devonte wyatt – Syndication Server

Packers high on Quay Walker and Devonte Wyatt ahead of fifth-year option decisions

The Packers must decide on the fifth-year option for LB Quay Walker and DL Devonte Wyatt by May.

While he didn’t implicitly say it, Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst kept open the door to using the fifth-year option on 2022 first-round picks Quay Walker and Devonte Wyatt this offseason.

The Packers believe Walker, the 22nd overall pick in 2022, and Wyatt, the 28th overall pick, are coming off their best seasons in 2024. Gutekunst must now decide whether or not to use the fifth-year option by May 1 of this year. If used, the Packers would be committing millions in guaranteed money into 2026. If not used, Walker and Wyatt would both enter contract years in 2025.

“Super fired up about both those guys’ seasons this year,” Gutekunst said at his season-ending press conference on Thursday.

Walker played 13 games and finished first on the team in tackles with 102, his third straight season with 100 or more. He also set a career-high with nine tackles for loss while adding 2.5 sacks. Wyatt played in 14 games and produced 32 pressures, third-most on the Packers defense despite playing only 247 pass-rushing snaps.

“I think Quay continued to make a leap and (he’s) another guy who had struggled through injuries at the end of the year, but he was really impactful for us this year. Continues to be a great leader for us,” Gutekunst said. “Certainly think, we would love to have him around here for longer than just a couple more years. He’s that kind of guy. And D-Wy was probably our most consistent pass rusher from the inside this year.”

Gutekunst said he was “really proud” of how both Walker and Wyatt battled through various injuries and remained disruptive.

“I think both those guys had their best years as pros so far,” Gutekunst said.

However, nowhere in Gutekunst’s answer did he reference actually using the fifth-year option. And the price tags on both decisions will be big.

For Walker, the fifth-year option in 2026 would cost $16,060,00. For Wyatt, the fifth-year option in 2026 would cost $13,098,000. That’s almost $30 million in fully guaranteed salary for two players with legitimate question marks.

There is risk financially on both sides of the decision.

The Packers wouldn’t want Walker or Wyatt to emerge as a top player at their position in 2025 and not have them under contract and cost controlled through 2026. But the Packers also don’t want Walker or Wyatt to be guaranteed millions in 2026 if they aren’t sure about them as long-term franchise cornerstones.

Walker has been an inconsistent linebacker through three seasons. Wyatt has been a part-time pass-rusher. Neither looks like a legitimate top player at their respective positions through three seasons.

Recent history shows examples of it going wrong and right.

Two years ago, the Packers used the fifth-year option on safety Darnell Savage, who then had a disappointing final season in Green Bay before exiting in free agency. Last year, the Packers declined the fifth-year option on cornerback Eric Stokes, and that looks like a wise decision considering Stokes was a part-time player in 2024 and likely headed for an exit this offseason.

The Packers could go a different route and decline the fifth-year option for one or both players while figuring out a short-term extension that works for both sides. The team accomplished this strategy with quarterback Jordan Love, a first-round pick in the 2020 draft.

Georgia player impacted by the Diego Pavia ruling

The Diego Pavia ruling could impact Georgia Bulldogs senior receiver Colbie Young.

On Dec. 18, a federal judge granted a preliminary injunction that gave Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia another year of college eligibility.

Pavia sued the NCAA last month, claiming his junior college experience (he played two years at a junior college in New Mexico) shouldn’t count toward his overall years of eligibility. He claimed it was a violation of antitrust law that unfairly limited his ability to make money from his name, image and likeness.

This ruling could have massive implications on college athletics. Now players can contest having junior college years count toward their eligibility totals, as Pavia did, if the NCAA even bothers trying to enforce that rule any longer.

Georgia’s Colbie Young is one of those players. Similar to Pavia, Young transferred to Georgia with one year of eligibility remaining. However, he started his collegiate career with one year at Lackawanna College, a junior college. He played two seasons for the Miami Hurricanes before transferring to Georgia.

With Georgia, Young played five games before his indefinite suspension from the team following his arrest in October. He is awaiting trial, and it is unlikely he plays in the Sugar Bowl.

Considering Georgia is on the hunt for wide receivers in the transfer portal, getting Young back for another year could be beneficial. Young could also transfer to another receiver-needy team.

