The overtone of the 2025 offseason in Green Bay was a familiar one: getting over the hump. However, contrary to the frustrating final years with Aaron Rodgers, Jordan Love’s third season presents an opportunity for a natural leap from the team’s young core.
Last spring, general manager Brian Gutekunst shopped at the top of the market, landing instant difference makers in Josh Jacobs and Xavier McKinney. This time around, despite shaky edge rusher and cornerback rooms, he made his biggest investments along the offensive line. A year after selecting Jordan Morgan in the first round, Gutekunst added massive tackle Anthony Belton in the second round this year. The only major contract that Gutey doled out in free agency went to another lineman, guard Aaron Banks, who inked a four-year $77 million deal.
Gutekunst’s splurge at O-line comes on the heels of a playoff loss where it fell apart. When star Elgton Jenkins left with an injury, the depth simply couldn’t keep the team on track. That has clearly stuck with Gutekunst. Generally, he believes that teams can never have too many offensive linemen. Ahead of cutdown day, OL coach Luke Butkus expressed concern about his group’s depth, so Gutey went out and got him some more help. He went to an interesting place to do it, Philadelphia – the scene of the crime on Wild Card weekend last January.
The Packers acquired tackle Darian Kinnard from the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for a 2026 sixth-round pick. Kinnard is entering his fourth season out of the University of Kentucky, and a cursory review of his background has revealed a plethora of interesting facts.
Kinnard has the same number of games played as he does Super Bowl rings – three. That gives him a 100% Super Bowl win rate, having won with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2022 and 2023 before joining Philadelphia last season. Kinnard should have no trouble making friends in the locker room. As far as the trends are concerned, he’s bringing Titletown its first ring since 2011. If that isn’t enough, he is also Dolly Parton’s cousin, according to his biography on the Eagles’ website.
Howie Roseman was busy on Sunday, trading a 2027 seventh for OT Fred Johnson before flipping Kennard for a 2027 sixth. Green Bay’s front office must clearly see something they like, because this is a bit of an uncharacteristic move for Gutekunst.
The Packers hold on to their draft picks tightly. The only other time Gutekunst has traded draft capital for a player outside of draft weekend was the Malik Willis trade back just over a year ago. That only cost a seventh-round pick, but it has already been worth it.
Green Bay took a flyer on Willis for similar reasons; Sean Clifford appeared to be an insufficient QB2 during the preseason. Willis rose to the occasion last year when Love got injured. He’s a real asset for the Packers moving forward, whether they decide to eventually move him or keep him permanently behind Love.
Kinnard profiles as a versatile physical behemoth with subpar athleticism, ticking off two of the three main boxes that Green Bay’s OL targets typically fall into. The fact that they parted with draft capital makes him an obvious lock for the 53-man roster. As cutdown day inches closer, it is likely Kadeem Telfort, the second-year man out of UAB, who will come out on the unfortunate side of this move.
The two fill similar roles, providing depth at a massive size, with the front office viewing Kinnard as a significant upgrade. Jacob Monk and Donovan Jennings are also viewed as bubble players, but have the inside track against Telfort since they play in the interior.
There’s a lot that needs to be sorted out between now and Tuesday, with considerable uncertainty following the first two units on the defensive side of the ball. There has been a drumbeat for a potential seismic trade for a certain E-ticket defender. However, acquiring Kinnard feels more on-brand than the Micah Parsons and Trey Hendrickson speculation ever will. At least we know they’re awake over there.