Packers draft Quay Walker with 22nd overall pick

The Green Bay Packers selected Georgia linebacker Quay Walker in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft, No. 22 overall.

The Packers passed on wide receivers with their first pick of this year's draft after watching top prospects Drake London, Garrett Wilson, Jameson Williams, Treylon Burks, and Chris Olave come off the board earlier. Green Bay entered the draft with a major need out wide following the offseason departures of Davante Adams and Marquez Valdes-Scantling.

Walker posted 63 tackles at Georgia last campaign while helping the Bulldogs win the national championship. His combination of size, athleticism, and on-field instincts helped his stock rise leading up to the draft.

Green Bay fielded the ninth-ranked defense in 2021. Walker will join a Packers defense featuring inside linebackers De'Vondre Campbell and Krys Barnes.

Scouting profile: Quay Walker

While Nakobe Dean received all the attention for leading Georgia's linebacker crew, Walker flew under the radar. Until now. Walker is the image of a perfect NFL linebacker. At 6-4 and 241 pounds, he's the ideal thumper size, but he has enough athleticism to not be boxed into that role. With ample burst and adequate processing, he explodes into the backfield and sets the tone with his physicality. It'd be a step too far to call him a sideline-to-sideline linebacker right now, but he's punching well above his weight in terms of speed. He'll have to face the music on questions surrounding just how ready he is for the next level. After all, 2021 was his first extended look as a starter, and he was surrounded by numerous top prospects. However, it wouldn't be surprising to see Walker ace those challenges in the big leagues.