Packers: 3 free agency mistakes Brian Gutekunst should already regret

1. Letting Robert Tonyan walk

Tonyan isn’t the most explosive tight end in the NFL, but he’s a sure-handed option who proved to be one of Aaron Rodgers’ most productive targets. Letting him head to the Bears on a paltry one-year, $2.65 million contract was a huge error by Gutekunst and his staff.

In fairness to the Packers, they did spend second and third-round draft picks on tight ends to fill the void created by Tonyan’s departure. Luke Musgrave projects to be a dynamic receiver in Matt LaFleur’s system. Tucker Kraft gives the team more optionality than they’ve previously had at the tight end position.

The issue here is that Tonyan’s salary should have allowed the Packers to retain him and ease their need to overhaul the entire position group. Keeping him to play alongside and mentor Musgrave would have set the franchise up for immediate and long-term success. Instead, Gutekunst pulled the trigger on an unnecessary position overhaul.

Now Packers fans will have to watch Tonyan emerge as Justin Fields’ safety blanket inside their own division. Chalk it up as a miscalculation by Gutekunst. He clearly thought Tonyan was going to make more in free agency and ended up making a big move he didn’t need to make.