LOOK: Packers, Tariq Carpenter combine for amazing meme
For most collegiate football players, it is a dream come true to hear your name called in any of the NFL Draft’s seven rounds. What’s even sweeter is when your favorite franchise growing up takes a chance on you and gives you a shot to make the roster — that was precisely the case for Tariq Carpenter, the Green Bay Packers’ seventh-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Carpenter — a six-foot-three, 230-pounds safety who played for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets — revealed a photo on his personal Twitter account, proving that he has been a lifelong fan of the Packers, as a young Carpenter is seen rocking a Green Bay Super Bowl champions t-shirt as a child.
“So grateful to be a Packer!!!! Being a Packer has always been a dream of mine. It’s time to get to work!” he wrote on the initial post.
The Packers selected the former Yellow Jacket safety with the 228th overall selection (via CHI through HOU) in last month’s draft after putting together a solid 2021 campaign with Georgia Tech, finishing fifth on the team with 65 tackles. He ended his college career with a total of 223 tackles to go along with four interceptions and 17 passes deflected.
Overall, Carpenter was one of 11 selections the Green Bay Packers made over the three-day event, and was the first of four selections the organization made in the seventh round alone. Miami defensive tackle Jonathan Ford (No. 234), Penn State offensive tackle Rasheed Walker (249) and Nebraska wide receiver Samori Toure (258) rounded out Green Bay’s draft ventures this offseason.
Many were surprised the Packers didn’t elect to draft a wide receiver in the first round, despite losing Pro-Bowl wideout Davante Adams to the Las Vegas Raiders. Instead, they chose two defensive stars from Georgia in linebacker Quay Walker and defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt. It wasn’t until day two when Green Bay selected North Dakota State wide receiver Christian Watson No. 34 overall to begin the second round.
NFL.com’s Chad Reuter was high on the Packers haul from draft weekend, and it reflected in his final draft grades for Green Bay. Reuter gave the Packers an overall NFL Draft grade of an A. Specifically, he gave the Packers an A for Day 1, an A- for Day 2, and an A for Day 3.
The Packers used their 11 selections to add depth throughout the roster, and there are quite a few potential difference makers in their draft class, and Carpenter will look to be one of them during his rookie campaign.