Young is one of many players in Georgia’s history who attended junior college before becoming a Bulldog. Devonte Wyatt started at Hutchinson CC before playing with the Bulldogs and becoming a first-round NFL draft selection. Javon Wims is another UGA player who attended a JUCO and was drafted in the NFL.

Of course, Stetson Bennett, who left Georgia in 2017, spent a year at community college in 2018 before returning to the Bulldogs in 2019 and leading the Bulldogs to back-to-back national titles. If this ruling were a few years earlier, he could’ve had another year of eligibility at Georgia and potentially led the Bulldogs to a three-peat in 2023.

This ruling could also affect recruits for Georgia. JUCO prospect Seven Cloud recently committed to Georgia as a member of the 2026 recruiting class. This ruling would make JUCO recruits more valuable in the long run.

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Packers DL Devonte Wyatt returns to practice after missing 3 games

The Packers returned defensive lineman Devonte Wyatt to practice on Wednesday. He’s missed the last 3 games with an ankle injury.

The first step in Devonte Wyatt’s return to the playing field arrived Wednesday when the Green Bay Packers defensive lineman practiced for the first time since suffering an ankle injury in Week 4, according to Mike Spofford of the team’s official site.

Wyatt, a 2022 first-round pick, has missed the last three games. He led the team with 3.0 sacks and five quarterback hits during the first four weeks but was injured during the second half of the Packers’ loss to the Minnesota Vikings on Sept. 29.

Last week, coach Matt LaFleur expressed hope in Wyatt being able to return in some capacity this week. His return to the practice field on Wednesday keeps open the door for Wyatt playing Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Without Wyatt over the last three games, the Packers have relied on second-year defensive lineman Karl Brooks and Colby Wooden.

Per Spofford, Walker, cornerback Corey Ballentine, center Josh Myers and guard Elgton Jenkins weren’t practicing on Wednesday. Walker is in the concussion protocol coming out of last week’s win over the Houston Texans.

The Packers will release the first injury report of Week 8 later on Wednesday. Expect Wyatt to be listed as limited as the Packers ramp up his workload coming off an injury.

Packers lose WR Christian Watson and DL Devonte Wyatt to ankle injuries vs. Vikings

The Green Bay Packers lost wide receiver Christian Watson and defensive lineman Devonte Wyatt to ankle injuries during Sunday’s 31-29 loss to the Minnesota Vikings,

The Green Bay Packers lost wide receiver Christian Watson and defensive lineman Devonte Wyatt to ankle injuries during Sunday’s 31-29 loss to the Minnesota Vikings.

Watson got his left foot trapped underneath a defender as he was awkwardly twisted to the ground while targeted in the first quarter. He was carted from the sideline to the locker room. Wyatt was injured along the line of scrimmage on a catch from Justin Jefferson in the fourth quarter — he walked back to the locker room under his own power. Neither returned to the game.

Coach Matt LaFleur said he talked to Watson, who believed his injury was a sprain. Per Jordan Schultz, the Packers believe Watson has a high-ankle sprain but more testing will be required on Monday. A high-ankle sprain would likely keep Watson out of the lineup for weeks.

Less is known about specific on Wyatt’s injury. Per Ryan Wood of PackersNews.com, Wyatt was in a walking boot on his right ankle and using crutches in the post-game locker room.

Wyatt told Wes Hodkiewicz of the team’s official site that he didn’t think the injury was serious, but an MRI is scheduled for Monday.

Watson saw only one target on Sunday. He caught two passes for 67 yards in the Packers’ Week 3 win over the Tennessee Titans and has five catches for 80 yards and a score in four games in 2024.

Wyatt has been one of the Packers’ best and most important pass-rushers. He had two sacks against the Titans and currently leads the team with three total sacks. He had a tackle for loss on Sunday.

LaFleur will meet with the media again on Monday afternoon, so an update on both could be forthcoming. The Packers won’t provide an injury report for Week 5 until Wednesday. Green Bay goes on the road to play the Los Angeles Rams next Sunday. It’s possible Watson and Wyatt will both be unavailable for the contest. Short-term injured reserve — meaning a four-game absence — could be an option.

LaFleur did say the Packers don’t think Jaire Alexander’s groin injury — which kept him out Sunday — is a long-term issue.

