GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) – The 2022 NFL Draft is in the books. The Green Bay Packers had 11 choices going in, they made a couple of deals and wound up with 11 players coming out.
For the fourth time in his five years making the calls, General Manager Brian Gutekunst invested in his defense early, made a couple of trades including a big one to get a badly needed wide receiver in round two, stocked up on versatile offensive linemen for the third year in a row and kept special teams in mind with a pair of late round selections. When all the picking was done, Gutekunst made sure to pay tribute to his staff and others in the organization that helped pull it all together.
So let’s start the roll call:
Round 1 Pick 22
Quay Walker – Linebacker – University of Georgia
The Packers love big time playmakers from big time programs. The 6-4, 240 backer fits the bill. He was the third of six players from the Bulldogs’ National Championship winning defense drafted in the first round led by fellow linebacker Travon Walker who went first overall to Jacksonville. The Packers believe Walker is an ascending player. He had just two starts in his career before last season when he opened in 15 games. Prior to becoming a full-time starter, he was the special teams MVP. He may have saved the best for last in the title win over Alabama, racking up 8 tackles and six quarterback hurries. The Packers love his length and his speed. They almost liken him as a De’Vondre Campbell clone and now they envision him playing alongside the first team All-Pro from day one.
Round 1 Pick 28
Devonte Wyatt – DT – University of Georgia
Resisting the temptation to parlay their two first round picks to go up and take a wide receiver as a run of the top 6 came off the board between picks 8 and 18, the Packers stood pat and took an even bigger ‘Dawg at pick 28. The 6-3, 315 pound lineman played alongside Jordan Davis, taken 13th overall. Together they overwhelmed nearly every opposing offensive line in the SEC. He explodes off the snap with power to play the inside positions and the agility to go on the end to beat tackles in protection. Green Bay is quickly turning to Athens North, which Walker and Wyatt joining last year’s top pick Eric Stokes on the defensive side of the ball.
Round 2 Pick 34
Christian Watson – Wide Receiver – North Dakota State
It took a mighty move up to get a wide receiver the Packers think can step in right away and make plays for an MVP quarterback. Gutekunst traded both his second round picks to the Minnesota Vikigns to move up 19 spots to take Watson. Using nearly every measurable from height, weight, speed, agility, Watson tested better than almost every receiver coming out. What made him available at the top of round two was the fact he played at the FCS level where he was dominant without racking up huge numbers. For his career, he caught 105 balls for 2139 yards and 14 touchdowns. He also returned two kickoffs for scores playing on a Bison team that has rolled to 9 FCS championships in 11 seasons. When Watson got a chance to go up against Power 5 players at the Senior Bowl, Director of Football Operations Milt Hendrickson said, “he blew it out of the water.”
Round 3 Pick 92
Sean Rhyan – OL – UCLA
The Packers seem to think big, agile left tackles can play anywhere across the line of scrimmage. Rhyan fits the bill. He’s 6-5 and 320 pounds who made 31 starts on the blind side for the Bruins. While he proved to be a mauler in the run game as UCLA averaged over 200 yards a game on the ground, he’s held up well against the pass, allowing all of two sacks in his career getting named to Pac-12 First Team. He loved Rugby growing up and isn’t afraid to mix it up. The Packers will give him an excellent shot at moving over to right tackle to succeed the departed Billy Turner in the starting lineup.
Round 4 Pick 132
Romeo Doubs – Wide Receiver – Nevada
Receiver number two is a thick, 6-2, 200 pound playmaker who put up 1000 yards receiving in each of his last two seasons with the Wolfpack. He finished with 225 catches and 26 touchdowns in his career and was a two time first team pick on the All Mountain West squad. Another enticing part of his game, Doubs excelled on punt returns, averaging nearly 12 yards a return at Nevada. If he refines his route running skills, the Packers are hoping to soften the blow of losing Davante Adams, Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Equanimeous St. Brown with the addition of Watson, Doubs and veteran free agent Sammy Watkins.
Round 4 Pick 140
Zach Tom – OL – Wake Forest
Guess what? Another plug and play lineman. Tom tips the scale at just over 300 on his 6-4 frame and he played 48 games with 37 starts at Wake. Again, most of it was at left tackle but the Packers believe he can easily move inside and maybe even provide them depth at center.
Round 5 pick 179
Kingsley Enagbare – Edge – South Carolina
Projected by some to be taken in the third or fourth round, the Packers get much needed depth at the pass rushing, outside linebacker position. The Packers actually traded with Denver to allow the Broncos to move up 8 spots in the round and Enagbare was selected on the final pick in the 5th. A rangy 6-4 and with room to put more weight on his listed 260, the Packers say he showed on film he has more than enough strength to withstand oncoming linemen and still has the quickness to burn the edge after the quarterback. He put up 15 sacks and 19 hurries on his ledger playing in 44 games in the SEC, and was a first team all conference pick at outside linebacker. He’ll jump right into the mix for snaps behind Preston Smith and Rashan Gary.
Round 7 Pick 228
Tariq Carpenter – Safety – Georgia Tech
Here’s a real “tweener” that could really excited Defensive Coordinator Joe Barry. Carpenter is a shade over 6-2 and 225 pounds. Big for a safety and just under the numbers for linebacker. Yet he could be that nickel safety that sneaks into the box in Barry’s scheme, a much bigger version of Henry Black who played there some a year ago. He displayed a lot of hybrid ability last year and started 41 of the 52 games in Atlanta. He has the size and speed that is exactly what new Special Teams Coordinator Rich Bisaccia is looking for to cover kicks.
Round 7 Pick 234
Jonathan Ford – Defensive Tackle – Miami (Fla.)
This is a really big man. Ford anchored the Hurricane line and when asked after getting picked what his current weight is, he replied, ,”341″. At 6-5 and that kind of girth, he was tough to move. He missed the final two games of the season with injury but said all’s well. He’s very excited to reunite with a couple of his buddies from his middle school days, last year’s defensive line draft pick T.J. Slaton and outside linebacker Jonathan Garvin.
Round 7 Pick 249
Rasheed Walker – Offensive Tackle – Penn State
For the third year in a row the Packers drafted three offensive linemen. Considering two of the best in the NFL, David Bakhtiari and Elgton Jenkins are still recovering from knee surgeries or complications from them, depth is a must. Walker is just under 6-6 and weighs in at 313 pounds. All 32 of his starts were at left tackle but again, Green Bay’s coaching staff is all about developing skills to make the big boys as versatile as possible.
Round 7 Pick 258
Samori Toure – Wide Receiver – Nebraska
After tearing it up at FCS Montana to start his career, Toure transferred to Nebraska to test his game in the Big 10. After sitting out 2020, he just happened to lead the conference in yards per catch in his final season at 19.5. He put up 5 100 yard games as well. Just 6-0 and 191 pounds, Toure is just looking to see can pass the test at the next level.
Head Coach Matt LaFleur wrapped up the weekend with his one and only press conference afterwards and simply declared, “We got better.”
LaFleur is fine with adding even more punch to his ascending defense and he’s really happy adding a wide receiver who looked awfully good in green and yellow as a collegian in Christian Watson.
LaFleur will get his first look at the class of ’22 at the end of next week when on-field orientation begins with organized team activities, a mandatory mini camp and eventually training camp not far down the road.
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