Instant Takeaways from Green Bay Packers Selecting IDL Devonte Wyatt

After selecting LB Quay Walker at pick 22, the Green Bay Packers select another Georgia Bulldog, this time IDL Devonte Wyatt.

Instant takeaways from the Green Bay Packers selecting Devonte Wyatt

– With the massive run on WRs early on in this draft, the right player wasn’t available for Brian Gutekunst. Some Day 2 options include George Pickens and Alec Pierce.

– Wyatt measures in at 6’2″ – 304 pounds and posted an elite RAS of 9.6, which includes a 40-time of 4.77-seconds and a 3-cone of 7.46-seconds. It’s also noteworthy that he is 24-years-old, and since 2009, the oldest player that the Packers have taken in the first round has been just 22.

– The one area where this Green Bay Packers defense could take the biggest step forward is along the interior defensive line–specifically against the run. As I mentioned when discussing Walker, the Packers ranked 30th in yards per carry allowed and 28th in run-DVOA.

– With the lightboxes that Joe Barry typically utilizes, it’s important that the defensive front hold their own because there just isn’t much help behind them. A strong push will also help keep the linebackers and safeties clean to make plays.

– The addition of Wyatt, who played up and down the Georgia defensive line but spent most of his time lined up in the A and B-gaps, means the Packers will have the freedom to move Kenny Clark around more in search of those one-on-one opportunities. It’s not a coincidence that we saw more of that this past season from Clark, and he had one of his most productive years as a pass rusher.

– Wyatt can also bring juice as a pass rusher, as evidenced by his athletic testing. During his final three seasons at Georgia, Wyatt tallied 63 pressures and six sacks, according to PFF, and did so in 611 pass-rush snaps.

– Wyatt was PFF’s highest-graded interior defender in 2021. He also missed only two tackles on 27 attempts.

– All of a sudden, the Green Bay Packers’ IDL room looks a lot better than it has in the past with a rotation of Clark, Reed, Lowry, Wyatt, and Slaton. IDL was also a need in 2023, with Clark and Slaton the only players under contract beyond this season.

– Wyat has 119 career special teams snaps, per PFF.

– This is clearly going to be a Green Bay Packers team that relies much more on the defensive side of the ball than what they have in the past–and this group has the potential to be very good.

– For more on Wyatt, Lance Zierlein of NFL.com had this to say in his pre-draft report:

"“Highly active defensive tackle with decent strength. Wyatt is made for movement and disruptions. He helped himself in 2021 with better tape both against the run and as a pass rusher. His lateral quickness is useful in beating zone blocks and in sliding across the front in a game-based pass rush. Wyatt has adequate strength but struggles to withstand a second blocker. The traits are average, but the effort is consistent and Wyatt should fit nicely as a rotational, gap-seeking three-technique with disruptive flashes.”"