I'm less convinced of that now than prior to free agency, and there's more to that than just Funchess.
We can debate the quality or injury risk with these new players, but Gutekunst has plausibly addressed the highest need positions with veterans with some decent resumes: ILB, RT, and now WR.
He's better positioned for "best player available" across a number of need positions through Day 2 or even into round 4 or 5.
Where might Gutekunst go with his first 3 picks?
- Though I'm not panicked over the D-Line as some seem to be, an upgrade is in order. Further, with Clark on a 5th. year option and the insane money attached to his name being thrown around, there is no guarantee he won't be priced out. You'd have to ask Gutekunst about that one. Regardless, the Clark situation may not be clarified by draft day, and that uncertainty provides a second reason that everybody likes when making a decision.
- WR, of course, should still be on the list, but first round is less likely than it was. Rookie WRs have a high tendency to spend a year in on-the-job training. It that pick is deferred to the second or third round it stands to reason that guy is less likely to be #2-like productive than first rounder.
- Right now the Packers do not have a slot corner you could point to with confidence and King is in his contract year. It could a perimeter guy with Alexander taking more slot snaps, a dedicated slot guy, or a guy with potential either way as Alexander was when drafted.
- Bakhtiari is in his contract year which poses a question which I have not seen being asked. If you were forced to choose between extending Bakhtiari or Clark, which do you extend before hitting the market? Also, if you cut or trade Taylor, you have no backup LT and the likely backup RT is Turner which forces a line shuffle. OT is solidly in the conversation even in the first round.
If Taylor were traded or cut before the draft and that money is pooled and applied to another signing, that might shuffle things a bit.
Frankly, I find it hard to prioritize those positions independently of whose on the board.
- Jones and Williams are in contract years. While you wouldn't expect a Day 1 or 2 RB, I would not rule out the 4th. or 5th. round.
- I wouldn't rule out QB from the 4th. round down. 3rd. round would be surprising. First or second would be shocking.
- There's still a need for a base defense ILB to pair with Kirksey who we should assuse is the 3-down guy, that Goodson-type player, preferably one who could add a little more especially in coverage when teams throw against base, which is fairly frequent.