Brian Gutekunst has only been the general manager in Green Bay

for a little more than a year and a half. In that time Rashan Gary Green Bay Packers Jersey , he’s just about completely remade the Packers’ roster, making noteworthy additions at just about every position. Certainly there have been some misses (Jimmy Graham, Muhammad Wilkerson), but by and large, Gutekunst has found success just about everywhere he’s turned.Here are our favorite new faces in Green Bay over the past two offseasons. Who’s your top pick?Paul Noonan - Jaire AlexanderAll of the evidence we have about Mike Pettine defenses suggests that, even above “dominant pass rusher,” he needs one lockdown corner. The Packers got theirs in the first round of the 2018 draft just after the highly coveted Derwin James went to the Chargers. Alexander flashed a ton of promise as a rookie, and he’s delivered on that promise in his second season, sticking to opposing receivers like maple syrup to my five-year-old. He should have several interceptions already, and he’s just taken the ball away from a receiver, showing unusual strength and tenacity. The Smith Brothers will likely be a popular answer Rashan Gary Jersey 2019 , and with good reason, but Alexander’s ability to lock down a receiver is what will make this defense go.Evan “Tex” Western - Za’Darius SmithZa’Darius Smith may or may not become the biggest star on this defense — Jaire Alexander certainly is laying a strong claim to that status for now — but he is very quickly becoming my favorite player and personality on that side of the football. The fact that he was named a captain immediately for his first season with the Packers speaks volumes about the kind of person he is in the locker room, and his joint press conferences with Preston Smith are quickly becoming must-see viewing.On the field, Smith is a perfect fit for Mike Pettine’s defense: a versatile member of the defensive front who is equally adept at stopping the run on the edge or rushing the quarterback from an interior position. He is becoming a perfect chess piece for Pettine and his ability to drop down on the line also allows the team to work Rashan Gary onto the field more and more in his rookie year.It just seems that Smith has brought the juice and energy that has been lacking on this team for years, back to the days when Charles Woodson roamed the field. This team is having fun again and they seem to love playing with one another, and Smith’s infectious personality is a big reason why.Jon Meerdink - Jaire AlexanderI love Alexander for reasons both Paul and Tex outlined above. First, Alexander is easily the best corner the Packers have had since Charles Woodson. Good players are always fun to watch, and Alexander has certainly been good, even great.But I also love Alexander’s energy, which is complementary to the leadership presented by both the Smiths. Alexander is the sort of player who is great to have on the team you root for but a pain to have playing against you. His Jack Russell terrier energy and dogged pursuit of the football is clearly a consistent irritant for opposing receivers (‘sup Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs?) and it’s enjoyable to have a little bit of that edge in the Packers defense for once. Mike Vieth - Darnell SavageThis was a tough decision. I really like so many of the additions on defense, especially in the secondary Color Rush Rashan Gary Jersey , over the Gutekunst era, but I’m going to go with Darnell Savage. He gives the Packers a playmaker at the safety position, something they really haven’t had since early in Morgan Burnett’s career or even Nick Collins. Pairing him up with Adrian Amos makes the situation even better. A major liability over the past several seasons has now become a strength. Savage has been exciting to watch as he is always around the ball and not afraid to jump into the fray and make a tackle. We are going to witness something special with Savage and the rest of the Packers defense over the next several years.Jonathan Barnett - Danny VitaleYes, I am being just a little contrarian.Still, Vitale is a very athletic player with size and he blocks.The pure Fullback is going away in pro football, but Vitale fits the H Back mold that teams are maintaining.Other teams have given up on pure Fullbacks and used Tight Ends in the backfield or at a wing position to allow for motion blocks or pulls across the formation.Vitale gives the Packers a short-yardage weapon, a blocker, and a pass catcher.As the Packers continue to live with a disinterested Jimmy Graham and a Wide Receiver corps that is still coming into their stride, Vitale gives the Packers a very tangible weapon.The defense has gained a great deal of depth in this offseason, but the offensive versatility that Vitale has provided is great (and should be used far more).Shawn Wagner - Za’Darius SmithAs Tex mentioned, the captain status in his first season says a lot about Smith’s presence in the locker room and his tenacity on the field reflects a passion for the game like a young Clay Matthews. From Pro Football Reference Cheap Rashan Gary Jersey , Smith has already been credited for three sacks and seven quarterback hits through three games. Even when he is not making the splash plays himself, his versatility and football IQ is helping the guys around him. The Packers have long struggled in close games to shut down the opposing offense on the final drive of the game. With the help of both Smiths on the roster, Green Bay has closed strong with generating pass rush and sacks. Za’Darius has been critical to that success. Clay Matthews left a strong impression on Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay the last time he saw him in person on a football field.While 2018 was a disappointing year for Matthews overall, his best game of the season arguably came against McVay and the Rams in October. Matthews notched a season-high seven tackles and recorded one of his 3.5 sacks on the season. Matthews may be set to enter his 11th season in the NFL, but the prospect of having Matthews a part of a Wade Phillips defense has McVay eager to get started.“We saw a lot of good stuff when we saw him last year and I’ve always respected his game from afar when you’ve coached against him,” McVay told reporters this week at the coaches’ breakfast at the league meetings. “So when you’re able to add two players like he and Eric Weddle – veteran players that are about the right stuff, being out in L.A. it’s a good deal to be able to get Clay back home.”Specifically, it’s Matthews’ versatility that McVay is most excited to see join his team.“He brings a veteran presence that has a lot of versatility to his skill set,” McVay said. “And when you look at it from an offensive standpoint when you think about the guys that can do a lot of different things that pose problems to a defense he does the same thing to offenses. He can rush the passer he can play in coverage. You can move him all over the place. So I think versatile players that are smart that have the ability to have production in a lot of ways they give you a lot of different things they can do defensively.”Matthews thought the fit with the Rams would be ideal for him as well. He’ll get a chance to pair with Dante Fowler, Michael Brockers and Aaron Donald on the Rams defensive line.