In the first two drafts with Brian Gutekunst at the helm of the Packers as GM, the team fared pretty well. Jaire Alexander was Gutekunst’s first pick in the role, in 2018, and quickly became a star cornerback in Green Bay. Next up was Rashan Gary, the team’s Pro Bowl end, who was the 2019 first-rounder. Darnell Savage was also taken in the first round that year, and he started 72 games in five years with the Packers.
Jordan Love, of course, came in 2020. His star potential is evident.
But since then, things have gone sour for Gutekunst at the top of the draft, as ESPN’s Rob Demovsky pointed out this week. While there’s pressure on all the Packers’ underwhelming former first-round picks to come through this year, perhaps the most pressure is on the one who was a bit of a stretch when the pick was made: 2022 No. 22 overall pick Quay Walker.
Quay Walker Was a Stretch
Going back and revisiting the Pro Football Focus analysis of Walker in the wake of the draft is useful, because the site fairly well predicted how he would perform. He was the No. 45 overall player in the site’s rankings, considered to be below Devonte Wyatt, his Georgia teammate chosen by the Packers later in the 2022 first round, at No. 28.
PFF wrote: “Walker slots in as the 45th-ranked overall player on PFF’s big board and the LB4. The Georgia off-ball linebacker isn’t a downhill player in the run game, and he was still more of a reactor than a playmaker. On the bright side, he does have an elite physical profile. Walker is so good at wrapping defenders up with his near 80-inch wingspan. He missed just seven tackles on 138 attempts in his college career.”
Packers Need a Big Year
That’s pretty much what the Packers have gotten from Walker–a decent enough linebacker, but not the game-breaking difference-maker his physical tools say he should be. The Packers picked up Wyatt’s fifth-year option for 2026, but did not do so on Walker, meaning he is playing for a contract.
“That makes this season make-or-break for Walker,” Demovsky wrote
ESPN added: “Even though Walker became an immediate starter as a rookie and led the Packers in tackles in each of his first three seasons, the splash plays haven’t been there. He doesn’t have a forced fumble or fumble recovery. He has one interception, perhaps not unusual for an inside linebacker, but doesn’t have massive sack or TFL numbers, either.”
Packers Have Walker at ‘Mike’
But there’s hope. Despite offseason ankle surgery and a slow start to camp, the Packers are putting their eggs into Walker’s basket, assigning him the “Mike” role in Jeff Halfley’s defense.
“I’m flying faster, I know the defense way, way better,” Walker said.
Walker got back into full practices just two weeks ago, and said at the time he is eager to show he is healthy and ready to handle the reins of the defense. While 2025 might be make-or-break from a contractual standpoint, he does not see it that way.
“I ain’t really gotta prove nothing,” Walker said. “I just gotta prove myself right. Ever since I got drafted, I been in this situation where people may feel otherwise, but I ain’t really quite worried about it. Everything will take care of itself.”
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