Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
A full review of the rookie season of linebacker Quay Walker, the Green Bay Packers’ first of two first-round picks in the 2022 draft.
The Green Bay Packers made 11 picks during the 2022 NFL draft: six offensive players and five defensive players. Over the next few weeks, we’ll be going through and reviewing the 2022 season for all of the Packers’ rookies.
First up: linebacker Quay Walker, the 22nd overall pick and the Packers’ first of two first-round draft picks in 2022:
Reviewing the rookie season of Packers DL TJ Slaton, a fifth-round pick of the team from the 2021 NFL draft.
The Green Bay Packers made nine picks during the 2021 NFL draft and signed a few others during college free agency, adding an influx of first-year talent to the roster. Over the next few weeks, we’ll be going through and reviewing the 2021 season for all of the Packers’ rookies.
Next up: defensive tackle TJ Slaton, the 173rd overall pick and the Packers’ fifth-round draft pick in 2021:
Reviewing the rookie season of Packers offensive lineman Royce Newman, a fourth-round pick of the team in the 2021 NFL draft.
The Green Bay Packers made nine picks during the 2021 NFL draft and signed a few others during college free agency, adding an influx of first-year talent to the roster. Over the next few weeks, we’ll be going through and reviewing the 2021 season for all of the Packers’ rookies.
Next up: wide receiver Royce Newman, the 142nd overall pick and the Packers’ fourth-round draft pick in 2021:
Reviewing the rookie season of Packers WR Amari Rodgers, a third-round pick of the team in the 2021 NFL draft.
The Green Bay Packers made nine picks during the 2021 NFL draft and signed a few others during college free agency, adding an influx of first-year talent to the roster. Over the next few weeks, we’ll be going through and reviewing the 2021 season for all of the Packers’ rookies.
Next up: wide receiver Amari Rodgers, the 85th overall pick and the Packers’ third-round draft pick in 2021:
Reviewing the rookie season of Packers C Josh Myers, the 62nd overall pick of the 2021 NFL draft.
The Green Bay Packers made nine picks during the 2021 NFL draft and signed a few others during college free agency, adding an influx of first-year talent to the roster. Over the next few weeks, we’ll be going through and reviewing the 2021 season for all of the Packers’ rookies.
Next up: cornerback Josh Myers, the 62nd overall pick and the Packers’ second-round draft pick in 2021:
Reviewing the rookie season of Packers CB Eric Stokes, a first-round pick in the 2021 NFL draft.
The Green Bay Packers made nine picks during the 2021 NFL draft and signed several a few others during college free agency, adding an influx of first-year talent to the roster. Over the next few weeks, we’ll be going through and reviewing the 2021 season for all of the Packers’ rookies.
First up: cornerback Eric Stokes, the 29th overall pick and the Packers’ first-round draft pick in 2021:
Reviewing the rookie season of Packers LB Krys Barnes, an undrafted free agent signing in 2020.
The Green Bay Packers made nine picks during the 2020 NFL draft and signed several others during college free agency, adding an influx of first-year talent to the roster. Over the next few weeks, we’ll be going through and reviewing the 2020 season for all of the Packers’ rookies.
Next up: linebacker Krys Barnes, the undrafted free agent out of UCLA.
In 13 games, including 10 starts, Barnes finished second on the team in combined tackles with 80. He also totaled five tackles for loss, one sack, and one forced fumble. According to Pro Football Focus, Barnes was responsible for five quarterback pressures. However, he missed seven tackles and allowed a passer rating of 110.0 against his coverage.
Barnes played 421 snaps in 2020, which was 41 percent of the total defensive snaps. He contributed some on special teams, playing 89 snaps or 21 percent of the total special teams’ snaps. In total, he rushed the passer 17 times, per PFF. Therefore, Barnes was creating pressure on nearly 30 percent of his reps as a pass rusher. There were two games in which Barnes played over 90 percent of the defensive snaps. In Green Bay’s loss to the Minnesota Vikings in Week 8 and their win over the Tennessee Titans in Week 16. He also played 83 snaps in two playoff games.
