Now it’s time to look into the draft class and find out what the Packers added to their roster during the biggest roster event of the year. In this post, we’ll take a closer look at the entire draft class, providing analysis, player profiles, scouting references by The Athletic’s Dane Brugler, and comments from the Packers on all 11 options.
1.22: LB Quay Walker, Georgia
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Resolution: Highly athletic line player with length, ability to move from side to side and possibility of three down to the next level. Compares favorably with De’Vondre Campbell, the Packers’ All-Pro linebacker. Threat of descent against running. He hits blocks with strength and balance and chases football. Rarely loses tackles. He started 15 games for one of the best defenses in the history of college football. Still just 21 years old. You will probably start the first day next to Campbell as a rookie in 2022. Brugler Scouting Report: “A key player in Georgia for a year, Walker played the linebacker ‘Money’ in former Defensive Coordinator Dan Lanning’s 3-4 base program. After playing offline and defensively in high school, he moved in when he arrived in Athens and struggled at first, but showed improvement every season and was a key member of Georgia’s defense that won the championship in 2021. With his skills in lateral contractions and movements , Walker has excellent mirroring skills versus running and uses his long arms to strike himself from blocks or lasso balls away from his hand. Although he does not have the statistician of a playmaker, he has a high average score as a tackler and his characteristics and trajectory suggest that his best football is ahead of him. Overall, Walker continues to develop his instincts, especially in coverage, but does the eye test with the excellent combination of size, length and athleticism to dominate over running. “He has the potential to be a four-man line player in the NFL.” They said: “It is big, long and has great speed. He is a playmaker for a national champion team and an excellent defense. It just has all the characteristics, not only as a player, but also mentally and instinctively that we are looking for “. – GM Brian Gutekunst RAS card
1.28: DL Devonte Wyatt, Georgia
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Resolution: Agile 300-pound with an explosive first step, which gives him the speed to beat blocks early in the game and the awareness, lateral agility and engine to find the ball and stop. He was a key player for Georgia’s elite defense. It probably has multi-seater flexibility in a single-person front. Big enough and strong enough to hold the point of attack and could be a devastating three-technique pass. It can bend and close in stunts and twists to wreak havoc on the pocket. Greater perspective (24 years old). Has a history of conflicts with law enforcement. After the pre-plan visit, the Packers feel comfortable with him as a person. Brugler Scouting Report: “A two-year key player in Georgia, Wyatt played mostly over gap B as three techniques in former Defense Coordinator Dan Lanning’s 3-4 drawing, also seeing snapshots in the tackle nose. He has led all of Georgia’s defenders to tackle for the past two seasons and took advantage of the extra year of eligibility, enjoying his most comprehensive season in 2021. With his athleticism, Wyatt can win in a variety of off-the-ball ways range and speed tracking. In the running game, he understands how to use the gaps and find the ball carrier, although he will benefit if he becomes a better finisher. Overall, Wyatt needs to play with better control and recognition of the game, but he launches the ball and competes with speed and effort to impact all three downs. “Wyatt has starting skills in the NFL and is the best tackle of three technicians in this draft category.” They said: “I think he is so annoying in the line of quarrel. He can play 1 (technique), he can play 3. He is a dynamic passer. “His ability to scratch and reach the ball in the game is almost like a full-back.” – GM Brian Gutekunst RAS card
2.34: WR Christian Watson, North Dakota
(AP Photo / Michael Ainsworth)
