Devonte Wyatt reveals how he put Packers at ease over off-the-field issue
The Green Bay Packers selected former Georgia Bulldogs defensive lineman Devonte Wyatt with the No. 28 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. Wyatt had some concerns entering the draft, some of which were off-the-field issues. But the Packers still decided to take Wyatt, and he believes that he was worthy of that selection.
After being taken by the Packers, Wyatt was asked about his off-the-field issues entering the draft. He explained that his coaches at Georgia backed him and his character up, and that was enough to convince the Packers to take him.
“I mean I feel like me personally, it just really came from like my coaches at UGA and the person I am,” Wyatt said. “I’m an outgoing person. Everybody loves me. When I come in the room, you see me smiling. I light up the room, it’s just all about me, man. I just be myself and I just keep moving. You know I keep God by my side all the time and just stay prayed up basically.”
In 2018 at Georgia, Wyatt totaled 19 tackles with 1.5 sacks and 1.5 tackles for loss. He then had 30 tackles with one sack and 1.5 tackles for loss in 2019. Wyatt totaled 25 tackles with two tackles for loss in 2020, and then went on to have a career best season last year on Georgia’s dominant, national championship winning defense.
In his final year with the Bulldogs, Wyatt had 39 tackles, seven tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and one pass defended.
Playing on a talented Packers defense will be nothing new for Wyatt
Georgia got a lot of attention for its success in the 2022 NFL Draft, specifically on the defensive side of the ball. Wyatt was one of five former Bulldogs stars to be taken in the first round, setting a new NFL Draft record. Travon Walker (No. 1), Jordan Davis (No. 13), Quay Walker (No. 22, also to the Packers), and Lewis Cine (No. 32) also went in round one.
Wyatt opened up following his selection about what it meant to play on such a talented defensive unit. And he thinks that will be exactly the case with the Packers next season, as well.
“I mean to be honest, it was fun to me just to watch all your guys make plays,” Wyatt said. “Playing with that many people with Jordan, Travon, Quay, Lewis, Nakobe, it’s just amazing because you’ve never seen that much talent on one team, or definitely on a defense.”