From Lambeau to Lombardi, Holmgren, McCarthy and LaFleur and from Starr to Favre, Rodgers and now Jordan Love we’re talking Super Bowl Champion Green Bay Packers football. This Packers Forum is the place to talk NFL football and everything Packers. So, pull up a keyboard, make yourself at home and let’s talk some Packers football.
Went for athlete over football player. Very anti-TT.
TT was a fan of elite athletes too.
Gute, TT and Ron Wolf are all from the Al Davis tree. He loved height weight speed guys and that's something Gute clearly values as much as any GM in the league.
We probably don't like the comparison with Davis because of his senile years picking Heyward-Bey etc, but he was a pretty good talent evaluator in his prime.
The years where I thought we had the legit shot to go all the way in January was 2010, 2011, 2014, 2020 and 2021.
I thought the best teams of those groups were 2014 and 2021 due to their defense being so good.
We are a better defense than the 2020 Bucs.
Whats the old way? We have never drafted a first WR over that period. We have drafted all defence except Sherrod and Love since 2011.
But we all know it’s disingenuous to say first WR when we’ve done so many 2nd rounders and so many turned out so good. And we extended every single one of them. We’ve probably had the best WR room on consistent basis since 2009 in the entire league. Find one better.
Now it has been very much neglected as of late; not gunna argue that. But that first round WR line is nothing but a fun talking point, because we have clearly not lacked WR talent till just recently.
My point was more about what is the old way ... we have always invested most in defence. We have not used large capital on off or brought in free agents. Just resigned our own.
Also when wrs have left us they have never been as good away from Rodgers.
I'm not as big on the workout stats as many are. I'm a firm believer in what I see and what I saw in watching Walker play was a LB who was big and fast. He was as important for that impressive Georgia defense as anyone was. I was especially impressed by his ability to cover TEs and RBs. I really like this pick!
This pick was a reach. Reminds me a little of the Deguara pick.
I watched highlights of Walker then I watched film of Jermaine Johnson and there is no comparison.
Like one of the analysts stated, Walker looks clunky and slow on the field. He doesn’t play fast.
There was such a stark contrast when I watched Johnson.
Yes, I know they play different positions and that Walker needs to read the play while Johnson can pin his ears back and go. But even after the play developed there is no comparison. Johnson is a much better player.
Even when Walker blitzes he doesn’t show any quickness. At least not at the level of a 1st rd pick.
I could care less about combine stats if it doesn’t translate to the field. I like Gutey. Just not sure what he was thinking with this pick.
As someone who has begged to take the ILB position seriously for years...I should be thrilled with this pick.
And I am not upset with it. I just have no problem with Barnes as an ILB2 and thought once we brought Campbell back that we would be free to consider the ILB position "handled" and use those resources somewhere else (moving up for a WR )
That said, No doubt in my mind Quay and Campbell will be a FUN combo to watch!
As someone who has begged to take the ILB position seriously for years...I should be thrilled with this pick.
And I am not upset with it. I just have no problem with Barnes as an ILB2 and thought once we brought Campbell back that we would be free to consider the ILB position "handled" and use those resources somewhere else (moving up for a WR )
That said, No doubt in my mind Quay and Campbell will be a FUN combo to watch!
I disagree. ILB2, DT, and WR were the only positions I felt a rookie would likely start, with OL and EDGE3 coming in right behind. Then came depth concerns for WR, secondary, and maybe OL again. Plus, of course, developing a TE since rookies never do anything there.
But point is, Barnes and DL3 needed an upgrade to complete our D. So our 1sts hit immediate needs as much as a WR would have, and were 2 for 2 in immediate needs.
THAT SAID, I don't think Walker is an "immediate starter" rookie. I think he's an immediate role player with the ceiling to beat Barnes at some point in the next 18 months. That's why I liked him, but valued him at our picks in the 50s, not our picks in the 20s.
As someone who has begged to take the ILB position seriously for years...I should be thrilled with this pick.
And I am not upset with it. I just have no problem with Barnes as an ILB2 and thought once we brought Campbell back that we would be free to consider the ILB position "handled" and use those resources somewhere else (moving up for a WR )
That said, No doubt in my mind Quay and Campbell will be a FUN combo to watch!
I disagree. ILB2, DT, and WR were the only positions I felt a rookie would likely start, with OL and EDGE3 coming in right behind. Then came depth concerns for WR, secondary, and maybe OL again. Plus, of course, developing a TE since rookies never do anything there.
But point is, Barnes and DL3 needed an upgrade to complete our D. So our 1sts hit immediate needs as much as a WR would have, and were 2 for 2 in immediate needs.
THAT SAID, I don't think Walker is an "immediate starter" rookie. I think he's an immediate role player with the ceiling to beat Barnes at some point in the next 18 months. That's why I liked him, but valued him at our picks in the 50s, not our picks in the 20s.
100%
To be honest, Walker's tape is pretty uninspiring. Feels like more of a "RAS ball of clay" -pick than "based on college play quality" -pick. Walker has the size and length to take on OL, so he could do fine as a dirty work ILB early on, freeing Campbell to make the plays. Also he's in a good spot, since Barnes can more than hold the fort while he develops.
