Complete guide to Packers' drafted rookies ahead of training camp

First-round draft picks

The Green Bay Packers selected two players in the first round, both defensive players from Georgia. It marked the ninth time in the past 10 seasons in which the Packers drafted a defensive player with their first overall pick. The lone time they did not, of course, was 2020 when they selected Jordan Love.

Quay Walker, linebacker

The inside linebacker was widely considered to be one of the best linebackers in the draft. This is evident by the fact that he has the fourth-best odds to win the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award (+800). Walker is believed to be the projected second starting inside linebacker next to De’Vondre Campbell.

College stats

• 2018: 3 games; 6 total tackles
• 2019: 11 games; 23 total tackles; 3.5 tackles for loss; 2.5 sacks
• 2020: 10 games; 43 total tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss; 1.0 sacks
• 2021: 13 games; 65 total tackles; 5.5 tackles for loss; 1.5 sacks; 3 passes defended; 1 fumble recovered

Devonte Wyatt, interior defensive lineman

An interior defensive lineman with the potential to start on most teams, Devonte Wyatt may start out coming off the bench in relief of Kenny Clark and Jarran Reed.

College stats

• 2018: 8 games; 19 total tackles; 1.5 tackles for loss; 1.5 sacks; 1 pass deflected
• 2019: 12 games; 30 total tackles; 1.5 tackles for loss; 1.0 sacks; 1 fumble recovered
• 2020: 9 games; 25 total tackles; 2.0 tackles for loss; 1 pass deflected
• 2021: 13 games; 39 tackles; 7.0 tackles for loss; 2.5 sacks; 1 pass deflected; 1 fumble recovery; 2 forced fumbles

Second-round pick: Christian Watson, wide receiver

Christian Watson is the highest-picked wide receiver the Packers have had since Javon Walker was drafted in the first round of the 2002 NFL Draft. Finally under contract, Watson will join the rest of the Packers’ wide receiver core as it tries to make up for the loss of Davante Adams in free agency.

Watson is fast and is a real downfield threat. His ceiling in the NFL is quite high, but he will need to overcome some drop issues that were on display during OTAs. There is a chance that Watson could start immediately for the Packers, but he will have to show better promise than his fellow rookies and veterans Allen Lazard and Sammy Watkins, not to mention Randall Cobb and Amari Rodgers.

An interesting idea may be the use of Watson as a kick returner. This was a position of glaring weakness on the Packers special teams last season. Watson could provide some stability and production there.

College receiving stats

• 2018: 14 games; 9 receptions; 165 yards; 0 touchdowns
• 2019: 16 games; 34 receptions; 732 yards; 6 touchdowns
• 2020: 10 games; 19 receptions; 442 yards; 1 touchdown
• 2021: 12 games; 43 receptions; 800 yards; 7 touchdowns

College return stats

• 2018: 2 kick returns; 51 yards; 25.5 yards per return; 0 touchdowns
• 2019: 4 kick returns; 70 yards; 17.5 yards per return; 0 touchdowns
• 2020: 10 kick returns; 338 yards; 33.8 yards per return; 2 touchdowns
• 2021: 11 kick returns; 227 yards; 20.6 yards per return; 0 touchdowns

Third-round pick: Sean Rhyan, OL

Sean Rhyan is the type of offensive lineman offensive coordinator Adam Stenovich loves. He can play multiple positions and is very athletic for his size (6-foot-4, 321 pounds). Rhyan received high praise in college for his ability to move well at the line and block well along the edge. Ian Cummings of Pro Football Network wrote of Rhyan:

“Rhyan’s combination of athleticism and raw power can be the subject of awe. Shockingly enough, his operational traits are sometimes just as impressive. Rhyan keeps his feet fast and active when anticipating attacks on the edge. He also keeps his elbows in when awaiting rushers, effectively maximizing his potential energy.”

As seen in the video above, Rhyan can be a virtual wall, impossible to move. However, his arm length (32 inches) can be a weakness that defenders in the NFL can exploit. He struggled against longer defenders who could break his anchors early in the play. For this reason, some scouts see him moving to guard in the NFL. Depending on the health of players on the Packers offensive line, Rhyan could end up starting at right tackle or guard. However, if/once everyone is healthy, he may be a reserve.

The fourth-round picks

After using their two picks in the first round on defensive players, the Packers focused on offense in the second and third rounds. That trend continued in the fourth round with the selection of another wide receiver and offensive lineman.

Romeo Doubs, wide receiver

While Watson has the higher ceiling, there are plenty of analysts who believe that fourth-round wide receiver Romeo Doubs will have a more immediate impact. After all, Doubs played in a more pass-heavy offense than Watson and put up better numbers. Early in OTAs, it was Doubs who garnered much praise, while Watson struggled with drops.

College stats

• 2018: 13 games; 43 receptions; 562 yards; 2 touchdowns
• 2019: 10 games; 44 receptions; 649 yards; 4 touchdowns
• 2020: 9 games; 52 receptions; 1,002 yards, 9 touchdowns
• 2021: 11 games; 80 receptions; 1,109 yards, 11 touchdowns

Zach Tom, OL

The Green Bay Packers love offensive linemen who are agile on their feet and can play multiple positions. That is what they got in Zach Tom who played more than 1,200 offensive snaps at Wake Forest. Tom was scouted well for his ability to time the snap and for maintaining his blocks within zone schemes.

As with all players, Tom does have weaknesses. In his case, it is his lean and slender build. Tom tends to be pushed off of his anchor and into the backfield. Because of this, he is projected to be a swing backup with the potential to be a starter at some point.