It’s Devonte Wyatt time for Packers on Sunday vs. Vikings

Devonte Wyatt might be one of the most important players on the field for the Green Bay Packers on Sunday against the unbeaten Minnesota Vikings.

The interior disruptor needs to be as his pass-rushing best in a favorable matchup against the middle of the Vikings offensive line.

Sam Darnold is well protected by tackles Christian Darrisaw and Brian O’Neil on the edges. In fact, Darrisaw and O’Neil might be one of the best pass-blocking tackle duos in football. Where it falls apart for the Vikings offensive is inside.

Center Garrett Bradbury has allowed 10 pressures, the second most among centers, per Pro Football Focus. Guard Ed Ingram has also allowed 10 pressures, the fifth most among guards.

Wyatt, a 2022 first-rounder, looks like one of the breakout interior defenders in the NFL to start this season. He has three sacks and nine pressures on 64 pass-rushing snaps through three games, plus six stops, or tackles creating a failure for the offense. Wyatt was disruptive as a second-year player in 2023, but he’s now converting opportunities for negative plays at a higher rate to start 2024.

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Wyatt — an explosive athlete at over 300 pounds who looks unleashed in Jeff Hafley’s aggressive, upfield scheme — must make the most of opportunities to beat Bradbury and Ingram on Sunday at Lambeau Field.

The matchup is also a good chance for Kenny Clark to break out of a mini-slump to start the year. He’s been quiet against the run and only so-so as a pass-rusher. Clark has historically done very well against Bradbury in previous matchups. Karl Brooks is another interior disruptor who could benefit on Sunday.

Darnold has been a revelation as a starting quarterback for Kevin O’Connell and the Vikings, and former Packers running back Aaron Jones is enjoying a terrific start (325 total yards, two touchdowns) with his new team. Add in all-world receiver Justin Jefferson and the Packers will have their hands full with a Vikings offense that is third in points scored and averaging 6.0 yards per play in 2024.

Wyatt must be a game-wrecker. In a new scheme, he’s blossoming into the disruptive force the Packers expected. But games like Sunday’s against the Vikings — a key divisional matchup early in the year — are where great players must take over. Can Wyatt dominate in a plus matchup and help the Packers score a big win in the NFC North?

Packers’ Devonte Wyatt ranked among PFF’s top-32 DTs

PFF put together its ranking of the top-32 defensive tackles ahead of the 2024 season. On the list was the Packers’ Devonte Wyatt.

Pro Football Focus recently put together their list of the top-32 interior defensive linemen ahead of the 2024 season. Coming in at No. 29 on the list was the Green Bay Packers’ Devonte Wyatt.

At the top of the list was Chris Jones, followed by Dexter Lawrence, Quinnen Williams, Derrick Brown, and Cameron Heyward. Just ahead of Wyatt at Nos. 27 and 28 were Kenny Clark and Grady Jarrett.

Here is what PFF had to say about Wyatt and his ranking:

After barely featuring in his rookie season, Wyatt was far better in Year 2, particularly at rushing the passer. He racked up 48 quarterback pressures, including the playoffs, adding 26 defensive stops and playing almost 650 total snaps. Wyatt has the juice to be a very disruptive interior pass-rusher.

As mentioned, Wyatt was featured much more heavily in his second NFL season. Wyatt’s 48 pressures were the fourth-most on the team and 20th among all interior defenders. He would rank 12th in PFF’s pass rush win rate metric as well.

Wyatt would total 5.5 sacks, but that figure realistically could have been closer to double-digits had Wyatt been able to finish off some of those pressure opportunities.

A real jump in production is again possible for Wyatt. In part because of the experience gained last season, but also, this new one-gap system under defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley better suits Wyatt’s skill set and is very similar to what he was asked to do at Georgia.

Under Joe Barry, the defensive front was asked to occupy two-gaps, which consisted of reading what the offensive line and backfield were doing, and then defending the gap that appeared to be the most vulnerable.

In Hafley’s defense, however, this is an attacking front, where it is the defenders’ job to get north or south and into the backfield as quickly as possible. The end result is hopefully a more proactive and disruptive defensive front.

“Devonte Wyatt, I think he’s going to thrive in this defense,” said Packers VP of Player Personnel Jon-Eric Sullivan. “Where you can kind of just pin your ears back, get off the ball. That’s what he was at Georgia — quick, work edges, penetrate, disrupt. I think there’s a bunch of guys who are going to benefit from what we’re doing.”

