The Packers Have Tough Decisions to Make Next Offseason on Two Key Players
By GilMartin
The Green Bay Packers declined to utilize the fifth-year option on Eric Stokes this week, marking the second straight season they opted not to use the fifth-year option on a first-round pick. The previous year, they chose not to sign quarterback Jordan Love to the fifth-year option but instead signed him to a two-year, incentive-laden bridge deal.
Next offseason, GM Brian Gutekunst will have two former first-round picks to decide on and as of now, both of their futures remain up in the air. How Quay Walker and Devonte Wyatt play this season will likely determine whether they get a one-year, fifth-year option deal a year from now.
Walker became an instant starter in his rookie year of 2022. He led the Packers with 121 total tackles that season, recorded 1.5 sacks, broke up seven passes and forced three fumbles. He was also ejected from two games for hitting a practice squad player and a trainer after the whistle. In his second season, discipline was no longer a significant issue.
In 2023, Walker had a pick-six, 2.5 sacks and 118 total tackles while playing in 14 games. He also broke up three passes and had seven tackles for loss.
The thing about Walker is that while he makes a lot of tackles, he has yet to become a game changing playmaker. Walker has the tools to excel. He has good speed, can blitz the passer, and understands the game. But he has yet to put it all together on a consistent basis.
Pro Football Focus gave Walker average grades across the board with his highest grade coming against the run. Still, he was not outstanding or terrible in any one area, be it pass coverage, run defense or rushing the passer.
Perhaps the switch to a four man front under new defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley will help Walker take his game to the next level. Hafley’s defense should be more aggressive than Joe Barry’s and this may play more to Walker’s strengths.
If Walker plays well this season, he has a good chance of having the team pick up his fifth-year option. If he struggles, he may not get a second contract in Green Bay.
Wyatt was selected six picks after Walker. The pair were college teammates at the University of Georgia. Unlike Walker, Wyatt did not immediately become a starter on defense. He played in 16 games as a rookie but didn’t start any. Wyatt was on the field for just 23 percent of the team’s defensive snaps as part of the team’s defensive line rotation.
Wyatt recorded 1.5 sacks, forced a fumble, and broke up a pass while making 15 total tackles in 2022.
Last season, Wyatt officially started five of the team’s 17 games and was on the field for 50 percent of the team’s defensive snaps. He recorded 36 total tackles and 5.5 sacks and made his first career NFL fumble recovery.
Wyatt showed more promise as a pass rusher. His PFF grade as a pass rusher was one of the better marks among interior linemen. His run defense, however, graded out as poor. It’s something he will need to work on if he wants to assume a bigger role on defense and become an every-down player and full-time starter.
Still, finding players who can provide pass rush from the interior line has value and that may be enough to make the Packers keep Wyatt around another year.
Players who sign the fifth-year option play on a one-year contract that is fully guaranteed. There is no signing bonus or incentives to earn. The salary is usually fairly high and is based on the position each individual plays.
How both these players perform in 2024 will go a long way towards determining whether Gutekunst decides to sign them for a fifth-year option. It’s up to Walker and Wyatt to earn their next contract in Green Bay.
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Comments (34)
Coldworld
May 04, 2024 at 12:28 pm
But plenty of time to assess health and performance in the new D.
JDH1313
May 04, 2024 at 01:19 pm
I hope the new DC can get the most out of Walker because he really hasn't lived up to his 1st round status IMO, We shall see how he plays with his new partners in crime Cooper & Hopper, plus four new Safeties and a CB, going to be a new look backfield with a new look defensive scheme. If they can be a top 5 defense and the Offense plays like they did at last seasons end this year will be exciting to watch. As for Wyatt he is playing much better and looks awesome this year putting on 12 pounds of muscle. Not sure how much longer Clark will play so getting Wyatt up to speed is necessary. Looking forward to seeing how all these guys play with the new scheme Hafley bring to the team.
LambeauPlain
May 05, 2024 at 09:28 am
Walker only played for Barry in Green Bay. This is important context to your comment "he really hasn't lived up to his 1st round status, IMO".
Other Packers First Rounders who played for Barry:
Stokes
Savage
Alexander
Wyatt
Clark
Van Ness
Gary
Which of them lived up to their 1st round status playing Barry Ball? Who produced more on the field than Walker?
Gary is about the only one.
Gee
May 05, 2024 at 01:52 pm
I agree so much with this comment, the amount of times players looked lost or confused, over the last 2 years, was tough to watch. Even after the "Meeting", nothing really changed,far too far off on 3 third and mid, or lbs a step slow, in reacting. Even if Walker isn't a genius, as a coach your job, is to put your players into their strengths, not your scheme. We will see if I'm wrong, or matching the scheme to players strengths, will unlock all that talent.
