Green Bay Packers NFL Draft Grades 2022: Quay Walker a surprise first-round pick

The 2022 NFL Draft has officially kicked off, and the Green Bay Packers have made their first selection. As the seven rounds progress and the team makes all of their picks, we will provide a live draft grade and analysis for each of the Packers’ selections. How do these new prospects fit with the roster, what kind of impact will they have on the team, and what do the team’s needs look like now that the draft is complete?

Make sure to continue to check back as the 2022 NFL Draft continues for live Green Bay Packers draft grades and analysis.

Green Bay Packers grades for 2022 NFL Draft

What are the Packers’ grades for their selections in the 2022 NFL Draft as they look to address their main needs this offseason?

Round 1, Pick 22: Quay Walker, LB, Georgia

It was a long shot ahead of the draft, but the Green Bay Packers made it a reality by selecting Quay Walker as the top linebacker off the board. Walker is a dynamic athlete, tipping the scales at nearly 6’4” and 241 pounds and hitting just above 4.5 in the 40-yard dash. His style of play is that of a versatile athlete, as he can drop in space and stuff run fits all the same.

His sideline-to-sideline ability isn’t quite the top of the class, but Walker does present an explosive pass rusher when given the opportunity. Walker is a sound tackler, but his lack of elite skills at the most important aspects of the position make this a bit of a reach.

Grade: C

Round 1, Pick 28: Devonte Wyatt, DT, Georgia

The Packers went back to the Georgia defense with their second first-round pick, grabbing Devonte Wyatt. The defensive tackle has an incredible get-off at the line of scrimmage and wins quickly. He disrupts rushing lanes with ease and can get after the passer.

His hand usage is terrific, but Wyatt is considered an older prospect at 24 years old. Hailing from the Georgia defense, he’s NFL-ready right now – and he better be. He’ll have to compete for snaps with Kenny Clark or kick outside and play more 3- and 5-tech for significant snaps during his rookie season.

Grade: C+

Round 2, Pick 34: Christian Watson, WR, North Dakota State

The Green Bay Packers sent two second-round selections to move up to pick No. 34 with their division rival, the Minnesota Vikings. Sending pick Nos. 53 and 59, the Packers selected Christian Watson from North Dakota State. After blowing away the pre-draft circuit, all eyes went back to his game film from his time with the Bison. Watson ran an astounding 4.36-second 40-yard dash while hitting 38.5” on the vertical. He did this all while measuring in at 6’4” and 208 pounds.

Watson’s tape indicates how he uses that athleticism, flexing a great speed all along his route breaks. He is a vertical threat while also maintaining enough slickness through his routes to win at every level. Making his case stronger to be one of the top receivers selected, Watson also possesses strong hands at the catch point.

Grade: B

Round 3, Pick 92: Sean Rhyan, OL, UCLA

The Packers still haven’t selected an edge rusher in the 2022 NFL Draft. But if there’s one thing we know about the Packers at this point, it’s that they follow their board, wherever it leads. The board led them to a nice value addition here at 92nd overall, with the Packers picking UCLA OL Sean Rhyan.

It’s a little unclear where Rhyan fits for the Packers, but he does have great projected versatility with his skill set. He played tackle at UCLA and was very good there with his athleticism, core strength, and mauler mentality. With below-average length, he may translate better inside. Jon Runyan and Royce Newman are both ascending young starters, so Rhyan may not challenge for a starting job early on. His intended role with this pick is unclear, but he’s great depth at the very least.

Grade: B-

Round 4, Pick 132: Romeo Doubs, WR, Nevada

As expected, the Green Bay Packers double-dip at the wide receiver position. With Romeo Doubs measuring in at 6’2”, they now have two decently sized pass catchers who have the ability to impact the game downfield. They also have two wide receivers who can play the game with twitchy athleticism.

With the ball in his hands, Doubs is an elusive threat, and he can contest at the catch point. Needs to be more consistent with his hands, with several suspect drops on his tape. On the flip side, however, he sometimes made Carson Strong look like a better quarterback with his ability to contort his body and snag the ball out of the sky.

