Fifth Year Option Decided On Wyatt - another year added...

[tynimiller]

Wyatt's fifth year option is picked up meaning he is guaranteed $12.9M that 2026 season

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[DoURant]

As expected... we should here something in the very near future on Quay's option

 

[OldSchool101]

smart move. Ascending player who’s quietly put together some +Starter seasons. From the interior DL across his Sophomore+Junior Pro Rookie contract, Wyatt played roughly
45% Snapcount (2yr avg)
**25.4% TFL rate (15 TFL)
~15% missed Tackle rate
**I’d offer that this Tackle Stat is a “Near-Elite” area from my own research. I look for this key stat when evaluating Run Stop Efficiency, particularly out of college.
20 QB hits
O Bats
8 QB KnockDowns
8 Hurry’s
28 Pressures
10.5 Sacks

As a comparison across that same span. Kenny Clark (2023 ProBowl) on:
68% Snaps (last 2yr avg)
15.0% TFL
~12% missed Tackle rate
21 QB hits
3 Bats
11 QB Knockdowns
15 Hurries
36 Pressures
8.5 Sacks

Across 2023-24 On a per Snap basis Wyatt Topped Kenny on:
TFL%
QB hits
Sacks

Kenny beat Wyatt on
QB Pressures
QB hurries
Bats

Keeping in mind Kenny’s Mix had a 2023 Probowl Season, so Wyatt has elevated his game off a slower Rookie campaign

 

[OldSchool101]

On a side, but related note. I’ll tell you another player to watch closely is Karl Brooks. His numbers per snap count jump off the page. While he’s had the advantage of a lower 37-38% 2023-24 snap count, he’s actually beating both players by % playing time in
Bats (6!)
Sacks (7.5!)
Very Low 6.2% Missed Tackle%

You could basically Double the above and Round down if he was Full Time, but it’s a moderate sample size of his disruptive feel.

He’s replacing Knockdowns above with Sacks or Bats.
“Very Good” low 20’s% in TFL rate. pacing BOTH D Leaders in other categories on a per snap basis in:
TFL
QB pressures

Wooden on the other hand had better step up his game and soon, he’s got some serious competition and he’s falling behind. He did finish with a good 2024 Playoff game with
1 KD, 2 QB Press/Hits .5 Sack

 

[El Guapo]

As expected... we should here something in the very near future on Quay's option

At here it is:

Packers will not exercise Quay Walker's fifth-year option

The linebacker was the 22nd overall pick in 2022.

www.nbcsports.com

 

[DoURant]

At here it is:

Packers will not exercise Quay Walker's fifth-year option

The linebacker was the 22nd overall pick in 2022.

www.nbcsports.com

Wow!!!

 

[tynimiller]

Wow!!!

At here it is:

Packers will not exercise Quay Walker's fifth-year option

The linebacker was the 22nd overall pick in 2022.

www.nbcsports.com

I could still see an extension worked out rather than fifth year option…BUT if not this could be a biproduct simply of they know they have Cooper, McDuffie is the perfect next man up prefer not one of your main two though types that we have another season, we also have Hopper signed through next year and then Simmons and highly regarded UDFA JDJ…plus Oliver easily could be an off ball type guy as well many speculate.

All GB needs is McDuffie to not regress and one of Simmons, JDJ and/or Hopper to show being capable and Quay could be departed from.

If you’re Quay you want paid, and I don’t blame him. Problem is he isn’t the best LB in GB anymore and he likely is thinking this is the year to play into his maybe one big deal.

I still think Quay and Cooper paired can be incredible…but both sides of this coin make a ton of sense if we’re honest

 

[milani]

On a side, but related note. I’ll tell you another player to watch closely is Karl Brooks. His numbers per snap count jump off the page. While he’s had the advantage of a lower 37-38% 2023-24 snap count, he’s actually beating both players by % playing time in
Bats (6!)
Sacks (7.5!)
Very Low 6.2% Missed Tackle%

You could basically Double the above and Round down if he was Full Time, but it’s a moderate sample size of his disruptive feel.