Improved play from the Packers’ defense as a whole starts with the play up front. More consistency is needed from a pass rush perspective after the Packers ran very hot and cold last season when it came to getting after the quarterback. This was also a run defense unit that surrendered four games of 200-plus rushing yards and ranked 23rd in yards per carry.

Packers DL Devonte Wyatt with chance to ‘thrive’ in Jeff Hafley’s defense

As the Packers defense makes a transition under new coordinator Jeff Hafley, Devonte Wyatt has the chance to ‘thrive’ in this new system.

When vice president of player personnel Jon-Eric Sullivan was answering questions about the Green Bay Packers’ Day 3 draft picks, he went out of his way to bring up a current player on the roster who he believes is going to greatly benefit from Jeff Hafley’s defense: Devonte Wyatt.

“Devonte Wyatt, I think he’s going to thrive in this defense,” said Sullivan. “Where you can kind of just pin your ears back, get off the ball. That’s what he was at Georgia — quick, work edges, penetrate, disrupt. I think there’s a bunch of guys who are going to benefit from what we’re doing.”

In his second NFL season in 2023, Wyatt saw much more steady playing time and was able to get after the quarterback regularly. He totaled 48 pressures, which was the fourth-most on the team and 20th overall among his position group.

Wyatt also recorded 5.5 sacks, although that figure could have been a lot higher if he was able to finish off some of those pressures. He would rank 12th among all interior defenders in pass rush win rate, although run defense is an area where he has to continue to improve.

Recently, Kenny Clark mentioned that Hafley’s defensive system will be really good for the interior defensive line, allowing them to be “way more disruptive.” Former Packers defensive tackle Mike Daniels said the role of the interior defenders in this type of defense will be “simplified.”

In Joe Barry’s 3-4 defense, the interior defenders were responsible for two gaps, having to read the offensive line and the ball carrier, deciphering which gap was more vulnerable, and then trying to fill that void. Interior defenders in this style of defense are often space eaters, and it’s their job to help the linebackers and edge rushers make plays.

On the flip side, in Hafley’s system, the interior defenders are responsible for only one gap, allowing them to “cut loose” and get upfield, creating what is hopefully a more proactive than reactive approach along the defensive front.

This is a Packers defense in 2023 that ranked 23rd in yards per carry allowed, which included four games with the opponent rushing for more than 200 yards. The pass rush was also very hot and cold.

Sustained success for any defense begins with the interior defensive line. The best way to wreck any play for an offense is with quick pressure up the middle. When the defensive front is playing well, every other player on the defense benefits.

A jump from Wyatt in Year 3, due to his continued development along with benefitting from Hafley’s defense, could lead to a very productive and highly disruptive season from him after what we saw in 2023.

Consistent pressure from Packers DL Devonte Wyatt turning into sacks

Devonte Wyatt is turning pressure into sacks down the stretch for the Packers in 2023.

Green Bay Packers second-year interior defender Devonte Wyatt has been around the quarterback all season, but in the last few weeks, the pressure is turning into sack production.

Perhaps in somewhat of an under-the-radar season, Wyatt finished with 45 pressures, which is tied for the 19th most out of all interior defenders across the NFL. And he did this while playing under 50 percent of the Packers’ total defensive snaps this season.

To be that productive when part of a heavily rotated position requires the player to win their matchups consistently, something Wyatt did. According to PFF, Wyatt had a pass rush win rate of 15.4 percent, good for the sixth-best mark among his position group.

“I think it’s a testament to the kid,” said defensive coordinator Joe Barry on Thursday. “I talk about it all the time, just guys improving from Year 1 to Year 2. Daily improvement. He shows up every day, grinds, and works. It’s paid off for him with the numbers.”

However, despite frequently being around the quarterback, those pressures weren’t turning into sacks for Wyatt for a large portion of the season.

Through Week 14, Wyatt registered just three sacks, with 1.5 of them coming in the first game of the season against Chicago. Whether he was unable to bring the quarterback down or just a split second late, those high-pressure numbers weren’t being converted into sacks.

While sacks may be the ultimate goal for any pass rusher, pressures are incredibly valuable. In fact, within the Packers’ building, they measure pass rush success off of that aspect instead of sacks.