43.7. Barnes received a below-average grade for the 2020 season. Overall, he finished eighth among rookies in total tackles. His lowest grade was in coverage at 42.8. His highest was in tackling at 70.6.
Against the Carolina Panthers in Week 15, Barnes had arguably his best game of the season. Despite only playing 31 snaps, he totaled six tackles, three stops, one tackle for loss, and a forced fumble. His forced fumble was a turning point in the game. The Panthers were threatening to score at the one-yard line when quarterback Teddy Bridgewater attempted a quarterback sneak by leaping over the pile. However, Barnes met him at the top and punched the ball out of his hands. Kevin King recovered the fumble and returned it 48 yards.
As a UDFA, Barnes did not make the initial 53-man roster. However, he was brought back just in time for the season opener against the Vikings and made his first career start. His awareness flashed early on when he blew up a screen that could have resulted in a big gain. He did have a rough outing when he missed three tackles against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 6, but he recovered. Up until Week 10, Barnes was a solid contributor to Green Bay’s defense. Barnes then landed on the reserve/COVID-19 list and missed the next three games. He returned to the starting lineup in Week 15 and didn’t miss a start the rest of the season. Overall, Barnes was a pleasant surprise as a rookie. From a UDFA that was cut after training camp, he went on to be one the most productive players on defense. When Christian Kirksey struggled early on, Barnes remained steady. He also did a nice job maintaining the inside linebacker position when Kirksey went on injured reserve. With Kirksey now out of the picture, unless the Packers make some moves this offseason, Barnes and Kamal Martin are set to be the guys holding down inside linebacker in 2021. Barnes is ahead of Martin in his development and could be poised to make a second-year jump. He gets to work with a new defensive coordinator in Joe Barry, who has experience developing inside linebackers. Barnes projects to be a solid MIKE linebacker for Green Bay’s defense for the foreseeable future. The game will start to slow down for him pretty soon, and he should start to become more of a difference-maker. We should also start to see some improvements in coverage. His instincts and athleticism give Barry something to work with in crafting a quality starting inside linebacker.
The expectation was low for Barnes after he signed just days before the start of the regular season. However, he quickly showed he belonged on the 53-man roster. Barnes showed natural instincts and strong tackling. Barnes wasn’t prone to missed tackles, and he was almost always around the ball when the play was finished. Overall, Barnes is a good athlete that can play all three downs, but he needs more time to improve his mental processing to make quicker reads. If Barnes is the full-time starter in 2021, the Packers’ defense will be just fine. Last season, he had minimal mistakes and flashed solid playmaking. You could make a strong argument that he was a good find by Green Bay after the draft. His ceiling may not be very high, but his floor is higher than most UDFA inside linebackers. Going forward, he will need to continue to make strides in his development to prove he can lead a winning defense. Season grade: B-
[lawrence-related id=56322,56288,56272,56224]
Reviewing the rookie season of Packers LB Kamal Martin, a fifth-round pick in the 2020 NFL draft.
The Green Bay Packers made nine picks during the 2020 NFL draft and signed several others during college free agency, adding an influx of first-year talent to the roster. Over the next few weeks, we’ll be going through and reviewing the 2020 season for all of the Packers’ rookies.
Next up: linebacker Kamal Martin, the 175th overall pick and the Packers’ fifth-round draft pick in 2020:
Over 10 starts and six starts during the regular season, Martin tallied 24 tackles, three tackles for losses, one sack and one quarterback hit. He created 11 stops and four total pressures, per Pro Football Focus. He also missed five tackles and allowed three receptions.
Martin played 190 defensive snaps during the regular season, or roughly 19 percent of the defense’s total. He was on the field for another 106 special teams snaps. Well over half of his snaps (105) came against the run. He also rushed the quarterback 16 times. Four times, he played 20 or more snaps in a game, including a season-high 42 against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 8. The Packers had him on the field for just 18 total snaps during the postseason.
