Round 1 - Pick #22, Quay Walker, ILB Georgia

[Ghost_Lombardi]

There it is.

image.png (241.56 KiB) Viewed 590 times

[paco]

I really like the pick. Big, fast, can cover and blitz.

[paco]

Twitter handle
@QuayWalker_

[YoHoChecko]

I thought he was a sneaky potential Packer. But I thought it was more at 28 or early 2nd round for us.

@YoHoChecko What do you think about Quay? I know you seemed to like Dean a lot more.

I really liked Walker for picks 53 or 59 until BF sold me on Chenal. He has every tool. He reminds me of Campbell, honestly. Long, fast, good instincts, good blitzer.

Honestly his ceiling is sky high. But he requires more projection than some others would.

[Drj820]

i suppose the Campbell taught the Packers org how helpful a strong ILB force can be

[Pckfn23]

The Georgia product’s full name is Jaquavian Jy'Quese Walker. He was rated the No. 2 linebacker prospect and top-35 overall recruit nationally out of Crisp County High School. He played in all 14 games as a reserve in 2018 (six tackles), sharing the team's Special Teams Newcomer of the Year Award. Walker got more playing time as a sophomore (23 tackles, 3.5 for loss with 2.5 sacks in 13 appearances) before getting a chance to start twice in 10 contests in 2020 (43 tackles, two for loss with one sack). He started all 15 games for the 2021 national champions, recording 67 tackles, 5.5 for loss with 1.5 sacks, and three pass breakups. -- by Chad Reuter


Analysis
By Lance Zierlein
NFL Analyst
Draft Projection
Round 2
Overview
Walker had to wait his turn at Georgia, but he has become a well-schooled, instinctive linebacker ready for the NFL game. He has good size and clear eyes from the second level, with a talent for recognizing play design. He plays disciplined, team-oriented football but is unlikely to become a top-level playmaker as a pro. His chase speed and body control are just average when ranging to tackle or covering in space. Walker is dependable and consistent and projects as a good backup with eventual starter potential at inside linebacker.
Strengths
Instinctive, with confident eyes in the box.
Plays with lively, ready feet.
Quick recognition into response.
Mirrors runner's lane choice from his perch.
Recognizes blocking scheme and play design.
Sees past climbing blockers.
Snappy hands to play off blocks quickly.
Keeps outside shoulder uncovered.
Consistent hustle away from the ball.
Reliable, face-up tackler near the line.
Weaknesses
Has some tightness in his hips.
Upright in second-level movements.
Average body control in scrape to the football.
Play strength doesn't always match his size.
Inconsistent finding the best level to elude block.
Gets stuck to blocks that find him.
Erratic vision and response in coverage.
Will overrun his target in space.

Rating: 80.10 (Long-term starter)

Pro Comparison: Jamie Collins

Strengths:

Tall, decently athletic run-stopping specialist. Impressive linearly for someone his size. Occasionally steps through contact. Has the size/speed to run with tight ends.

Weaknesses:

Range is solid, not spectacular. Movements are clunky/awkward because of his long legs. Doesn't stack-and-shed as well as his stature would indicate. Should be a missile as a blitzer but not overly effective in that area. Wasn't a big-time producer as a blitzer, and his short-area quicks give him a lower ceiling as a coverage linebacker.

Accolades:

2021: Eight tackles vs Alabama in CFP title game (tied game-high)
2021: Started all 15 games at LB for CFP national champion Georgia

Quay Walker was a 4-star recruit coming out of Crisp County High in the 2018 class. According to 247Sports, he was the No. 2 outside linebacker nationally, No. 31 overall prospect, and the No. 6 recruit in Georgia. He helped lead Crisp County to a 9-2 season and the second round of the GHSA Class 3A state playoffs in 2017. USA Today 2017 Georgia All-USA Second-Team defense.

Walker is an uber athletic and rangy linebacker. His impact is felt in the run game, in coverage, and pressuring the quarterback. Prior to 2021, Walker did not start a game until the 2020 season. His lack of starting experience leaves his FBI and processing ability open for growth.

Ideal Role: WILL linebacker, allowed to run/chase and make plays in space.

