The Green Bay Packers have trimmed the final roster down to 53. As always, some armchair GMs will quibble over close calls in the tightest battles, perhaps feeling spurned when players like Tyler Davis make the final cut.
Ultimately, Brian Gutekunst is in the business of doing what’s best for the team. It is a delicate balance of bolstering the squad immediately while not sacrificing young players with great potential. Plenty of this year’s roster battles hinged on that distinction, and Gutekunst’s ultimate decisions revealed his philosophy.
However, there weren’t too many surprises on cutdown day. All eyes were on the wide receiver room, which has been a point of emphasis the entire offseason. How many receivers would they keep, and who would grab that last spot?
The answer: The Packers kept seven receivers, and Samori Toure is the WR7.
That was a surprise to some. Most notably, Toure’s good fortune comes at the expense of Juwann Winfree, who is once again slated for the practice squad — if he doesn’t sign with another team. Winfree has been a longtime favorite of quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who has never shied away from the opportunity to gas him up.
Rodgers praised Winfree for his pass-catching ability in practice, though Winfree also added value as a special teams player. It’s a major reason many fans fell in love with the idea of keeping him on the roster. It is no secret that the special teams were a disaster last season, and it has yet to be determined if the addition of new coach Rich Bisaccia will be the cure-all for that abomination. If Winfree is adding that much value on multiple sides of the ball, why not keep him around over a seventh-round pick like Toure?
The answer lies in the paragraphs above. Gutekunst isn’t just trying to build a team that’s contending immediately. A good general manager will be conscientious of the future and not mortgage it for something ephemeral. With a wide receiver room still haunted by uncertainty, it makes sense for Gutekunst to take a flier on a player who has showcased a higher upside if he develops into a competent rotational player.
That’s not an indictment of Winfree but rather an endorsement for Toure and the incredible camp he’s had. Despite the praise from No. 12, Winfree has struggled to get off the practice squad in his three NFL seasons. It’s fair to wonder if he is what he is at this point. Winfree is a good player, but he hasn’t showcased the potential to significantly move the needle for the Packers in the future like Toure has.
In any professional sport, good general managers are in the business of making high-upside, risk-averse moves. The best GMs are the ones who can make the most of the middle and late rounds of any draft. After his strong training camp and preseason showings, Toure has demonstrated immense upside that significantly exceeds his draft status. While he admittedly did this against backups, Toure displayed great fundamentals and route-running skills that bode well for his future.
Plus, the Packers have always subscribed to the draft-and-develop philosophy. No matter the GM, the franchise has trusted the scouting team to pick the right players and give them time to blossom. According to Packers.com, Green Bay has only cut four of its 48 draft picks since 2018. Their belief in homegrown talent has become an integral part of the team’s brand and identity, so keeping Toure over the free-agent Winfree just continues that narrative.
Green Bay has bet on the upside — and the overall franchise philosophy — kept Toure on the roster over Winfree. Toure’s role on the team will be minimal this year, barring injury, though he has the potential to become a contributor later on down the line. Sammy Watkins and Randall Cobb will not be around forever, so the Packers will eventually have to turn to young talent. Toure fits right into that timeline, so he will be a part of the team’s plans moving forward.