HarryHodag
May 07, 2024 at 11:55 am
I think Walker has played better than average. Forget the first round thing. That's "Kiperization", where the fans are supposed to believe every first rounder is an automatic All-Pro. A question to ask: where would the Packers have been the last couple of years without him? I think significantly worse. Because of the salary cap crunch brought on by the Rodgers and other signings the Packers were out of the market for veteran help.
Wyatt earned his way towards being another solid starter. With a defense geared more for aggression, look for Wyatt to break out. The two-gap thing is tough. The new system means beating the opponent in just one gap.
It's probably a safe bet to say the Packers will pick up the fifth-year option but if the new linebackers do well, maybe not an extension for Walker. Wyatt is likely to stick, especially if they let Kenny Clark walk.
NFLfan
May 04, 2024 at 01:26 pm
He has heart and physical talent-not every player convinces me of their effort and desire-he does.
I'll be behind his hopeful evolution.
Ferrari-Driver
May 04, 2024 at 01:38 pm
Rather than the Packers having "tough" decisions on those two players, the decision will be made by the players themselves. If they continue to play as they are currently graded (as average starters) and the Packers don't spend their draft capital next year to try to upgrade those spots, the players should receive "average" NFL contracts. If they ball out this year, chances are they will receive better contracts. The true tough decisions occur when two players are performing well and the roster construction can only provide a spot for one of them.
Turophile
May 04, 2024 at 04:48 pm
Well stated Ferrari-Driver
splitpea1
May 04, 2024 at 01:41 pm
I hope both these players take to the next level under the new system and actually prove themselves worthy of the option (remember they did the same with Savage and it was kind of questionable). Otherwise it just seems like we're going around in circles with our first round defensive selections, either not finding impactful players on a consistent enough basis or having to bring them along slowly because of their rawness.
jannesbjornson
May 05, 2024 at 12:55 pm
I would put money on Wyatt to perform as the three tech and may get Dbl. digit sack numbers. He was not on the field enough with Barry's passive alignments and stunted his production. It was bad enough in '22 with Lowry playing in front of him? Walker is an open question. He will have to show as a MLB.
SicSemperTyrannis
May 05, 2024 at 07:35 pm
#7 is not a Mike.
barutanseijin
May 04, 2024 at 02:13 pm
What’s so tough about this? These are just guys. If they continue to play as they have, the Packers need to churn these guys out. If they suddenly develop into impactful players the conversation might be interesting. At this point, it isn’t.
HarryHodag
May 07, 2024 at 11:57 am
...and replace them with.....two All-Pros sitting in the Lambeau Field parking lot?
LeotisHarris
May 04, 2024 at 02:33 pm
Enter your keywords: Tough decisions
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There's more, just tired of the copy and paste, but you're certainly welcome to review the CHTV tough decisions archive. As always, I'm appreciative of most of the content posted here. Maybe a self-scout would be beneficial for writers and staff? :::shrug:::
Vachio
May 05, 2024 at 07:28 am
Maybe...now stay with me here...just maybe this is due to the nature of the salary cap, which makes it so there are potentially tough decisions on players every single year. Often at multiple positions. And people who write about teams frequently write about decisions the team is facing, especially in the off season.
Point in case, if you enter "Draft" as a keyword, you'll get about 100 times as many search results.
LeotisHarris
May 05, 2024 at 08:43 am
You lost me with "point in case", but I'll play.
Maybe, stay with me here, just maybe writers could have access to, I don't know, some type of language resource that would allow them to communicate similar ideas on topics by using different words, so as not to become cliche or repetitive.
How many search results do you think "thesaurus" would get? I
Bitternotsour
May 05, 2024 at 12:23 pm
I told you early and often that the Mock Drafts would not be the end of mocking. Keep up the good work. And to think you do it while exhibiting such good character.
LambeauPlain
May 05, 2024 at 09:32 am
LOL!
Must have been a tough decision to click "Submit Comment". :-)
Pizzadoc
May 05, 2024 at 12:43 pm
Maybe you should ask for your money back.
GregC
May 04, 2024 at 03:06 pm
Of course it depends how they play, but my best guess is that both of them get the fifth-year option. The bigger question is whether they get second contracts. Hard to say. That's a lot of money for players who so far have been average to slightly above average. I think they have improved a little each year though, and they appear to be hard workers.
stockholder
May 04, 2024 at 03:39 pm
what so tough-
Trade them for draft picks.
We can't pay them.
YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT BY NOW!
Guam
May 04, 2024 at 05:42 pm
I am curious to see how all of the Packer defensive players fare under Hafley's scheme. Barry's defense was more passive than most and "passive" is not typically the adjective you would use to describe defensive personnel. I want to see all of them in an attacking style of defense and see what that does for their performance. I suspect many will benefit.
NickPerry
May 05, 2024 at 06:02 am
"I want to see all of them in an attacking style of defense and see what that does for their performance. I suspect many will benefit."