Scheme Fit: 4-3 multiple front

FILM EVALUATION

Written by Damian Parson

Games watched: Clemson (2021), Missouri (2021), Tennessee (2021), Arkansas (2021)

Best Game Studied: Tennessee (2021)

Worst Game Studied: Missouri (2021)

Tackling: Quay Walker uses his 6-foot-4 frame and length to wrap up incoming ball-carriers. He can alter between delivering a physical thump or a technically-secure attempt. Reliable tackler that rarely misses the mark.

Football IQ/Instincts: Walker’s instincts can be hit or miss. At times, he will diagnose and trigger to the football. Other moments, he processes information a step slow. Increasing meaningful reps at the next level can improve his FBI.

Competitive Toughness: Walker plays with consistent physicality and aggressiveness. He triggers downhill against the run and as a blitzer with a violent temperament. He does not take plays off because of his hot motor.

Pass Coverage Ability: Walker has the height, weight, and athleticism to be a disruptor in coverage. He displays a good change of direction to transition in coverage. He can match routes in the underneath zone. Also, he can man up tight ends and running backs in space. He could use better reaction timing to break on passes or force PBUs.

Run Defending: Walker fills and flows well depending on his role for that play. He can become overly aggressive and over pursue the ball-carrier. He could leverage running gaps better. Playing with better control can increase his production/impact against the run.

Block Deconstruction: Walker has defeated blocks with power and quick/sudden movements. He will stack and shed incoming OL. His 80-inch wingspan allows him to defeat blocks with full extension. He will use his hands to swipe past blockers to find the football.

Lateral Mobility: Walker is a fluid and confident mover in space. He has loose hips to scrape laterally and cover ground across the field. His movement traits allow him to remain in position or regain position on the play-side of the field.

Flexibility: Walker’s loose hips afford him the opportunities to change directions in space. As an edge rusher, he does not display much dip and rushes a bit high. In open field, he gears down well to square up his target before making contact. As he drops into coverage, he sinks his hips well and transitions from dropping to pursuit.

Leadership: Walker is one of the main communicators for Georgia’s defense. He will call out audible and defensive line shifts pre-snap. He leads by example and his constant motor speaks to his will to win and passion for the game. He accepted coaching and continued to develop after a slow/frustrating start to his career.

Versatility: Walker offers positional and alignment versatility. 322 snaps came at linebacker in the box but he has multiple snaps on the defensive line. Also, he is comfortable in space and aligns as a slot corner. His athleticism allows him to move around the defense and impact the game.

Prospect Comparison: Prospect Comparison: Kenneth Murray (2020 NFL Draft, Los Angeles Chargers)

SCOUT GRADES

TDN Consensus: 78.70/100 (Third Round Value)

Crabbs Grade: 77.50/100

Marino Grade: 77.00/100

Harris Grade: 80.00/100

Sanchez Grade: 75.00/100

Weissman Grade: 78.00/100

Parson Grade: 80.00/100

Early in his time at Georgia, Quay Walker had just wrapped up an interview session when a team official stopped him by an elevator.

“Who’s the most famous athlete to ever come out of Cordele, Ga.?”

Walker’s eyes lit up.

“Tree Rollins!” he said, instantly recalling the name of the former Clemson center who spent 18 years in the NBA.

That was true at the time, but Walker may be changing that. He is already forever in Georgia lore as a key member of the program’s first national champion in 41 years, and now he’s also a member of the Green Bay Packers.

Walker is one of a handful of Georgia products whose NFL career has a chance to surpass his college production. Despite being a highly-ranked recruit (No. 31 overall in the 2018 class) he was a second-teamer for the better part of his first three seasons, thanks to the presence of future pros Monty Rice and Tae Crowder. And even when Walker ascended to a starting role as a senior he shared time with Channing Tindall, another talented inside linebacker.

But Walker’s talent and impact ability were easy to see. He tied for third on the team in tackles (with Tindall), despite sharing snaps, and was also a willing and key member of Georgia’s special teams (he played the third-most special teams snaps of any defensive player.)

There have been three other NFL players to come out of Cordele, the last being offensive lineman Andre Ramsey, who played from 2008-12. Walker is set up to have a much longer career, and nobody who watched him at Georgia would be surprised to see him blossom at the top level.