73.3. He was the Packers’ highest-graded inside linebacker, and the second-highest graded rookie inside linebacker in the NFL. In fact, he was the only rookie linebacker to have a grade over 60.0 as a run defender, blitzer and in coverage.
Week 7 vs. the Texans. In his first professional appearance, Martin played 29 snaps and delivered a season-high six tackles – including three stops and a tackle for loss – during a convincing win in Houston. Dan Wussow of Packers Wire broke down the performance in greater detail here.
While a summer sensatation during training camp, Martin suffered an early injury setback late in camp and missed the first six weeks of the season. He returned in Week 7 and saw action in the final 10 games, including the playoffs. His impact arrived in flashes as he adjusted to playing the pro game. After playing 72 snaps during his first two games on defense, he never again got over 25 snaps in a single game the rest of the way. His attacking instincts are strong, and he prefers anticipating things in front of him and playing downhill. His five missed tackles in limited playing time highlight the recklessness still in his game. On several occasions, he was in position to make a play but arrived at the scene out of control and missed the tackle. Young players that aren’t getting consistent playing time can be over-anxious to create big plays. Reliability is often more important. With Christian Kirksey gone, Martin figures to be a heavy favorite to be one of the starting linebackers for the Packers in 2021. He has the body type and attacking mindset to play the position at a high level, and new defensive coordinator Joe Barry has a strong background of training the position, upping his potential. Whether he can be an all-around linebacker capable of playing gaps in the run game and covering the middle of the field in coverage at something higher than replacement level is still up in the air. The flashes from his rookie season suggest he could be a quality starter with the right development this summer. The Packers do have to wonder if he will have chronic knee issues after significant injuries in back-to-back seasons.
Martin was well on his way to becoming a Week 1 rookie starter when an unfortunate injury derailed the start of his first season. He still ended up being one of the team’s top three inside linebackers alongside Kirksey and rookie Krys Barnes. His encouraging attacking flashes against the run and as a blitzer were counterweighted by ugly missed tackles and some gap discipline issues. However, playing under control and in the right gaps will be things the Packers think they can fix over the long-term. Martin has the size and athletic profile of a starter, but development in terms of playing the position consistently is required. Barry and his staff must settle his over-anxious tendencies. For a rookie linebacker from the fifth round, Martin looked the part. There’s real upside, and significant room for improvement. Season grade: C+
[lawrence-related id=56288,56272,56224]
[listicle id=55814]
Reviewing the rookie season of Packers TE Josiah Deguara, a third-round pick in the 2020 NFL draft.
The Green Bay Packers made nine picks during the 2020 NFL draft and signed several others during college free agency, adding an influx of first-year talent to the roster. Over the next few weeks, we’ll be going through and reviewing the 2020 season for all of the Packers’ rookies.
Next up: tight end Josiah Deguara, the 94th overall pick and the Packers’ third-round draft pick in 2020:
Appearing in just two games, Deguara caught one pass on two targets for 12 yards. The lone catch came in Week 1 against the Minnesota Vikings. The Packers placed him on injured reserve on Oct. 13.
Deguara played 31 total snaps on offense and eight more on special teams. The majority of his snaps (17) came from a backfield alignment, per Pro Football Focus. He started in Week 1 and was on the field for 24 offensive snaps, or 31 percent of the offense’s total. He missed three games with an ankle injury before returning in Week 5. He played seven more snaps but suffered a significant knee injury while blocking on the punt team against the Atlanta Falcons, ending his season. Of his 31 offensive snaps, 14 were as a receiver, 14 more were as a run blocker and three were as a pass-blocker.
56.6. Deguara received average to below average grades as a receiver and blocker over his two games as a rookie. However, he was the Packers’ 10th highest-graded offensive player during Week 1 against the Vikings.
Week 1 vs. the Vikings. Deguara caught his only pass of the season, gaining 11 yards after the catch on a 12-yard gain and converting a first down. He also had one of the team’s best blocks of the season when he led in front of an end-around and took out both the cornerback and safety with an effective cut block, allowing Allen Lazard to race around the corner for a 15-yard gain. Several times, the Packers tried to spring him open on wheel route concepts, but Vikings linebacker Eric Kendricks was up to the task. On one completion to Davante Adams, Deguara handled the blitzing linebacker.
