Packers’ Draft Mistakes in 2021 Continue to Haunt Them in Free Agency

With their Day 2 picks in the 2021 NFL Draft, the Green Bay Packers selected center Josh Myers and receiver Amari Rodgers. The repercussions continue to torment the franchise.Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst was looking for an offensive lineman and a wideout.

The Green Bay Packers went into the 2021 NFL Draft in the midst of a public feud with their franchise quarterback, and had selected cornerback Eric Stokes in the first round as news of Aaron Rodgers’ unhappiness broke.

As the second night of the draft began, Gutekunst was looking to help supplement his offense that had fallen one game short of getting back to the Super Bowl.

These were no small investments.Ultimately, Gutekunst made two picks that night: center Josh Myers from Ohio State and receiver Amari Rodgers from Clemson. They were supposed to be key pieces to help get Green Bay over the hump and into the Super Bowl.One of those teams that spent a large sum of money on the offensive line was the Packers. Aaron Banks was given a four-year $77 million deal to be the team’s starting left guard. Two-time Pro Bowl left guard Elgton Jenkins will slide to center.

Famously, of course, Myers was taken one spot in front of the Kansas City Chiefs’ All-Pro center, Creed HumphreyHumphrey was, by consensus, the proper choice at the time. Asked after Day 2 of the draft why Myers was the pick, Gutekunst said, “It was a pretty good center class up at the top this year, and I thought we had some options. But Josh is a guy, his size, his athleticism, his power, how smart he is, what they asked him to do at Ohio State and understanding he could handle some of that here, I think was intriguing to us, and I think he fit what we’re all about.”Despite all of Myers’ intangible value he brought to the team, it never fully manifested itself on the field. Myers’ highlights made him look like he was destined to be an All-Pro player. His lowlights made you wonder how he was drafted at all, let alone with a second-round pick.

Myers was the 62nd pick of the draft. Humphrey, the 63rd pick, was a second-team All-Pro in 2022, a first-team All-Pro in 2024 and a three-time Pro Bowler.The Packers, to their credit, did recognize the mistake, but it was an expensive admission. Is Banks worth $77 million in a vacuum? Probably not. Could he become more consistent and worth that contract? Sure.

The reality is Banks is not the only player affected by the poor selection of Myers. For all the good that Jenkins has done in his career, he’s always been best suited at guard. The Packers recognized that in 2022, when they moved him to right tackle to start the year but back to left guard at midseason, and they’ve kept him there ever since.Is the tandem of Banks at guard and Jenkins at center better than Jenkins at guard and Myers at center? Probably. In a salary cap league, though, resources are limited. Imagine an interior offensive line with Jenkins being allowed to remain at guard with Humphrey as the pivot man.
The Packers, to their credit, did recognize the mistake, but it was an expensive admission. Is Banks worth $77 million in a vacuum? Probably not. Could he become more consistent and worth that contract? Sure.

The reality is Banks is not the only player affected by the poor selection of Myers. For all the good that Jenkins has done in his career, he’s always been best suited at guard. The Packers recognized that in 2022, when they moved him to right tackle to start the year but back to left guard at midseason, and they’ve kept him there ever since.

Is the tandem of Banks at guard and Jenkins at center better than Jenkins at guard and Myers at center? Probably. In a salary cap league, though, resources are limited. Imagine an interior offensive line with Jenkins being allowed to remain at guard with Humphrey as the pivot man.