It’s unfortunate that the name Jack Vainisi is not known to most Green Bay Packers fans, as he played a vital role in the team’s success during the 1960s. Vainisi served as a scout, scouting director, and personnel director from 1950-1960, during which time he discovered seven players who went on to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame and helped Green Bay win five championships in seven years. Sadly, Vainisi passed away at the age of 33 before he could enjoy the fruits of his labor. Former Packers quarterback Bart Starr has called Vainisi the unsung hero of that era, and it’s possible that current general manager Brian Gutekunst could be discussed in a similar manner in the future. Gutekunst has assembled two draft classes that have the potential to be among the best in team history and has made bold moves such as drafting quarterback Jordan Love while Aaron Rodgers was still at the top of his game. This influx of talent has allowed the Packers to skip a rebuilding period and remain competitive, even reaching the NFC divisional playoffs this year. Gutekunst’s success in finding starters and solid backups in the draft has surpassed former Packers general manager Ron Wolf’s standards, and it’s possible that he has found as many as seven starters in the 2022 draft alone. With the potential for even more success in the future, Gutekunst’s name may be praised by Packers fans for years to come.
Jayden Reed, a wide receiver drafted in the second round, led the Packers in receptions with 64, receiving yards with 793, and tied for first in receiving touchdowns with seven. Tucker Kraft, a tight end drafted in the third round, blossomed late with 31 receptions, 355 receiving yards, and two touchdowns, and has the potential to become a future star. Dontayvion Wicks, a fifth-round wide receiver, may end up being the most talented of the group with 39 receptions, 581 receiving yards, and four touchdowns. Karl Brooks, a sixth-round defensive end, surprised with four sacks, while Carrington Valentine, a seventh-round cornerback, held his own in 13 starts due to injuries and trades.
Colby Wooden, a fourth-round defensive end, and Anthony Johnson, a seventh-round safety, have shown promise in limited playing time. Anders Carlson, a sixth-round kicker, has displayed potential despite an inconsistent season, and Sean Clifford, a fifth-round quarterback, served as the No. 2 signal caller all season.
Defensive end Kenny Clark praised the 2023 draft class, saying they have given the team a lot of help. While it remains to be seen if they will be the best group of rookies since he joined the team, they have shown great potential.
The Packers have a rich history of successful draft classes, with notable selections made by Jack Vainisi and Ron Wolf. Vainisi drafted Bart Starr and Forrest Gregg in 1956 and landed Jim Taylor, Jerry Kramer, Dan Currie, and Ray Nitschke in 1958. Wolf’s best draft class may have been in 1995, when he selected Craig Newsome, Antonio Freeman, Adam Timmerman, Brian Williams, and William Henderson, all of whom were starters a year later when the Packers won Super Bowl XXXI.
While Gutekunst has a ways to go before being mentioned in the same breath as Vainisi and Wolf, the last two draft classes have set the Packers up for success in the coming years.
