The 2024 NFL regular season has now concluded. While the Green Bay Packers and other contenders are headed for the postseason, the business of football continues as it usually does. On Monday, the day after the Week 18 games, members of the 2022 NFL Draft class became extension eligible.
Green Bay currently has eight players remaining on their roster from their 2022 NFL Draft class (they drafted 11 total). The three players no longer with the franchise are Tariq Carpenter, Jonathan Ford, and Samori Toure, all of whom were seventh round picks.
They also added quarterback Malik Willis this offseason in a trade with the Tennessee Titans, who was drafted in the third round that year. Therefore, the Packers currently have nine players that are extension eligible.
That being said, not everyone will get a second contract with the team.
Green Bay Packers Players that Are Extension Eligible
The full list of Packers players from the 2022 NFL Draft that are now eligible for contract extensions are:
- Quay Walker (first round)
- Devonte Wyatt (first round)
- Christian Watson (second round)
- Malik Willis (third round)
- Sean Rhyan (third round)
- Romeo Doubs (fourth round)
- Kingsley Enagbare (fifth round)
- Rasheed Walker (seventh round)
The First Round Picks Probably Won’t Get an Extension [Yet]
Both Walker and Wyatt were drafted by Green Bay out of the University of Georgia in the hopes that they would bring the fire of their National Championship-winning defense to the Packers.
So far, however, that has not happened.
The good news for Green Bay is that they do not need to make second contract decisions on either player yet. As first round picks, they have a fifth-year option that the team can choose to pick up if they want. Whether or not the Packers will do so remains to be seen, but one can be certain that neither will get a second contract before they a decision is made on their option/they play their fourth NFL season.
Players that Should Definitely Be Given Second Contracts
Looking at the list of players eligible for contract extensions, three names stick out as being deserving, and they are all offensive linemen: Walker, Tom, and Rhyan.
Despite not getting recognized by Pro Bowl voters, Tom is playing at a Pro Bowl level, and has been ever since he got into the NFL. Walker may not be the next David Bakhtiari, but he is a capable pass blocker and only allowed three sacks this past season. Rhyan did not become a starter until this year, but has played well.
If Green Bay decides not to re-sign Josh Myers after their season ends (he is going to be a free agent), they could potentially move Elgton Jenkins or Tom to center, which would give them the flexibility to keep Rhyan while also finding a spot for 2024 first round pick Jordan Morgan.
Players that Likely Will Not Get a Second Contract
The only remaining players remaining that are eligible for an extension now are Watson, Doubs, Willis, and Enagbare.
Even though it was previously thought that Watson and/or Doubs could earn a second contract, the fact of the matter is that both come with complications. Watson may have just torn his ACL and could miss most if not all of next season. While he could be brought back after that, it will not on the usual market contract.
Doubs was suspended earlier in the season for conduct detrimental to the team. While he leads all wide receivers from the 2022 NFL Draft in touchdown receptions (Watson is second, by the way), he too has not really emerged as a “go to” target in the passing game.
With tens of millions of dollars in salary cap room in 2025, Green Bay could pursue a free agent wide receiver. They likely will also look to address the position in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Enagbare has not played poorly, but he is not a starter and has not separated himself in what has turned out to be a rather week position group. With the Packers likely to add pass rushers in the offseason, he likely will not get a second contract either.
Finally, Willis has been everything Green Bay needed from a backup quarterback. He led them to two wins in the games that he started while Jordan Love was out, and to another victory in a game Love exited early.
But the fact of the matter is that, given the number of quarterback needy teams around the NFL, he could get a better deal elsewhere and a chance to compete for a starting job.
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