Among quarterback Aaron Rodgers, coach Matt LaFleur and general manager Brian Gutekunst, it's hard to say who in Green Bay is under the most pressure.
I vote for the Packers' GM. The heat is on Gutekunst to lead a quick turnaround while many question whether he has done enough to help Rodgers in terms of offensive acquisitions.
NFL RANKINGS FOR 2019:
Rodgers among QBs | LaFleur among coaches
Rodgers is a seven-time Pro Bowler, a two-time league MVP and a Super Bowl winner. But that championship came eight years ago, and Rodgers has been out of the playoffs the last two years. He is trying to shake the perception that he is not very coachable, which came to the forefront after ex-coach Mike McCarthy's firing. At least Rodgers has no money concerns as the NFL's highest-paid player.
LaFleur enters the fray as a first-time head coach and is expected to bring new schemes that will get Rodgers and the Packers' offense rolling into the playoffs. It's not an easy task, but at least LaFleur is on a four-year contract, so there should be somewhat of a grace period. (Of course, that's what Steve Wilks thought he had in Arizona before he was fired after one season.)
Gutekunst, though, is following a highly successful GM in Ted Thompson, who drafted Rodgers and built a team that won six division titles and Super Bowl XLV. Gutekunst works for an iconic franchise that has had two legendary GMs in Hall of Famers Vince Lombardi and Ron Wolf on top of Thompson's successful career.
SIGN UP to watch every NFL game and RedZone during the 2019 season on DAZN
So the bar is set high in the minds of Packer fans and, more importantly, team president/CEO Mark Murphy.
And after a 6-9-1 season, Gutekunst is facing some of the same criticism he received last year, his first on the job.
In the current offseason, the major emphasis for Green Bay's GM was to add talent to the defense, which ranked 18th in the NFL last season. In free agency, he signed a pair of fine pass-rushers in Za'Darius Smith and Preston Smith, plus a solid safety in Adrian Amos. Gutekunst's top two picks in this year's draft were outside linebacker Rashan Gary and safety Darnell Savage. His first three picks last year were defenders, too.
But on offense, Gutekunst is hoping a quality second and third receiver will emerge from a group of young players. The top candidates are fourth-year man Geronimo Allison and three late-round picks from 2018 — Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Equanimeous St. Brown and J'Mon Moore. Jake Kumerow is also pushing for a roster spot.
Until a couple of these receivers prove themselves capable of replacing departed stalwarts Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb, Packer critics will rightfully continue to question Gutekunst's lack of drafting a wide receiver in the early rounds or signing a top free agent at the position.
MORE: Davante Adams' place among top WRs
Rodgers himself was unhappy when Nelson left last year, and now the QB has to be wondering if he has enough weapons among his supporting cast of wide receivers. He did praise Valdez-Scantling at OTAs this week, saying, "I think Marquez has had a fantastic spring and really stepped up as a guy who can be an every-down player."
Nice words, but Rodgers surely would have liked to see the Packers go the route of the Patriots, who selected receiver N'Keal Harry late in the first round to give Tom Brady another top receiver.
Gutekunst finally drafted a skill-position player in the third round this year when he picked a promising tight end in Jace Sternberger to combine with Jimmy Graham, the incumbent TE who is coming off a relatively disappointing season for a $10 million-per-year player.
Rodgers also will be looking for more support in the running game, which ranked 22nd in the league last season, and for better protection from his offensive line after the Packers allowed 53 sacks, third most in the NFL. Gutekunst selected center/guard Elgton Jenkins in the second round to help the cause.
At 35, Rodgers should still have five or so years of top production when you consider Brady and Drew Brees are still playing in their 40s. But I seriously question whether the Packers are maximizing Rodgers' remaining prime years. They are not loading up on offensive skill position talent like they did over their stretch of eight consecutive playoff seasons from 2009-16 under the leadership of Thompson and McCarthy.
Gutekunst reportedly has three years remaining after this season on the contract he signed upon being promoted from player personnel director. But it's less costly to pay off a GM's remaining contract compared to that of a head coach.
MORE: Why Lambeau Field is still the best
Green Bay's GM will look great if Gutekunst's defensive emphasis pays off while the young receivers emerge as quality players. (And it always helps to have a future Hall of Famer in Rodgers throwing to them.) But whereas LaFleur likely can weather the storm, another non-playoff season will elevate Gutekunst's current hot seat to the level of scorching. And it's not going to be easy in one of the NFL's best divisions.
Such is life in the NFL and in Titletown, where expectations are always high.
Jeff Diamond is a former president of the Titans and former vice president/general manager of the Vikings. He was selected NFL Executive of the Year in 1998. Diamond is currently a business and sports consultant who also does broadcast and online media work. He makes speaking appearances to corporate/civic groups and college classes on negotiation and sports business/sports management. He is the former chairman and CEO of The Ingram Group. Follow Jeff on Twitter: @jeffdiamondNFL.
