When the Green Bay Packers selected Georgia defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt with the No. 28 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, many fans were confused by the selection. There were bigger needs than defensive tackle. After his first season in the NFL, fans are still split on the pick, but the jury is out on the interior lineman.
Matt LaFleur and company used Wyatt sparingly throughout his rookie season. He did not see a ton of action this year and played behind Kenny Clark and Jarran Reed. Being able to learn from the sidelines as a rookie might be exactly what the youngster needed to develop.
Following his first NFL season, Wyatt spoke out about the year and where he hopes to go from this season.
“I came with a positive mindset my whole season. I knew my time was coming. Just be patient because it started off like this in college. I was behind people. I was learning. It’s just all about patience. That’s all it takes is patience, learn, stay positive and help your teammates develop.”
“It’s just getting me the idea of all the things that I need to know to work on, just small things you need to know before going back into the next year. So, when you come back, it’ll be a lot better when I’m out here.”
What’s Next For Devonte Wyatt And The Packers?
Those are the kind of quotes that you love to see from a young player after his first season. Wyatt learned a lot from the veterans while playing behind them. He had some opportunities throughout the year and made the most of them.
In his rookie season, Wyatt ended up recording 15 total tackles, 1.5 sacks, a forced fumble, and a defended passes. They aren’t huge numbers, but they are solid for the amount he played.
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Standing in at 6-foot-3 and a shade over 300 pounds, the future is bright for Wyatt. The Packers should be hoping to see big-time development from him as a run-stopper and as a pass-rusher. He’s capable of doing both things moving forward for Green Bay.
With Reed set to hit free agency, it would not be shocking to see Wyatt become a starter next season. Assuming he works hard, there is no question that the talent is there. His mindset is also spot on.
So with that being said, what’s next for Wyatt in his second season? If he develops as he should, he will end up being a starter next to Clark on the line and will be a big piece of the game plan against the run and as a guy who can get to the quarterback. He knows what he needs to work on and it will be interesting to see what kind of improvements he makes to his game.
