Green Bay Packers: Can Both Georgia Defenders Make Instant Impact?

The Green Bay Packers dipped into the Georgia well again in the first round. Can both Quay Walker and Devonte Wyatt make an instant impact?

In back-to-back NFL Drafts, the Green Bay Packers went to the Georgia Bulldogs in the first round. They selected Eric Stokes back in 2021 and he made an immediate impact with his speed and his toughness at the moment of truth, the catch point.

The Packers went right back to the Georgia defense in the 2022 NFL Draft, taking advantage with their two first-round selections to get not one, but two defenders from a historic defense. They went linebacker early for the first time in the Brian Gutekunst era, getting Quay Walker, and they also spent high capital to get a running mate for Kenny Clark in Devonte Wyatt.

So can both Walker and Wyatt make impacts as rookies for the Packers like Stokes did? In Green Bay, starting immediately isn’t a given. A lot of first team reps in camp will go to the veterans, and it’s up to the young guys to progress and earn that starting spot. Walker has less of an uphill battle than Wyatt does, but both will need to prove that the starting spot is theirs.

As to the year one impact, it’s easy to see that path for both guys. The Packers have tried to look later in the draft to find defensive tackles who can produce against the run and as a rusher. Wyatt’s initial quicks, agility, and explosiveness make for a great pass rusher, and while he was overshadowed by the likes of Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis, Wyatt is a good run defender as well with the power and anchor to hold his ground. Creating interior pressure is important, and it won’t just be on Clark’s shoulders anymore.

As for Walker, he makes the Packers much more diverse and yet simple on defense. Walker has some reps as a rusher, meaning that defensive coordinator Joe Barry can continue to get creative on third downs with his fronts. But, with the elite athleticism Walker provides, in terms of his ability to reach both sidelines and cover ground in coverage, he can potentially be the tight end eraser and make the Packers dangerous in both base and nickel defense.

With all the high-end talent on the Green Bay Packers defense, there were still a couple holes. Walker and Wyatt are two guys who really can erase the current holes and make this unit dangerous in 2022.