Grade: B+

Round 4, Pick 140: Zach Tom, OT, Wake Forest

While he has a slender frame, Zach Tom has NFL size and length. He’s rocketed up NFL Draft boards after an impressive pre-draft process, including at the NFL Combine where he posted a 9.59 Relative Athletic Score. He has center and offensive tackle experience, making him a versatile offensive line component for the Green Bay Packers. One of the most impressive elements of Tom’s game, aside from his athletic profile highlighted by light feet and lateral quickness, is his ability to use independent hands. Tom is also an intelligent offensive line prospect, making protection-call duties during his time at Wake Forest.

Grade: A

Round 5, Pick 179: Kingsley Enagbare, EDGE, South Carolina

We knew that a big EDGE was near the top of the list for the Packers in terms of needs. But rather than rushing the subject, they played the value of the board, addressed other positions, and came back to EDGE at the end of Round 5 with Kingsley Enagbare.

Enagbare is a great fit for what the Packers look for in their edge rushers. His 4.98 40-yard dash might have hurt him, but Enagbare is a powerful defender with elite length and strong hands. He also has impressive ankle flexion for his 6’4”, 271-pound frame. He can dip a little bit and shrink his surface area. He’s not overly fast or explosive, but he still has a lot in his toolbox. The Packers get an arguable top-100 talent here.

Grade: A+

Round 7, Pick 228: Tariq Carpenter, LB, Georgia Tech

They started the 2022 NFL Draft with a linebacker selection and the Green Bay Packers add some further depth late on Day 3. Tariq Carpenter is a versatile prospect who’s seen time at both safety and linebacker.

His calling card is bone-shaking physicality against the run while playing with a red-hot motor that never stops. He lacks the necessary athleticism to be impactful in coverage despite having a background as a wide receiver and kick returner. Special-teams performance could be the key to him securing a roster spot with the Packers. It’s decent value given his draft position.

Grade: C+

Round 7, Pick 234: Jonathan Ford, DT, Miami

The seventh round is doubling-up territory for the Green Bay Packers. At 6’5” and 333 pounds, Jonathan Ford is a big man in the trenches who has played almost exclusively nose tackle for the Hurricanes. He’s powerful at the point of attack with the ability to push the pocket and penetrate. However, he’s been largely ineffective as a pass rusher during his college career and needs some development in terms of pass-rush plan and technical refinement.

Grade: C-

Round 7, Pick 249: Rasheed Walker, OT, Penn State

This is an excellent pick for the Packers, taking a high-value talent at a premier position. Rasheed Walker isn’t perfect. He can be a little stiff recovering laterally, and he’ll lurch and lunge at times when he punches before setting his base. But Walker has great size at almost 6’6”, 324 pounds. He’s fairly quick coming off the line, and he has the hip flexibility to turn and carry edge rushers outside the pocket. He provides a great mix of depth and upside for Green Bay.

Grade: A

Round 7, Pick 258: Samori Toure, WR, Nebraska

Having dominated the FCS level for Montana State, Samori Toure made the transition to the FBS level seem effortless. Although the Nebraska offense left a lot to be desired, Toure was the go-to guy, averaging an impressive 19.5 yards per catch. He’s a reliable ball catcher who can corral passes securely over the middle. A smooth and underrated athlete, Toure also showcases the football intelligence to find soft spots in zone coverage. The Packers get some genuine late-round gold.

Grade: A

What were the Packers’ biggest needs entering the draft?

• WR, OT, S, EDGE, LB

After Aaron Rodgers and the Packers committed to each other long-term, the attention now turns to the rest of the offense. Wide receiver was already a need this offseason, and then Green Bay traded away Davante Adams, further exacerbating that need. The nagging concerns over the return of David Bakhtiari, plus uncertainty at right tackle, means the Packers also need a more solid plan at offensive tackle if they want to challenge this year.

There are also needs at all three levels of the defense. The Packers’ pass rush is best when it features a three-pronged attack. However, the release of Za’Darius Smith has left a major hole at the position. They also need to make additions at both safety and linebacker heading into 2022.