He’s replacing Knockdowns above with Sacks or Bats.
“Very Good” low 20’s% in TFL rate. pacing BOTH D Leaders in other categories on a per snap basis in:
TFL
QB pressures

Wooden on the other hand had better step up his game and soon, he’s got some serious competition and he’s falling behind. He did finish with a good 2024 Playoff game with
1 KD, 2 QB Press/Hits .5 Sack

I believe Hafley will be able to do more with some of his players in year 2 now that he knows them better.

 

[El Guapo]

If you’re Quay you want paid, and I don’t blame him.

I think that this is the most likely scenario, that Gutekunst isn't sold on Quay and decided to create the monetary incentive. Prove that you are worth another contract. We just brought it some possible replacements.

 

[Heyjoe4]

I could still see an extension worked out rather than fifth year option…BUT if not this could be a biproduct simply of they know they have Cooper, McDuffie is the perfect next man up prefer not one of your main two though types that we have another season, we also have Hopper signed through next year and then Simmons and highly regarded UDFA JDJ…plus Oliver easily could be an off ball type guy as well many speculate.

All GB needs is McDuffie to not regress and one of Simmons, JDJ and/or Hopper to show being capable and Quay could be departed from.

If you’re Quay you want paid, and I don’t blame him. Problem is he isn’t the best LB in GB anymore and he likely is thinking this is the year to play into his maybe one big deal.

I still think Quay and Cooper paired can be incredible…but both sides of this coin make a ton of sense if we’re honest

I agree that Walker and Cooper together should make an excellent LB combo for the Packers. To me, it seems like Walker either does too much or is asked to do too much and it's confusing. I think he plays best when he drops into coverage and when he focuses on the run/closes gaps to stop big gains, runners that get past the DL. I don't see him as creating a lot of sacks or pressures.

Cooper has the athleticism and the smarts to adjust his play on passing or running downs. His change of direction is excellent and he just seems to always be around the ball.

Now maybe Walker surprises everyone and has a career season. That's fine - I think for this year, it's best when Walker and Cooper are on the field at the same time.

 

[Heyjoe4]

I think that this is the most likely scenario, that Gutekunst isn't sold on Quay and decided to create the monetary incentive. Prove that you are worth another contract. We just brought it some possible replacements.

Agreed and with Walker, this set up makes the most sense. He's been good most of the time, but seldom great. Having Cooper on the field at the same time should make Walker better. Walker isn't a sack/pressure kind of LB. He's best at plugging gaps in the run game and dropping into coverage. If Hafley keeps him focused on that he may have a great year.

 

[El Guapo]

The best GMs find players to fit their coaches' schemes. The best coaches adapt their schemes to capitalize on their players strengths. The best players find ways to turn their weaknesses into strengths.

 

[Curly Calhoun]

Agreed and with Walker, this set up makes the most sense. He's been good most of the time, but seldom great. Having Cooper on the field at the same time should make Walker better. Walker isn't a sack/pressure kind of LB. He's best at plugging gaps in the run game and dropping into coverage. If Hafley keeps him focused on that he may have a great year.

I believe Cooper's rapid emergence likely influenced the decision not to pick up Walker's option. EC is likely the lead dog at ILB moving forward, and there is only so much money that Gutekunst is going spend on any one position group.

Walker is a good player, he's just not as good as Cooper.

 

[SudsMcBucky]

I believe Cooper's rapid emergence likely influenced the decision not to pick up Walker's option. EC is likely the lead dog at ILB moving forward, and there is only so much money that Gutekunst is going spend on any one position group.

Walker is a good player, he's just not as good as Cooper.

I think the decision on the 5th year had more to do with what the 5th year would cost versus what an off-ball LB'er is actually worth. In the 5th year calculation, he'd be lumped in with all the others, therefore inflating his contract value.

 

[mradtke66]

Agree on ILBs getting inflated 5th year (and franchise tag) values due to how positions are grouped.

It’s all linebackers and the highest paid linebackers are 3-4 OLBs, which make almost as much (some times as much) as 4-3 defensive ends.

The level of play required to pay a middle linebacker pass-rusher money is approaching HOF tier play.

Id expect a solid 4 year extension, not “top 5 MLB” money, but much is roughly was the 5th year option is.

