Gutekunst weighs pick as NFL Draft comes to Green Bay

 

GREEN BAY, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Is it a home field advantage? The Green Bay Packers host the 2025 NFL Draft starting Thursday, April 24. Years ago, then GM Ted Thompson traded out of the first round, was booed, but drafted Jordy Nelson in the second round. CBS 58 Sports Director Lance Allan asked Packers General Manager Brian Gutekunst if he's been told if he needs to keep his first-round pick to please the fans in Green Bay

"No, having the Draft in Green Bay really doesn't change anything for how we go about that," Gutekunst said. "I mean we're going to do what's best for the Green Bay Packers. And you know, if that's trading out of the pick? We'd certainly do it but either way I think it's going to be a great event. It's gonna be pretty special so like I said we're all excited for it."

There are plenty of Wisconsin connections at the NFL Combine including new Las Vegas Raiders General Manager John Spytek. He spoke about what Catholic Memorial High School and playing for head coach Bill Young meant to him.

"It was at formative years in my life in high school football," Spytek said. "I mean I was 30-4 in my high school career I think. Won a state championship. Semis two other times. Guys going D-1 out of that program all the time. I mean I learned what winning looked like. I said this at my press conference. I'm forever grateful to coach. I learned what winning looks like. Toughness looks like. I mean the old school tough love. You know drink from the PVC pipe with the water. Have a peanut butter sandwich and go back out there and do it again for two hours. I mean he toughened us all up. And you know I love him to death. He runs a great program. You know his love of the game is driven to stay in it for so long and change as the game has changed and evolved which I have an immense amount of respect for. And I wouldn't be standing here today if I hadn't made that decision to go to Catholic Memorial."