I want to see them ALL as well Guam. It's not just Wyatt and Walker, but EVERYBODY on the defensive side of the ball. I was listening to a podcast and the man on this particular podcast doesn't think much of Walker or Wyatt. I have a feeling BOTH will perform better than they have previously as will the ENTIRE defense.
Get ready Packers fans, I think we're about to see the best Packers defense since 2010.
Leatherhead
May 05, 2024 at 07:58 am
Guam, I'm curious to see how many points we give up. Nick Perry says he thinks it'll be the best defense we've had since 2010 (15.0 ppg) In today's 17 game season, that be 257 points, and the Ravens led the league last year with 280.
Only 3 teams gave up less than 300: The Ravens, Chiefs, and 49ers. If the Packers improve by 3 points per game,they'd be 4th with 299.
This much touted " Attacking defense" looks great when it works and kind of bad when you give up a big play. Do you remember Donatell's attacking defense of 2003? I'm hoping for the best, but there are a lot of smart offensive coordinators out there who'll be working on ways to burn the rookies.
The goal is to get more takeaways. I can support that, and it's an area we could improve in. We could get to that 300 mark this year.
LambeauPlain
May 05, 2024 at 09:37 am
If the Packers' D gives up a few more points per game but win more games, especially by holding leads late in games the Barry D often surrendered, I'm good!
Leatherhead
May 05, 2024 at 10:46 am
You have a different idea about leads than I do.
I think that if the offense scores, and the defense stops, you get a lead. If the offense doesn't score, or the defense doesn't stop, you don't get a lead. And to lose a lead, the offense has to not score AND the defense has to not stop.
I also think that if you check out Barry's record, we won most of the games that we had a lead going into the 4th quarter. The exceptions were notable, and rare.
I don't understand how giving up more points helps you win more games.
ImaPayne
May 04, 2024 at 11:37 pm
Of course neither picked the Packers. They also understand a so so year and they may be gone and none of us know if that might be something they want. We've had a ton o players leave for Mo money opting for deep pocketed teams. Some guys just play to get paid.
LambeauPlain
May 05, 2024 at 09:50 am
Who are the "ton o players leave for Mo money" vs what the Packer offered?
Jones comes to mind. And maybe his draft classmate Williams. Who are the other 1,998 to round out that ton?
Certainly not Adams, nor Rodgers. JRJ didn't. Nor Savage that I know of...did he even get a Packer offer? Not Cobb or Tonyan. Lazard? No.
ricky
May 05, 2024 at 07:08 am
As always, different players develop at different rates. Rashan Gary was being labeled a bust early in his career. Not lately. The Packers didn't hurry him along or force him into games. They were patient, and it paid off. It seems they're doing the same thing with Wyatt, while Walker has been thrust into a starting role very early, and is learning the game on the field/on the fly. Which approach is better? A lot depends on the player, but Walker seems to be able to learn from his mistakes. So he is "average" in all categories, but not yet a game changer? This is going to be his third season. And this should be the year he starts making a difference, and showing he can raise his game to the next level. Wyatt (along with the rest of the defense) needs to show they can stop the run. Maybe a new DC/scheme will be the catalyst for change.
BaldingersBentDigit
May 05, 2024 at 08:28 am
Hopefully the new DC will bring new scheme that will utilize the talents of the starters. I am so tired of seeing a soft defense, particularly from the linebackers. I am tired of seeing linebackers lead the team in tackles like AJ Hawk or Blake Martinez meet the ball carrier at three for four yards, hop on their back and ride them down in three or four yards for a 7 or 8 yard gain. Could someone meet the ball carrier in the hole with great force for no gain?
LambeauPlain
May 05, 2024 at 09:42 am
I think both former first rounders have real potential to get their 5th year picked up, especially Walker.
Hafley was asked where he would deploy Walker in his 4-3/4-2 and he said "wherever he can make the most plays." The DC clearly sees what he has in Quay as a moveable chess piece for any given opponent.
Wyatt has the build and talent for the 4 man DL at T. Again, Hafley foreshadowed the opportunity for Wyatt with his laser focus for pressuring the QB...Wyatts forte.
WestCoastPackerBacker
May 05, 2024 at 11:40 am
H
WestCoastPackerBacker
May 05, 2024 at 11:41 am
How do these rookie contracts work? Don’t they have two more years before they need to decide on the fifth year option on these guys? They have only played for two years in this league. At this time next year it will be looking toward their fourth season in the league not fifth.
GregC
May 05, 2024 at 05:05 pm
It's confusing, but I looked it up and found this: "Teams must exercise the fifth-year option on the player following their third NFL season, so for the 2023 offseason it is players drafted from the 2020 NFL draft. The window for picking up the option is from the end of the regular season to an appointed time in the beginning of May just after the NFL draft."
That was written two years ago, so after this season, when it is 2025, the Packers have to make the decision about their 2022 first round draftees: Walker and Wyatt. I have no idea why they do it that way.