 

[Pkrjones]

Dang, Wyatt expected to be done for '25 with a fractured ankle. Happy he'll be around for '26, but GB has a big hole to fill for the playoff push.

 

[milani]

Dang, Wyatt expected to be done for '25 with a fractured ankle. Happy he'll be around for '26, but GB has a big hole to fill for the playoff push.

VERY big hole.

 

[El Guapo]

Well they had a big hole to fill with the trading of Kenny Clark. This is now the second year in a row where Wyatt has become the man but also has sustained injuries that held him out and slowed him down. The ankle was not a "Wyatt" issue, but to me it means that Gutekunst needs to assume that Wyatt may not ever be healthy for an entire season. He needs to plan for that and hope for the best.

 

[milani]

Well they had a big hole to fill with the trading of Kenny Clark. This is now the second year in a row where Wyatt has become the man but also has sustained injuries that held him out and slowed him down. The ankle was not a "Wyatt" issue, but to me it means that Gutekunst needs to assume that Wyatt may not ever be healthy for an entire season. He needs to plan for that and hope for the best.

So do we draft another big run stopper, an O lineman, or a CB first? Or I should say, sign or trade for one in the offseason.

 

[El Guapo]

So do we draft another big run stopper, an O lineman, or a CB first? Or I should say, sign or trade for one in the offseason.

This will definitely be another thread, but all are needed and we don't have a first round pick. I'm sure that we will start restructuring contracts, but suspect that our FA moves are done besides 2nd and 3rd tier free agents.

Picking in the second round, the only question will be about BPA in any of our positions of need. I doubt that we'll find a good run stopper there, but who knows!

 

[Heyjoe4]

So do we draft another big run stopper, an O lineman, or a CB first? Or I should say, sign or trade for one in the offseason.

Any combination of draft/FA would work. I'm not looking far enough ahead to know what these positions look like in FA or the draft.

Given the Packers weak drafting at CB, I'd look to FA first. In the second round of the draft, I'd prioritize a big run stopper, maybe another Georgia guy?

I'm not sure what they need to do at OL. Jenkins is likely gone, but he's not playing now anyway.

The play has been very inconsistent this year - they've been good, they've been bad, with no set lineup. Banks has disappointed, Morgan is still looking for a regular position (I think it's LG). Belton seems to be playing well. Hopefully there will be more clarity (and consistently good play) the rest of the season.

 

[milani]

This will definitely be another thread, but all are needed and we don't have a first round pick. I'm sure that we will start restructuring contracts, but suspect that our FA moves are done besides 2nd and 3rd tier free agents.

Picking in the second round, the only question will be about BPA in any of our positions of need. I doubt that we'll find a good run stopper there, but who knows!

You would hope Stackhouse and Brinson could pan out. After all, when you draft Bulldog D linemen it is to dominate the line of scrimmage. For the last 10 years the SEC always feared the Georgia front.

 

[milani]

Any combination of draft/FA would work. I'm not looking far enough ahead to know what these positions look like in FA or the draft.

Given the Packers weak drafting at CB, I'd look to FA first. In the second round of the draft, I'd prioritize a big run stopper, maybe another Georgia guy?

I'm not sure what they need to do at OL. The play has been very inconsistent this year - they've been good, they've been bad with no set lineup. Banks has disappointed, Morgan is still looking for a regular position (I think it's LG). Belton seems to be playing well. Hopefully there will be more clarity (and consistently good play) the rest of the season.

The OL has to get better. We could use 5 Zach Toms.

 

[Heyjoe4]

The OL has to get better. We could use 5 Zach Toms.

Ain't that the truth. They may need to pay Walker and keep him at LT. At least they know what they've got, and they could do a lot worse.

Everyone else? Who knows? No consistency. Really surprised at least one other guy hasn't stepped up, although I'm kinda liking Rhyan at C.

 

[El Guapo]

You would hope Stackhouse and Brinson could pan out. After all, when you draft Bulldog D linemen it is to dominate the line of scrimmage. For the last 10 years the SEC always feared the Georgia front.

Stackhouse was a UDFA for a reason, but may start to find his groove as the season progresses. He needs experience. Brinson needs experience too but is already showing what he's got. I'm sort of impressed so far.