Draft day 2022

[MUeng]

So Walker is an elite athlete that is also a good tackler? Yes please, I'll take that. And Wyatt will be a beast with Kenny Clark. It's optimist Friday

[GB Warrior]

Pro Football Focus was not a fan of the Walker pick. Liked the Wyatt pick.

22. Green Bay Packers: LB Quay Walker, Georgia
Pick Grade: Poor
This was a reach in the eyes of PFF, who had Walker as the 45th-ranked player overall on the Big Board and LB4. The Georgia off-ball linebacker isn't a downhill player in the run game, and he was still more of a reactor than a playmaker. On the bright side, he does have an elite physical profile. Walker is so good at wrapping defenders up with his near 80-inch wingspan. Throughout his collegiate career, Walker missed just seven tackles on 138 attempts.

28. Green Bay Packers: DI Devonte Wyatt, Georgia
Pick Grade: Good
Many expected Green Bay to break the "no wide receiver in the Round 1" streak, but they opted not to do so by grabbing PFF's top-ranked interior defensive lineman, Devonte Wyatt. No Power Five interior defensive lineman earned a higher PFF grade in 2021. Wyatt also earned a grade above 80.0 both against the run and as a pass-rusher — something no other player at the position in the Power Five accomplished. The former Georgia Bulldog was the most impactful interior defender in the Power Five. That carried through the Senior Bowl, where he led all at the position in win rate during the one-on-ones.

The Athletic was just the opposite, giving the Walker pick a 'B' grade and Wyatt a 'C-'.

Walker is a big swing - all projection. All the measurables are there (I thought the KGB comp by measurables was extremely interesting - https://www.mockdraftable.com/player/quay-walker), but I guess I don't see it.

I would have taken Pickens and the f'd around and saw what happened. I like Wyatt as a player. He's old - wonder if he'd even be considered for a 2nd contract given he'd be 29 5 years from now - but that's a future problem. If he hits for 5 years, you'll live with that.

[Jockey]

Walker is a big swing - all projection. All the measurables are there (I thought the KGB comp by measurables was extremely interesting - https://www.mockdraftable.com/player/quay-walker), but I guess I don't see it.

I would have taken Pickens and the f'd around and saw what happened. I like Wyatt as a player. He's old - wonder if he'd even be considered for a 2nd contract given he'd be 29 5 years from now - but that's a future problem. If he hits for 5 years, you'll live with that.

Defensive line was arguably as bad or worse than the wide receiver position. Run defense was brutal. They have addressed that.

Now it's time for WR and OL.

[GB Warrior]

Defensive line was arguably as bad or worse than the wide receiver position. Run defense was brutal. They have addressed that.

Now it's time for WR and OL.

Oh, I agree. And I think this solidifies what their primary Nickel front will be: 2 DL (Clark, Wyatt), 2 OLB (Gary, Smith), 2 ILB (Walker, Campbell). That gets all 3 of their starting-caliber CBs on the field with significantly better run defense in the front 7 than having a safety play as the 2nd linebacker and one of your edge defenders with his hand in the dirt (as Z. Smith did often when healthy).

I wouldn't do this, but I wonder if this is the end of Dean Lowry, who had a nice season but doesn't have much dead money if cut. Would free up some room for a vet receiver if things don't break well.

For day 2, I would not be sad if they end up with 2 WR and a TE. I have a feeling they'll need to do some moving in Rd 2 to protect themselves though.

[Herman Cain]

Round 2 and 3 always has a lot of gems that for some reason the scouts sour on. The trick is for the Pack to pick the right ones easier said than done

Would love to see a total of 3 TE and WR need to build up the base

[forgetful]

Love the Watson pick. Think he has the potential to be great.

That was the first move I wanted them to make. Now grab a TE with the 2nd pick in this round.

[Jockey]

Now we're talk in'.

Great move.

[Dish]

Great value for the Vikings. Packers lack of aggressiveness on night one is Vikings gain.

