The Green Bay Packers had a disappointing 2022 season for a wide variety of reasons. To ensure that it does not happen again in 2023, multiple players will need to step up. On offense, most eyes will be on first-year starter Jordan Love and his young wide receivers. Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs both had respectable rookie seasons and few question that they will take a leap in 2023. Samori Toure, too, has caused several coaches to mention how much improvement he has made over the course of the offseason.
Related: Green Bay Packers Post OTA’s 53-Man Roster Prediction
On defense, the Packers had two rookie first round picks from Georgia in 2022. Quay Walker, of course, was a starting inside linebacker and played fairly well (ejections aside). Devonte Wyatt, however, did not see much playing time until late in the season. With those ahead of him on the depth chart gone, he will have the opportunity to prove that he was worth a first round pick.
Green Bay Packers Defensive Lineman Devonte Wyatt Named a Sophomore Who Needs to Prove Himself in 2023
Green Bay Packers Hall of Famer Gilbert Brown has often said that a rookie is still a rookie until about Week Six of their second season. According to him, second year players are still learning a great deal in Year Two due to a possibly increased role. This is certainly going to be true of Wyatt as he is projected to be a starter on the defensive line alongside Kenny Clark.
“The Green Bay Packers selected a pair of Georgia defenders with their two first-round picks in 2022.
“Quay Walker saw one of the highest snap counts of anyone on the Packers defense with 81.9 percent of the snaps, but Devonte Wyatt was much less busy, getting just 21.7 percent of the defensive snaps.
“Wyatt profiled as a disruptive interior pass-rusher with a 9.6 relative athletic score and an explosive first step. He did have 1.5 sacks but no tackles for loss and only three total pressures all season.
“They aren’t great numbers, but it is a small sample size. Given the Packers movement at the position, Wyatt is going to be expected to take on a much bigger role in his sophomore campaign. Dean Lowry and Jarran Reed both left in free agency, leaving behind over 1,100 combined snaps.
“The Packers didn’t make any major moves to replace them with veterans, signaling a faith in Wyatt that he’s going to be much improved in 2023.
“It’ll be up to Wyatt to reward that faith.”
Ballentine notes Wyatt’s lack of stats last season and acknowledges his low amount of playing time. That being said, PFF graded Wyatt as a better overall defender than both Kenny Clark and TJ Slaton, who are still on the team. Additionally, he graded better than Dean Lowry and Jarran Reed who are no longer with the Packers. In other words, based on the PFF grades, the Packers did not need to make a move to improve the position because they already had an improvement on their roster.
PFF Defensive Grades for 2022 Packers Defensive Linemen
- Devonte Wyatt- 69.9
- Kenny Clark- 66.4
- Jarran Reed- 61.9
- TJ Slaton- 61.6
- Dean Lowry- 59.3
One has to wonder why Joe Barry did not find it prudent to play a defensive lineman who was clearly better than his teammates, but now he has no one else to put there. Wyatt is going to get his chance, but he has to make the most of it.
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