Fifth-round pick: Kingsley Enagbare, edge

There were some surprising prospects who fell from the early round to the mid-to-late rounds. Kingsley Enagbare was one of them. The South Carolina product went into his senior season as a projected first-round pick. However, according to Patrick Moore in a media session after the draft, a leg injury plus weight fluctuation led to his falling down many draft boards.

That being said, Enagbare could very well end up being an absolute steal. While he will not start due to the presence of Rashan Gary and Preston Smith on the edges, he can become one of the best reserve edge-rushers in the NFL. Clearly, he has the talent as evident by his early projection as a first-round pick. If the Packers can help him with his weight, and Moore believes they can, the Packers could have a dangerous three-headed monster on at the edge position.

College stats

• 2018: 9 games; 20 total tackles; 3.0 tackles for loss; 1.0 sacks; 2 pass deflections
• 2019: 10 games; 27 total tackles; 7.0 tackles for loss; 3.5 sacks
• 2020: 8 games; 30 total tackles; 7.0 tackles for loss; 6.0 sacks; 2 forced fumbles
• 2021: 12 games; 44 total tackles; 7.0 tackles for loss; 4.5 sacks; 2 pass deflections; 1 forced fumble; 1 fumble recovered

The seventh-round picks

The Green Bay Packers drafted out of the sixth round to increase the number of overall picks they ended up with. As a result, Green Bay picked four times in the seventh round. The players drafted in this round are projected to compete for special teams roles on the 53-man roster.

Tariq Carpenter, safety/linebacker

When the Green Bay Packers drafted Tariq Carpenter, it was as a safety. However, back in May, Matt LaFleur announced that he would be moving to linebacker in a streamed interview on Twitter.

In fact, ESPN currently has Carpenter listed as the third left inside linebacker behind De’Vondre Campbell and Ty Summers. Now, as mentioned, Carpenter was drafted for his special teams potential. He does, indeed, have an excellent shot at making the roster in this role. However, Summers is one player some analysts believe will be cut during training camp. If that happens, and Carpenter performs well enough, he could see some defensive snaps at linebacker.

College stats

• 2017: 2 games; 2 total tackles
• 2018: 13 games; 55 total tackles; 1.5 tackles for loss; 2 interceptions; 5 passes defended; 1 forced fumble
• 2019: 11 games; 62 total tackles; 2.0 tackles for loss; 1 interception; 5 passes defended; 1 forced fumble
• 2020: 9 games; 39 total tackles; 2.5 tackles for loss; 1 interception; 5 passes defended
• 2021: 11 games; 65 total tackles; 1.0 tackles for loss; 2 passes defended; 1 forced fumble

Jonathan Ford, interior defensive lineman

There was a time when the defensive line was labeled as a weakness of the Green Bay Packers. That is no longer true. Kenny Clark is a two-time Pro Bowler, and Jarran Reed signed with the team via free agency. Additionally, Devonte Wyatt will provide incredible production in the defensive snaps he is given. The Packers also have TJ Slaton and Dean Lowry, though Lowry is starting camp on the PUP list. Jack Heflin, too, is competing for a roster spot and performed well toward the end of last season. In short, Ford has an uphill battle to make the 53-man roster.

That isn’t to say he can’t make the roster. Ford earned praise from Sports Illustrated for how well he times snaps and for his sheer strength. On the other hand, though, he is not very quick and oftentimes plays too high. With Lowry on the PUP list, he does have a shot at the 53-man roster, but he will have to show some improvement in order to do so.

College stats

• 2017: 1 game; 1 total tackle
• 2018: 5 games; 8 total tackles
• 2019: 9 games; 18 total tackles; 3.5 tackles for loss; 3.0 sacks; 1 pass defended; 1 forced fumble
• 2020: 8 games; 19 total tackles; 1.5 tackles for loss
• 2021: 8 games; 14 total tackles; 1.0 tackles for loss

Rasheed Walker, OL

Speaking of an uphill battle to make the roster, let us talk about Rasheed Walker. David Bakhtiari is not currently one of nine Packers players on the PUP list, meaning his return is more likely than not. Elgton Jenkins (ACL) should be the only Green Bay lineman unable to start the season. That means that Walker will have to compete with the likes of Yosh Nijman, Jake Hanson, Cole Van Lanen and Royce Newman for playing time. Additionally, he will be competing with his fellow rookies Rhyan and Tom.

Walter Football scouted Walker as a good run-blocker who moves well in space and finishes blocks. However, he struggles in pass protection and lacks several fundamental skills that he needs to be successful in the NFL.

Samori Toure, wide receiver

Had Toure spent the majority of his college career anywhere but Montana, he likely would have been drafted within the first three rounds. The term “steal of the draft” has been thrown around already about other draft picks, but it may be most true about Toure. He can line up wide or in the slot and make some very difficult catches. Toure may make the roster as a special teams player, but he may surprise and become a weapon on offense.

Of course, he would not be the first seventh-round pick to become a good receiver for the Packers. Donald Driver, the franchise’s all-time leading receiving yards leader, was drafted in the seventh round in 1999.

College stats at Montana

• 2017: 11 games; 31 receptions; 553 yards; 5 touchdowns
• 2018: 11 games; 37 receptions; 440 yards; 2 touchdowns
• 2019: 14 games; 87 receptions; 1,495 yards; 13 touchdowns

College stats at Nebraska

• 2021: 12 games; 46 receptions; 898 yards; 5 touchdowns