Walker sounds humble and willing to put in the work on STs, and with his athleticism could make a difference there early. Could easily see him blowing up some returners or return blockers. While it's not sexy or bestest value to have your 1st pick play STs, last year's STs were simply unacceptable. If it takes this to fix it, I can live with it.
Ceiling? Very high. Just has to learn from Campbell and could become a real stud. And his humility and work ethic seem conductive towards that. I like good eggs. Floor? If he doesn't develop better instincts, just a career ILB2.
And yes, this was a need pick. We had zero quality depth behind Campbell and Barnes, and the latter should be replaced by better talent ASAP. We woulda had to spend two 1sts to get into convo about top WRs. Spending two 2nds was dear enough for me.
I loved Walker. I think he's a great athlete who could be a better pro than college player, and have heard numerous trusted evaluators say that in the NFL he would outplay Dean, as his draft value now reflects.
But he's just not a sure enough thing for me to love in the first round, let alone at 22. He had a very slow college development; I think it took time for him to get a feel for the playbook and develop his instincts, and even with that slow development, he still had good-enough instincts, not plus-instincts. I'm worried he will repeat his slow learning curve in the NFL and will struggle to displace Barnes early (though I think he is more likely to replace Henry Black snaps than Barnes snaps right away).
An immediate upgrade to Barnes would lift our defense to a new level (especially with a better line in front of them). I think Walker will be an upgrade to our defense by the end of his rookie deal, but will he do it this year? I'm skeptical. Now, the draft is a long-term game. I'm fine with that. But taking Walker ahead of Devin Lloyd, an athlete and field general with unreal instincts, pass coverage, blitzing, edge rushing reps, but only good-enough testing, rather than other-worldly testing.
The Packers like to take rare athletes at premium positions in the first round. They got a rare athlete at a need position, but iLB isn't a premium position. So it hits a trend and misses a trend.
I'm mixed.
But if this is my least favorite pick in the class, I like the class.
I loved Walker. I think he's a great athlete who could be a better pro than college player, and have heard numerous trusted evaluators say that in the NFL he would outplay Dean, as his draft value now reflects.
But he's just not a sure enough thing for me to love in the first round, let alone at 22. He had a very slow college development; I think it took time for him to get a feel for the playbook and develop his instincts, and even with that slow development, he still had good-enough instincts, not plus-instincts. I'm worried he will repeat his slow learning curve in the NFL and will struggle to displace Barnes early (though I think he is more likely to replace Henry Black snaps than Barnes snaps right away).
An immediate upgrade to Barnes would lift our defense to a new level (especially with a better line in front of them). I think Walker will be an upgrade to our defense by the end of his rookie deal, but will he do it this year? I'm skeptical. Now, the draft is a long-term game. I'm fine with that. But taking Walker ahead of Devin Lloyd, an athlete and field general with unreal instincts, pass coverage, blitzing, edge rushing reps, but only good-enough testing, rather than other-worldly testing.
The Packers like to take rare athletes at premium positions in the first round. They got a rare athlete at a need position, but iLB isn't a premium position. So it hits a trend and misses a trend.
I'm mixed.
But if this is my least favorite pick in the class, I like the class.
I pretty much agree. I think this might be my least favorite pick. Combination of the player, production, position, after just resigning Campbell.
But Gute has earned the benefit of the doubt and LB are probably most likely to step in and contribute as rookies on defense. So hopefully should have an idea sooner than later on how this pick will be turning out.
One thing I had sort of forgotten when writing my earlier post, and was just reminded of reading the Insider Inbox over on packers.com....
Joe Barry has a long history of getting the best out of LBs. So many guys excelled in his systems both as an assistant (LB coach) and as a coordinator (here with us) and then were less successful elsewhere when they left in free agency.
If I want to see the Walker pick play out to its potential, Joe Barry is a good person to be in charge of that development.
Still unsure of the Quay pick. He may look great. Just not as sure about it with the signing of Campbell and my still favorable outlook of Barnes as an ILB2. But hey, maybe he comes out like a 1st rounder too.
Campbell when asked why he was successful in GB whereas he wasn't previously, mentioned that he was able to play a role like a 4-3 MLB in GB which plays to his strengths, instead of having 4-3 OLB duties.
Walker is a straight up 4-3 WLB, basically the ideal pairing with a guy like Campbell.
Typically a WLB is more valuable than a MLB, at least in draft capital. Linebackers that can actually for real cover professional tier pass catchers are rare and worth a whole lot, especially if they don't come with a bunch of other holes in their game.
What Walker will be replacing (Barnes' snaps) plus any nickel/dime snaps he may take from a 3rd safety.
I think too much is being put on what the media thought the ILB group should look like. If they had him even behind Lloyd and at the end of the 1st, no one would be batting an eye.
Lots of risk with Gute's first round picks. So far, other than the 1, they have been working out.
Palmy - "Very few have the ability to truly excel regardless of system. For many the system is the difference between being just a guy or an NFL starter. Fact is, everyone is talented at this level."
)
with this pick but am not 
either.