Analysis: The Packers climbed 19 places in the second round to acquire him. Undoubtedly the best athlete and the best combination of size (6-4) and speed (4.36) in the receiver in the draft category. Used as a perimeter receiver, running backwards, reciprocating starter and gadget weapon (outputs, jet sweep). Average over 20 yards per catch in 105 career catches. Returned two opening scoring games during the All-American junior season. Tough, natural exclusion on runs and screens. Compared to Marquez Valdes-Scantling, but the best comparator is Javon Walker. Undoubtedly upward given its speed, length and flexibility. Brugler’s reference to scouting: “A three-year key player in North Dakota, Watson was an outside receiver in the offensive program of coordinator Tyler Roehl. A late blossom that fell into recruitment rifts has evolved into one of the best deep threats to the FCS (20.4 yards per slot during his career) with four touchdowns of at least 65 yards in 2021. With his smooth acceleration, Watson displays a vertical rhythm as a route runner and is friendly to the generals in that it returns to the ball and widens the catch radius. He never faced an FBS opponent while at the NDSU and will see a significant leap in speed and physicality when facing NFL competition. Overall, Watson is not polished as a track runner and needs to improve his consistency at the point of capture, but he is an interesting size / speed athlete with explosiveness winning vertically. It features WR4 as a rookie with WR2 upside down and offers a comeback experience. “ They said: “It is a big, fast, natural receiver. We believe that the best football is in front of him. We brought him to one of our 30 visits, we had the opportunity to spend a lot of time with him. Really smart kid who we think fits our culture. “He has a very good film, his athletic qualities are off the charts and the more we knew him as a person, the better we felt with him.” – GM Brian Gutekunst RAS card
3.92: OL Sean Rhyan, UCLA
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Analysis: An experienced left-leaning tackle that has played over 2,000 snapshots on the blindside over the past three seasons. Made like a guard and will probably need to move in, but the Packers believe he can play tackle. It moves surprisingly well for a man of his size. He left only 13 pressures and was rated as a plus run-blocker in 2021, per PFF. He could be a legitimate competitor for the starting position of the right guard in 2022. Brugler Scouting Report: “A three-year key at UCLA, Rhyan anchored the left tackle position in head coach Chip Kelly’s zone reading program. A rugby player growing up, he started playing football in high school and continued to flourish for the Bruins, showing steady improvement each season and evolving into one of the best left tackles on the West Coast. Rhyan is a powerful forecaster who understands foreclosure leverage and how to anchor. However, he looked like a guard playing tackle on a cassette due to lack of range, fluidity and space recovery capabilities. Overall, Rhyan is strong and balanced in both the run game and the passing game, but he has to play with faster arms / legs and a more efficient weight distribution to succeed. He does his best job in small areas, projecting as a guard with the ability to start in the NFL either in power form or in a belt “. They said: “We believe that his best football is in front of him; you go professional and run blocks, very consistent. “I thought he had a very good balance and flexibility for a man his size. We thought he could do some of the things we ask our striker to do, to be able to play outside, to be able to play inside.” – GM Brian Gutekusnt RAS card
4,132: WR Romeo Doubs, Nevada
Nevada’s Romeo Doubs take a touchdown pass in the first half against Utah State on Thursday. Doubs
Analysis: Deep threat that was constantly finding ways to beat the men’s cover and be behind the defense for explosive games. It gains with its release and has the acceleration it needs to reach vertically. The Packers believe he is raw as a track racer overall, but he has the speed of play and physical athleticism to become a divider at all levels. Body type like James Jones with good length and muscular build. His extensive bet return experience gives him immediate value for the special teams. It has the ability to evolve into a quality No. 2 choice. Brugler Scouting Report: “A Nevada-based four-year-old, Doubs was primarily an outside wide receiver in former coach Jay Norwell’s version of the Air Raid attack. A high school general, he made a quick transition to the receiver with the Wolf Pack and completed his fourth career in the history of the school in the host yards (one place ahead of Nate Burleson). Doubs has lived with QB Carson Strong and TE Cole Turner since his first year and this chemistry was clear on the football field with his ability to play on all three levels. While the leg has to stand out from its breaks, it needs to improve its pace and adjustment on non-linear routes. Overall, Doubs does not consistently play bigger than he is, but he does have the speed to stack the corners vertically or be a catch-and-go creator. It displays as a possible fourth receiver on an NFL depth chart with a punt’s value. “ They said: “We liked the speed of his game. We thought he was playing fast on the tape. He’s a pretty big kid με we thought he was very interesting. Good price where we got …
