Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst answered questions for roughly 16 minutes following the NFL’s trade deadline on Tuesday.
The Packers made only one move: trading defensive end Preston Smith to the Pittsburgh Steelers for a seventh-round pick in the 2025 draft.
Here are the big things to know coming out of Gutekunst’s post-deadline press conference:
— Gutekunst thanked Preston Smith. “He’s done a lot of good things for us…wish him nothing but the best for him moving forward.”
— Said he’s “excited” to see more snaps from Arron Mosby and Brenton Cox Jr. He’s expecting the young players at edge rusher to improve over the second half of the season. “I’m excited to see what they do in the second half.”
— Said rookie running back MarShawn Lloyd (ankle) is coming off injured reserve soon and could take Smith’s roster spot. Packers have until next Saturday to fill the roster spot.
— Not surprised by the adjustment period for defensive front in new scheme and believes a “breakout” is coming.
— Packers assumed the trade deadline would be “quiet,” and it was. Didn’t think there would be many opportunities for acquiring “significant” players. “Wasn’t a ton available this year.”
— Said Packers didn’t set out to trade Preston Smith, but they wanted to give more opportunities to younger players. Similar to Rasul Douglas at cornerback last year.
— Said rookie Javon Bullard has done an “excellent job” playing safety and slot this year. “Really happy” with Keisean Nixon’s performance as an outside corner so far.
— On Edgerrin Cooper: Missed time in training camp, but he’s made “dynamic plays” as a rookie. Called him a “natural playmaker.”
— Said he’s not overly concerned on Jordan Love’s interceptions but admits he needs to get better protecting the ball in the second half of the season.
— On Brandon McManus: “Veteran guy, a pro. I don’t think he gets flustered at all…it was why we made the move.”
— On defensive front: “From that entire group, we need more from those guys, and I think we’ll get that…I like that group, I like the way they work.”
— On Packers so far: “We’re 6-3, I think we’re in a good spot and I’m excited to see how these guys come together and grow.” Said Packers need more consistency and better situational football. “We’re working towards that.”
