How Green Bay Packers' GM finds talent at the NFL Combine

 

INDIANAPOLIS (CSB 58) -- At the NFL Combine it's a fact-finding mission. Green Bay Packers General Manager Brian Gutekunst analyzed how you get a wide receiver, or an edge rusher, or a shutdown corner through the draft or free agency.

"Good players are always hard to find because nobody wants to let them go. You know what I mean?" Brian Gutekunst says. "But that's our job and we attack it and we will find them if they're out there. But there's, the great ones? God only made so many of them and they're tough to find but it's not hard to identify when you see it."

There are plenty of state ties at the NFL Combine including Seattle Seahawks general manager and former Packers executive John Schneider. CBS 58 asked the De Pere native about the NFL Draft coming to his hometown.

"You know growing up in Green Bay? That's why I have that affinity for like every day like the fans. I always wanted to know that the guys over at the Packers facility were doing whatever they could to win football games. And it was such a big deal. I know how much it meant to me. I know a lot of the people you know working for the Packers and how much time and energy they've put into this. I just think it's going to be awesome for the guys to be able to like...I just hope it's not snowing. Because remember the year we drafted Javon Walker we got like, there was like three feet of snow and he had never even seen snow before so some of these guys might be freaked out if there's a big snowstorm but no, really excited for everybody at the Packers and it's just, it's gonna be a fun atmosphere."

NFL officials say white snow means green, translation snow games and events always get bigger ratings boosting dollars.