Green Bay Packers select Rasheed Walker from Penn State in 2022 NFL Draft
The Green Bay Packers have selected offensive tackle Rasheed Walker out of Penn State with the 249th overall selection in the seventh and final round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Walker took over at left tackle for Penn State and in the 2020-21 seasons he received All-Big Ten Conference honors.
Coming into the weekend, the Packers had a gaping hole to fill at the wide receiver position, after Davante Adams was traded to the Las Vegas Raiders. Green Bay received their first-round pick (22nd overall selection) and a second-round pick (53rd overall selection) in exchange for the two-time first-team All-Pro receiver. While Adams was far and away the premiere talent they lost at receiver, the franchise also lost Marquez Valdes-Scantling (Kansas City Chiefs) and Equanimeous St. Brown (Chicago Bears) to free agency. The Packers also recently signed former Baltimore wideout Sammy Watkins.
In last year’s draft, the Packers selected Clemson’s Amari Rodgers in the third round, but he wasn’t utilized very much in the 2021-2022 season. He had eight targets last season, catching four passes for 44 receiving yards and no touchdowns. Green Bay’s leading receiver they return on their roster is Allen Lazard. He had a career year last year, hauling in 40 catches for 513 receiving yards and eight touchdowns. Another pass catcher that returns is Randall Cobb, but he just wrapped up his 11th NFL season. Tight end Robert Tonyan also returns. He tore his ACL against the Arizona Cardinals on Oct. 28, but is expected back and healthy in time for the start of the 2022-2023 NFL season.
The Packers needed to draft multiple receivers in this year’s draft to give Aaron Rodgers weaponry on the offensive side of the ball. It’s going to be hard to replace Davante Adams, who will be a Hall-of-Famer once he hangs up his cleats. Rodgers and Adams’ chemistry was among the best in the league. That blend of elite talent and chemistry are hard to come by.
The offensive line was another position of need for the Packers during this year’s draft. They lost Lucas Patrick to the Chicago Bears (967 snaps) and Billy Turner to the Denver Broncos (866 snaps) in free agency. Green Bay also needed to add a pass rusher to replace the elite production of Za’Darius Smith, who departed via free agency to the Minnesota Vikings. The two-time Pro Bowler racked up 26 total sacks, 29 tackles for loss, and 60 quarterback hits for the Packers in 32 games between 2019 and 2021.
With their other two picks in the seventh round — the Packers selected Tariq Carpenter and Jonathan Ford. The No. 258 overall selection will wrap up the 2022 NFL Draft for the Packers and now they’ll look to sign all of their draft picks and get ready for upcoming OTAs. The dates for their first week of OTAs are: May 23, 24, and 26. The dates for their second week of OTAs are: May 31, June 1, and June 3. The Packers will hold their veteran minicamp from June 7 through June 9.