[Uncle Rico]

Guy can't catch.  Rodgers will bury him before week 2.  Terrible pick.  No reason the Lions don't win this division.

[Herman Cain]

Watson was who I was hoping the Pack would take . Love the pick.

[Jockey]

Great value for the Vikings. Packers lack of aggressiveness on night one is Vikings gain.

I disagree, Dish. They feel they have the potential for a top 5 defense. The 2 picks were solid. No way you give up 2 1sts for a WR.

ESPN had a fun stat. 7 of the top 8 WRs in the the last 3 years combined were NOT 1st rounders.

[forgetful]

Great value for the Vikings. Packers lack of aggressiveness on night one is Vikings gain.

Vikings did really get a lot of value there. Packers clearly sweetened the pot to get the Vikings to let them move up.

I thought they could move up far enough to get Watson by trading 53, 92 and then a late round pick to meet the value. A 53 and a 59 is the value of the 30th overall pick.

[GB Warrior]

I like what the Vikings are doing. Capitalized on division's desperation and is stocking up on good, cheap talent so they can keep paying Kirk Cousins.

Watson is not the guy I wanted, but he'll be a gadget player, an MVS replacement deep threat and a special teams player. That's a year 1 floor I can live with.

[Dish]

I disagree, Dish. They feel they have the potential for a top 5 defense. The 2 picks were solid. No way you give up 2 1sts for a WR.

ESPN had a fun stat. 7 of the top 8 WRs in the the last 3 years combined were NOT 1st rounders.

I value second round picks immensely. I want as many spins at the wheel in round 2 as possible. Watson might be fine, but it's terrible value that GB gave up. Is Watson that much better than someone at 53 and 59? Wait to see.

[Herman Cain]

I value second round picks immensely. I want as many spins at the wheel in round 2 as possible. Watson might be fine, but it's terrible value that GB gave up. Is Watson that much better than someone at 53 and 59? Wait to see.

Vikings fan not happy about allowing two division rivals to trade up and pickmwide receivers

[Juan Anderson's Mixtape]

Watson better be good.  The Packers essentially traded Adams and 59 for Walker and Watson. 

[Uncle Rico]

Vikings fan not happy about allowing two division rivals to trade up and pickmwide receivers

Fans are idiots

[Jockey]

I value second round picks immensely. I want as many spins at the wheel in round 2 as possible. Watson might be fine, but it's terrible value that GB gave up. Is Watson that much better than someone at 53 and 59? Wait to see.

I don't disagree about the value of picks. Studies have shown that teams who have the best drafts over time are the teams with the most picks.

[Dish]

Seahawks, a team clearly in rebuilding mode, light one of their 2nd round picks on fire by drafting a RB (Walker). Unreal.

[The Sultan]

Watson better be good.  The Packers essentially traded Adams and 59 for Walker and Watson. 

But you have to consider Adams didn't want to be here too.

[Uncle Rico]

Seahawks, a team clearly in rebuilding mode, light one of their 2nd round picks on fire by drafting a RB (Walker). Unreal.

Yeah, don't understand that

[PointWarrior]

Not sure what I enjoy more - NCAA bracket analysis in December or message board Draft day critique from fans of rival teams. 

Funny part - Silverstein says Bears would have taken Watson if GB had not.

[forgetful]

Watson better be good.  The Packers essentially traded Adams and 59 for Walker and Watson. 

The flip side of this is if they were aggressive and traded up in the 1st round to grab a top 4 WR it would have cost them the number 22 and 53.

They were able to move up to get Watson, by using 53 and 59. If you think there isn't much drop off in potential from those top 4 to Watson, what they did makes a heck of a lot of sense.

[PointWarrior]

And would cost an additional $25M of cap space they did not have.

But you have to consider Adams didn't want to be here too.

[hairy worthen]

Watson better be good.  The Packers essentially traded Adams and 59 for Walker and Watson. 

Adam's didnt want to play for the Packers. Plus they cleared 20 million of cap space enabling them to sign Campbell.