Green Bay Packers 2022 regular season superlatives before Week 1

As has become a tradition before the regular season begins, and it’s also one of my favorite exercises, it’s time for some Green Bay Packers superlatives.

A superlative, as defined by the dictionary, is “an exaggerated or hyperbolical expression of praise,” and the fun part is there are no right answers. So, in addition to reading through mine, I hope you share yours as well.

I’ve picked out nine different superlatives and assigned one Packers player, or in a few cases, a position group, that I feel best describes each specific expression.

Let’s dive in!

Green Bay Packers 2022 regular season superlatives

Biggest concern: the edge rusher depth

It’s not a player for me, but a position group. Rashan Gary and Preston Smith could form one of the best edge rusher duos in the NFL, but this is a heavily rotated position with both being sidelined for about one-third of the defensive snaps in 2021. Meaning that the depth is very important, and right now, it’s a big concern for the Packers.

There’s a reason that the Packers brought in Whitney Mercilus last season; it was because there was a lack of impact plays from Jonathan Garvin, Tipa Galeai, and La’Darius Hamilton. Mercilus provided a spark in passing situations but, unfortunately, suffered a biceps injury.

This summer, the play from the edge rushers not named Smith and Gary was very inconsistent. Several players had flashes but would quickly disappear for stretches as well. As of now, it’s difficult to see this season playing out differently than last year when it comes to the impact of these rotational players.

The name of the game is pressuring the quarterback, which as a result, makes edge rusher one of the most important positions in the game. However, when it comes to the depth of this unit for the Packers, it is my biggest question mark.

Rookie of the Year: Quay Walker

For me, this is an easy one. Out of the Packers 2022 rookie class, Walker is going to have the most opportunities. He is going to be a key starter on this defense alongside of De’Vondre Campbell.

The Packers’ stout defensive front should help Walker stay clean and free to make plays. We saw this on display against Kansas City when Walker recorded five tackles in the first two defensive series. His presence will also allow the Packers to stay in their base defense more often, thus making it more challenging for the opposing quarterback to know what is coming schematically.

As I wrote in my 10 predictions for the 2022 season, for the reasons mentioned, I believe Walker is going to tally quite a few tackles; if he can come away with some turnovers as well, he will have a shot at Defensive Rookie of the Year.

Most Underrated: Adrian Amos

Just as it’s a tradition to do this superlatives article, it’s also tradition to put Adrian Amos as the most underrated Packer. He has consistently been one of the better safeties in football, but you wouldn’t necessarily know it based on the amount of coverage he receives.

Last season was just another example of Amos providing a very steady presence — against both the run and the pass — at the safety position.

Amos again totaled over 1,000 defensive snaps, which was for the fourth season in a row. In coverage, Amos allowed a completion rate of just 58% on 55 targets and gave up only 9.9 yards per catch. He also had seven pass breakups and two interceptions.

Amos also finished second on the team in tackles, being very active against the run, and his missed tackle rate was the sixth-lowest among safeties, according to PFF ($$).