The Unpacking Future Packers Countdown is a countdown of 100 prospects that could be selected by the Green Bay Packers in the 2022 NFL Draft.
There are three certainties in this world. Death, taxes and the Green Bay Packers needing to get Kenny Clark help along the defensive line.
Since drafting Clark in 2016, the Packers have failed to get him adequate help up front.
Montravius Adams was a disaster. Kinglsey Keke flashed, but never put it all together.
Will this be the year the Packers find Clark a tag-team partner up front?
A player that the Packers could target with the 28th pick is Devonte Wyatt. The Georgia defensive lineman checks in at No. 87 in the Unpacking Future Packers Countdown.
Wyatt came to Georgia as a three-star recruit. During his first two seasons on campus, Wyatt recorded three sacks. In 2020, Wyatt recorded two tackles for loss.
This past season, Wyatt was a key piece to Georgia’s historical National Championship defense. Wyatt finished the season with seven tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks.
“Based on pure statistics alone, you’d be hard-pressed to find anyone that would describe Devonte Wyatt’s season as outstanding,” Oliver Hodgkinson, an NFL Draft analyst for Pro Football Network said. “To understand his performances beyond those numbers you have to understand the sheer depth of talent in the Georgia front seven this season.”
While his numbers may not have been eye-popping. One has to keep in mind that he was part of a stacked defensive front that rotated players in and out. It’s the same defensive line rotation that Jermaine Johnson, the 2021 ACC Player of the Year struggled to crack.
“The Bulldogs defense had 16 players that recorded at least one sack this season,” Hodgkinson said. “They had even more players that registered at least one tackle for loss. You also have to understand that Georgia rotated their defensive players, and Wyatt shared the limelight with fellow defensive tackles Jordan Davis and Jalen Carter. While Davis has received a lot of accolades this season, it’s worth noting that Wyatt outproduced his more illustrious teammate, including two forced fumbles that evidenced his ability to be extremely disruptive. He’s proven that he can be an explosive, versatile, powerful, and therefore dangerous interior defensive line prospect.”
Wyatt is a twitched-up big man. Men of his size (6-3, 315) shouldn’t be able to move the way that he does. There is a reason why the Georgia defensive tackle was No. 5 on Bruce Feldman’s Freaks list for 2021.
“His most impressive testing number is the 4.87 40 he clocked this offseason. He also vertical jumped 31 inches and broad jumped 9-3. The former high school shot putter is also very strong, benching 385 pounds and squatting 585.”
Wyatt gets up field quickly with an explosive first step. He’s a backfield disrupter that finished his career with 12 career tackles for loss.
With his size and strength, Wyatt is able to clog up running lanes. He has a flexible lower body and stays balanced through gaps.
For a man his size he has good lateral quickness to make plays up and down the line of scrimmage. Wyatt was a key cog in the Bulldog defensive giving up less than three yards per carry.
“Although he isn’t as impressive at handling double teams blocks as teammate Davis, Wyatt showcases excellence against the run,” Hodgkinson said. “He’s extremely powerful, and when power is combined with explosion it allows him to get into the opposition backfield in a hurry. Wyatt’s athleticism is apparent against the run, using his lateral agility to almost teleport from gap to gap. Furthermore, the Georgia defensive lineman showcases excellent hand technique and strength to easily disengage from blockers. Finally, Wyatt has a keen eye for the ball and uses his high football intelligence to diagnose the play and locate the ball carrier in traffic.”
As a pass-rusher Wyatt wins with his quick get off and violent hands. He has a motor that never stops. While he may not always get home, he is a pocket-collapser that will push offensive lineman into the quarterback’s lap with his devasting bullrush.
“The power and explosion that Wyatt demonstrates as a run defender helps him to be a dangerous threat as a pass rusher too,” Hodgkinson said. “In the trenches where the low man wins, he plays with consistently low pad level to help him win the leverage battle.
The Georgia defensive lineman can also bull rush with the best of them, and has several other pass rush moves in his armory including club and swim moves. While he has some exciting pass-rush upside, he needs to ensure that he is more consistent as a pass rusher. Furthermore, to succeed at the NFL level he will need to prove that he can put together a more disruptive pass rush plan.”
The Georgia defensive tackle checks all the boxes. However, Wyatt will likely have to answer some questions about an off-the-field incident that occurred two years ago. Wyatt was arrested for criminal trespass, damage to property, and family violence.
Fit with the Packers
Clark has been fighting the villains of Gotham by himself for far too long. It’s time for Brian Gutekunst to find Clark a Dick Grayson.
Wyatt has all the tools to be a perfect sidekick for Clark. He’s a disruptive force that lives in the opponent’s backfield.
Wyatt’s presence would take some of the pressure of Clark, while also shoring up Green Bay’s run defense. The former three-star recruit would also give Green Bay’s interior pass rush a shot in the arm.
“With his combination of size, power, freaky athleticism, and versatility, Wyatt is going to make an NFL team very happy on day two of the 2022 NFL Draft,” Hodgkinson said. “He’s showcased that he can be disruptive against the run, and possesses dangerous characteristics as a pass rusher. Although he best projects as a 3-tech at the NFL level, he has the ability to line up and succeed from any alignment on the defensive line. That versatility will prove alluring and only add value to his draft stock.”
Daniel Jeremiah, the NFL Network draft analyst mocked Wyatt to the Packers in his first mock draft of the season. Here is what Jeremiah had to say about the pick:
“Wyatt will gain more steam as we go through the process. He can win as a pass rusher with quickness or power. He easily holds the point of attack.”
Gutekusnt hit a home run in the 2021 NFL Draft when he selected Georgia cornerback Eric Stokes in the first round. There is a strong chance that Gutekunst tips his toes back into the Georgia pipeline again in 2022.
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