I did not know if the author was a reliable source so thanks for bringing the facts.

However, CBS got it wrong as the Bengals have 3 outside additions in Perine, Slayton, and Burks.

So it appears that the guy was correct that, as of March 18, Green Bay have the fewest external additions.

[NCF]

I don't know how reliable the guy who wrote the article is but he says "Green Bay has made the fewest external additions (2) in the entire NFL" so far this offseason.

I mean we went into one of the poorest Free Agent classes with a team that already had like 46 players under contract (one of the most in the NFL). Noboby should have ever expected us to have this large external addition.

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/2025 ... -of-moves/
Bengals have 2 outside additions. Ravens have 3.

Bengals actually have 3. Not sure why they listed Oren Burks as retained.

[Yoop]

I mean we went into one of the poorest Free Agent classes with a team that already had like 46 players under contract (one of the most in the NFL). Noboby should have ever expected us to have this large external addition.

I don't know if it was a weak UFA group this year,

but it sure as heck was expensive for the buyers, glad we got our FS and RB last year, heck even the po dunk WR and edge rushers were out of our price range

You do realize you just answered your own question right?

no I didn't, and you paint it as a weak class based on contract demands, how does that make it a weak class? it's only weak because some teams lack the green to participate

[go pak go]

I don't know if it was a weak UFA group this year,

but it sure as heck was expensive for the buyers, glad we got our FS and RB last year, heck even the po dunk WR and edge rushers were out of our price range

You do realize you just answered your own question right?

no I didn't, and you paint it as a weak class based on contract demands, how does that make it a weak class? it's only weak because some teams lack the green to participate

It's weak because your top 6 players in Free Agency were

Sam Darnold
Josh Sweat
Charvarius Ward
DJ Reed
Milton Williams
Davante Adams

The contracts to low level players were pretty high because a lot of teams had a lot of money with the post covid cap space catchup. The cap jumped like $25 million so all these teams have money and nothing to spend it on.

Cripes. We spent nearly $20 million per season on an average guard.

[Yoop]

You do realize you just answered your own question right?

no I didn't, and you paint it as a weak class based on contract demands, how does that make it a weak class? it's only weak because some teams lack the green to participate

It's weak because your top 6 players in Free Agency were

Sam Darnold
Josh Sweat
Charvarius Ward
DJ Reed
Milton Williams
Davante Adams

The contracts to low level players were pretty high because a lot of teams had a lot of money with the post covid cap space catchup. The cap jumped like $25 million so all these teams have money and nothing to spend it on.

Cripes. We spent nearly $20 million per season on an average guard.

touche

[Pckfn23]

Why is quantity of outside additions important or why does that mean "urgency?"

[Crazylegs Starks]

Why is quantity of outside additions important or why does that mean "urgency?"

Because the Bears signed like seven, and they're practically Super Bowl favorites now!

/s

[Pckfn23]

Why is quantity of outside additions important or why does that mean "urgency?"

Because the Bears signed like seven, and they're practically Super Bowl favorites now!

/s

They are already Super Bowl Championships. They will be holding the parade next Tuesday!

[LombardiTime]

I would think that if Gutekunst believed he needed to exhibit a sense of urgency as General Manager then the Packers would not currently trail all 31 other NFL teams when it comes adding external talent to their roster, especially given that at least five players in Myers, Wilson, Stokes, Ballentine, and Slaton who saw the field for the Packers last season have departed in free agency and the two additions he did make are a guard and a CB who was hardly the most coveted free agent at his position.

The Packers relative lack of activity in the free agent market provides compelling circumstantial evidence that when he declared in January that the Packers needed to ramp up their urgency Gutekunst was referring to players or coaches or perhaps others but he was not referring to himself in his role as the Packers GM.