A pair of injuries robbed Deguara of an opportunity to play an important role as the offense’s top H-back option. In Week 1, the rookie lined up all over the formation, including inline, in the backfield and in the slot, showcasing how versatile the Packers think he can be within Matt LaFleur’s scheme. He could be a valuable player as an athletic tight end who can run, block on the move and catch the football in the short to intermediate areas. LaFleur loves using the tight end position to create advantages based on the defensive look, and Deguara looks like an ideal player to handle the role. He is strong but probably lacks the length and overall power to be a full-time inline player, making him more of the “F” tight end. Robert Tonyan is a restricted free agent and will likely be back, but Marcedes Lewis is unrestricted and facing an uncertain future, so Degaura’s role could evolve entering Year 2, assuming he’s healthy and ready to go by the summer. The Packers will likely plan for Deguara to be a key part of the offense in 2021.
The flashes from Deguara were encouraging. He played 24 snaps as a rookie starter in Week 1 and looked comfortable handling a variety of roles within a complicated scheme. Even without a true offseason, LaFleur and the Packers clearly trust him as the move tight end, an important role in the offense. Two unfortunate injuries make grading his season an impossible task. Grade: Incomplete.
[lawrence-related id=56272,56224]
[listicle id=55814]
Reviewing the rookie season of Packers quarterback Jordan Love, the team’s first-round pick in the 2020 draft.
The Green Bay Packers made nine picks during the 2020 NFL draft and signed several others during college free agency, adding an influx of first-year talent to the roster. Over the next few weeks, we’ll be going through and reviewing the 2020 season for all of the Packers’ rookies.
First up: quarterback Jordan Love, the 26th overall pick and the Packers’ first-round draft pick in 2020:
Love was inactive as the team’s third quarterback in all 18 games, including playoffs. Due to the canceled preseason, he did not appear in a single game as a rookie.
Love played zero snaps. He was the only first-round pick in the 2020 draft that didn’t play at least one snap as a rookie.
N/A.
Love did not appear in a game.
Love was dealt a difficult hand as a rookie. Not only did the young quarterback lose the entire in-person offseason workout program, but training camp was truncated and the preseason was eliminated thanks to the pandemic. These mitigating factors combined to ensure Love’s 2020 season was a redshirt year, a likely scenario with or without a regular offseason for a talented but raw quarterback learning a brand new offense. He failed to beat out Tim Boyle for the backup job during the summer, and when Boyle and Aaron Rodgers stayed healthy all season, Love remained the No. 3 quarterback – a thankless job providing a safe space for development that also robbed him of any opportunity to get meaningful reps on the field. The Packers got nothing from their first-round pick during a season in which they once again lost one game short of the Super Bowl, but they are confident Love is still a talented player with a bright future at the game’s most important position. It’s impossible to know how much he’s really improved over the course of the year, creating some uncertainty going into 2021. His preseason reps next summer will be vital. The Packers have the NFL’s MVP at quarterback, but at some point in the near future, the franchise must decide whether sticking with Rodgers or transitioning to Love is the best course. All options are still open. Love could be the future, even as soon as 2022, or Rodgers could force him down the Jimmy Garoppolo path. Either way, the Packers believe they have a valuable asset at quarterback.
Grading Love’s rookie season can’t be done from the outside. He didn’t appear in games, and only the team has access to his work in the classroom and on the practice field. It can be safely assumed Love improved in meaningful ways as a rookie even if he didn’t see the field, but no one can really know where he’s at until he’s on the field in a live game setting. The only disappointing factor we can judge from Love’s rookie season was his inability to beat out Boyle for the No. 2 job, but as mentioned above, the 26th overall pick had many factors working against him during his first professional offseason. Grade: Incomplete.
[listicle id=55814]