Dane Brugler on Quay Walker (No. 3 LB, No. 31 overall prospect in The Beast)
A one-year starter at Georgia, Walker played the “Money” linebacker position in former defensive coordinator Dan Lanning’s 3-4 base scheme. After playing outside linebacker and defensive end in high school, he moved inside when he arrived in Athens and struggled initially, but he showed improvement each season and was a key member of Georgia’s 2021 championship-winning defense.

With his lateral twitch and movement skills, Walker has outstanding mirroring skills vs. the run and uses his long arms to punch himself off blocks or lasso ball carriers out of his reach. Although he doesn’t have the statistical résumé of a playmaker, he has a high batting average as a tackler, and his traits and trajectory suggest his best football is ahead of him. Overall, Walker is still developing his instincts, especially in coverage, but he aces the eye test with his exceptional combination of size, length and athleticism to dominate vs. the run. He has the potential to be a four-down impact linebacker in the NFL.

Top College Highlight
During the Orange Bowl, Walker laid quite the hit on Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy, who had scrambled for a short gain before Walker, who had been in pass coverage, just stepped to his right and sent the quarterback sideways. As ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit marveled on the telecast: “Six-four, 240, out in space.”

Media Moment
When Walker announced his college commitment, he began by putting on a Tennessee hat, then theatrically tossed it aside. But Walker appeared so chastened by the criticism about it — including from Georgia head coach Kirby Smart — that he kept a low profile for the next four years. In fact, while all his teammates were posting their goodbyes to Georgia, announcing they would not use their last year of eligibility, Walker didn’t post anything until the last moment. His tweets are protected and his Instagram account only has seven posts.

Coachspeak
Dan Lanning, who was Georgia’s defensive coordinator the past three years, explained why Walker (along with Tindall) showed patience with their careers: “At the end of the day, they didn’t put a timeline on their own success. I think they saw growth in themselves and avoided listening to outside noise when everybody else maybe had another opinion. And it paid off for them. Quay put it together more academically this past year, and realized when he put that everyday piece together in school it made everything on the field much easier. But they both always worked really hard.”

https://theathletic.com/3274088/2022/04 ... r-packers/

image.png (725.19 KiB) Viewed 744 times

[Ghost_Lombardi]

I got Walker at #28 yesterday in my mock! I think that is the first time I've ever gotten a first rounder right....

[YoHoChecko]

I just can’t believe he went before Lloyd

I guess e we have our field general, but we picked an athlete over two field generals.

A good athlete. And a good football player. Instincts are fine.

But wow. First off-ball LB. Just surprises me.

[kampmanfan4life]

Not many guys we could draft and step into our defense. This is one of the spots that will be an upgrade.

[paco]

I got Walker at #28 yesterday in my mock! I think that is the first time I've ever gotten a first rounder right....

Not in the contest so not official.

[BF004]

Freak, makes our d better


No more excuses on D here

[kampmanfan4life]

Not many guys we could draft and step into our defense. This is one of the spots that will be an upgrade.

[Crazylegs Starks]

i suppose the Campbell taught the Packers org how helpful a strong ILB force can be

Campbell was a damn revelation

[Pckfn23]

I just can’t believe he went before Lloyd

I guess e we have our field general, but we picked an athlete over two field generals.

A good athlete. And a good football player. Instincts are fine.

But wow. First off-ball LB. Just surprises me.

There was buzz around him the last 3 weeks. Pack A Day had him as their sleeper #1 ILB.

[Waldo]

6'3" 240 lb dude that runs a 4.5 and has a 6.8 cone. Finally, a real athlete at LB.

I assume he's got some TE covering potential and is a pretty decent blitzer.

[salmar80]

We could use an upgrade over Krys Barnes for 500+ snaps. If anyone can learn from Campbell, that's Quay.

[NCF]

Pretty shocked. He was a pretty steady mock choice, especially at 28 over the past few weeks, so apparently there was smoke where there was fire. Tough to bet against these Georgia defenders, especially after Stokes' success. Still, to say I saw this coming would be a massive lie. This was shocking. The Draft always is.

[Yoop]

like the player, but not at slot 22, he's a reach any way ya want to play it.

[Drj820]

I never thought we would be taking him at 22 so idk really.

I always thought Nakobe Dean was the best ILB on the field for uga but

[Drj820]

what thread is best to discuss why we took quay over FSU Jermaine?

No hate to Quay, i just dont know. Too out of left field for me.