Pressure leads to disruption. It can force the quarterback to hurry, disrupt the timing and rhythm of the play, and get the passer off his spot. All this can then lead to mistakes.

But in the last two games, water has begun to find its level, as they say, for Wyatt. When a player is around the quarterback as consistently as Wyatt has been this season, eventually, the sacks will come. In the last two weeks, Wyatt has totaled 2.5 sacks–nearly matching his season total coming into those games.

“I think D-Wy finished with 5.5 (sacks), if I’m not mistaken,” added Barry. “I hate when coaches say he could have had three or four sacks, but when you look at it, D-Wy missed a legitimate five sacks this year. He was very close to having a 10-sack year. It was great to see the way he finished.”

Although there were two rookies on the Packers’ interior defensive line seeing significant playing time in 2023, Wyatt, in Year 2, was still going through a learning curve as a young player, especially when you consider that he played only 21 percent of the defensive snaps as a rookie. Being able to finish the play was likely a part of that.

We often hear about the Year 2 leap for second-year players, and Wyatt very much made that jump as a pass rusher. He has been a steady disruptor this season.

Right now, the interior defensive line unit as a whole is playing its best football of the season. Over the last month against the run, the Packers are allowing fewer than 4.0 yards per carry, while in the last two games in particular, they’ve done a great job generating push up the middle, contributing to higher quarterback pressure numbers as a team.

When the defensive front can control the line of scrimmage, the defense has a good chance of controlling the game.

“I just think guys are getting better,” said Kenny Clark after the win over Chicago. “We got two rookies, TJ’s in this third, D-Wy in his second year. All young guys that are going to continue to get better and they’ve been getting better each and every week.

“You got these guys that got a hell of an ability. TJ can stop the run with the best of them. D-Wy (Devonte Wyatt), Colby (Wooden), and KB (Karl Brooks), those guys can rush and rush they asses off and explosive in the run game and be disruptive. You’ve got a good combination of guys and when you put that work in the only thing you can do is get better.”

Packers DL Devonte Wyatt carted back to locker room with knee injury

Packers DL Devonte Wyatt was carted back to the locker room after sustaining a knee injury on Sunday in Denver.

Green Bay Packers defensive lineman Devonte Wyatt needed to be carted back to the locker room for further evaluation after injuring his right knee in the second quarter of Sunday’s matchup with the Denver Broncos.

Wyatt is currently questionable to return. The 2022 first-round pick battled a knee injury at practice this week and was questionable to play on Sunday.

It’s possible the Packers will rule out Wyatt for the rest of the contest after evaluating the knee injury.

Update: The Packers ruled out Wyatt to start the second half.

Wyatt was injured on a third-down play. He walked off the field and was evaluated in the medical tent before getting on a cart to leave the field.

The second-year defensive lineman came into Sunday ranked second on the Packers defense in total pressures with 17. His departure will mean more snaps for rookies Colby Wooden and Karl Brooks next to Kenny Clark and TJ Slaton.

Packers film room: Reviewing Devonte Wyatt’s encouraging Week 1 performance

Highlighting several of the most impressive plays from Devonte Wyatt’s encouraging season opener against the Bears.

Green Bay Packers defensive lineman Devonte Wyatt was one of the most dominant players on the field during the team’s Week 1 win over the Chicago Bears. Wyatt logged a team-high six pressures and totaled three tackles, two tackles for loss, and 1.5 sacks.

Sunday’s performance was precisely what the Packers had in mind when they drafted him in the first round of last year’s draft. As a rookie, Wyatt had a limited role on defense but has experienced a ton of improvement over the past year. He appeared to be a much more polished and confident player in the season opener and could be the perfect complement to Pro Bowler Kenny Clark.

However, despite coming off his most impactful game as a pro, Wyatt still wants to see what he can improve upon. The best way to do that, he says, is to watch the film.

“Watch the tape, see what you did, and see what you can get better at because you always have room for improvement,” Wyatt said. “That’s my goal. Just watch this film and see what I can improve at because I’ll say I started off kind of slow for me, but I want to watch film so I can start off fast and not have a slow start.”

Coincidentally, we are also going to review Wyatt’s tape from the Bears game to break down what went into his impressive pass-rushing performance.

Let’s begin.

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