Green Bay Packers select Georgia linebacker Quay Walker in 2022 NFL Draft
The Green Bay Packers are banking on Georgia product Quay Walker to come in and transform their linebacking corps. He did it throughout his time in Athens, and the former Bulldogs linebacker will be expected to do the same in his NFL career.
That’s why the Packers took him off the board early in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft on Thursday night, picking him No. 22 overall.
During his time with the Bulldogs, Walker elevated his game consistently, leading an exceptional Georgia defense as part of a tremendous linebacking tandem with teammate Nakobe Dean. Last season, Walker realized his dream of bringing a championship to Georgia, helping to end a drought that spanned over 40 years when the Bulldogs defeated Alabama in the 2022 College Football Playoff National Championship Game. Additionally, the former Georgia star was huge in the aforementioned title game, keeping the Crimson Tide down with eight tackles on the night.
Most importantly to the Packers, Walker has the potential to evolve into one of the top linebackers in the entire NFL. He steadily improved throughout his time at Georgia, accumulating 125 total tackles and 5.0 sacks for a loaded Bulldogs squad over four seasons.
A former five-star recruit in the class of 2018, Walker was the No. 3 linebacker in the nation per the On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average. Walker played his high school football at Crisp County in Cordele, Georgia. Continuing, Walker joined the Bulldogs as one of the top recruits in the entire nation, ranking No. 25 overall in On3’s 2018 Consensus Top Football Recruits rankings. Even with immense competition at the linebacker position at Georgia, Walker made an undeniable impact.
What NFL draft analysts are saying about Quay Walker
Furthermore, Lance Zierlein of NFL.com broke down what Quay Walker can bring to the NFL in his recent scout of the linebackers’s draft profile. The analyst believes some of the Georgia product’s strengths include his instincts and confidence, while his weaknesses include some tightness in his hips and his playing strength not always matching Walker’s size.
“Walker had to wait his turn at Georgia, but he has become a well-schooled, instinctive linebacker ready for the NFL game,” started Zierlein. “He has good size and clear eyes from the second level, with a talent for recognizing play design. He plays disciplined, team-oriented football but is unlikely to become a top-level playmaker as a pro. His chase speed and body control are just average when ranging to tackle or covering in space.
“Walker is dependable and consistent and projects as a good backup with eventual starter potential at inside linebacker.”