With the release of former Pro Bowl cornerback Jaire Alexander this week, the Green Bay Packers freed up future cap savings with the move. The release saves about $36 million over the next two years, which will be very important as the Packers have some very interesting decisions about their 2022 draft picks.
The 2022 draft by the Packers has been a sparkplug for the team’s recent resurgence, with two playoff appearances in the first two seasons under quarterback Jordan Love. This will be the 4th season for the seven remaining players taken in 2022, which will lead to decisions to make on all of them, as six of them will be free agents after the season.
Last offseason, the Packers traded with the Tennessee Titans for quarterback Malik Willis. Willis, a third round pick in 2022, will also be a free agent after the season.
Here’s a look at the 10 picks from 2022 (and Willis):
Round 1: No. 22 - Quay Walker, ILB, Georgia
Walker has been a mainstay at linebacker since he was drafted out of Georgia. He’s started 43 of 44 games played, registering over 100 tackles in each of his three seasons. He has 6.5 sacks and has 1 interception which was returned for a touchdown against the Bears in Week 1 in 2023. Walker has started at inside linebacker in both the 3-4 and 4-3 defenses. A big watch this season is how are him and Edgerrin Cooper used in Jeff Hafley’s defense. Will Walker continue being the defense’s playcaller or will be used to make plays sideline to sideline instead? It’s a big question whether the Packers brass will invest in Walker long term.
JUSTIN FIELDS THROWS A PICK AND QUAY WALKER MAKES A CRAZY RETURN FOR A TOUCHDOWN!!!!
pic.twitter.com/mhdIZsxmrT
— JPAFootball (@jasrifootball) September 10, 2023
Round 1: No. 28 - Devonte Wyatt, DT, Georgia
Wyatt was drafted with the hopes of being an interior pass rusher, playing opposite of Kenny Clark. In three seasons, Wyatt has 47 games played, 5 starters, 12 sacks, 74 tackles and 1 fumble recovery. Wyatt was off to the best start of his career last year before spraining his ankle in Week 4 against the Vikings. His fifth year was picked up last month, a guaranteed salary of $12.9 million in 2026.
Round 2: No. 34 - Christian Watson, WR, North Dakota State
Watson was the first of three wide receivers taken in 2022, after the Packers traded up with the Vikings to select him. He has been a dynamic weapon when in the lineup, starting 35 of 38 games played. In three seasons, Watson has 98 catches for 1,653 yards and 14 touchdowns, and two more rushing touchdowns. His availability has been a frustration for the Packers, since he has been the lone deep threat in the offense. The report is he’s ahead of schedule in coming back from an ACL injury suffered last season. If Watson is available to play in 2025, it's possible he’s offered a short, prove-it deal.
Christian Watson with the 50/50 touchdown catch from Jordan Love! #Packers #GoPackGo pic.twitter.com/YNpNWYXF6c
— Packerfan Total Access- Clayton (@packers_access) December 4, 2023
Round 3: N0. 86 - Malik Willis, QB, Liberty
Drafted by the Titans and traded to the Packers for a 7th round pick last August. Willis has played in 18 games and started five games over the course of his three seasons. He had a career-best 550 yards and 3 touchdowns in seven appearances for the Packers last season. With the Titans he had just 350 yards in 2022 and 2023. He became one of the league’s most reliable backup quarterbacks last season.
Round 3: No. 92 - Sean Rhyan, G, UCLA
Rhyan was the first of the offensive linemen drafted in 2022. He started at tackle in college, but has become a reliable guard in the last two seasons, starting all 17 games in 2024. Rhyan will have some competition for his starting spot at right guard, with recent draft picks Jordan Morgan and Anthony Belton both projected to play both guard and tackle. Rhyan could also be asked to move to center if Elgton Jenkins is unavailable this year (contract or injury). He is playing this year to get a payday similar to what Jon Runyan Jr. got last offseason.
Round 4: No. 132 - Romeo Doubs, WR, Nevada
Doubs has turned into a steady presence at wide receiver and a favorite of quarterback Jordan Love. In three seasons, Doubs has 147 catches, 1,700 yards and 15 touchdowns, playing in 43 games. His numbers are all team highs since 2022. Recent concussions and his disappearance before a game last year, puts his long-term projection into question. If Watson were to be available by Week 1, would the Packers make Doubs available to other teams in cut-down trades? If both Doubs and Watson are on the Week 1, 53-man roster, it would be a very crowded receiving room with Matthew Golden, Jayden Reed and Dontavion Wicks.
A #Packers go-ahead touchdown. Clutch play from Jordan Love to Romeo Doubs pic.twitter.com/vOGN2r8Y9n
— Lily Zhao (@LilySZhao) November 19, 2023
Round 4: No. 140 - Zach Tom, G, Wake Forest
The likely first player from this draft class to get a long-term extension is Zach Tom. When drafted, he was a very similar player to Elgton Jenkins, because of versatility to play all over the offensive line. In his rookie season, Tom played four games at left tackle, one game at left guard. In the last two years he has started at all 34 games at right tackle, becoming one of the league’s best players at the position. Tom will likley be a mainstay on the Packers offensive line for years to come.
Round 5: No. 179 - Kingsley Enagbare, LB, South Carolina
Drafted as a standing up outside linebacker, Enagbare made the transition to a down defensive end last season. He came back from a knee injury in the Cowboys playoff game to being a reliable third edge rusher, finishing last season with a career-high 4.5 sacks. He has played in all 51 regular season games since being drafted, starting in 18 games, with 9.5 sacks and 107 total tackles. He will have serious competition this year for playing time with rookie edge rushers Barryn Sorrell and Collin Oliver.
Roster Battle: Kingsley Enagbare vs. Brenton Cox Jr. https://t.co/DFOycqNdE1 #Packers #GoPackGo pic.twitter.com/jE8e0yLXS6
— CheeseheadTV 🧀 (@cheeseheadtv) June 12, 2025
Round 7: No. 228 - Tariq Carpenter, LB, Georgia Tech
Drafted as a hybrid linebacker/safety and special teams player, Carpenter lasted just one season in Green Bay, playing 14 games in the 2022 season. He played in three games for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2023.
Round 7: No. 234 - Jonathan Ford, DT, Miami
Ford did not play in a single regular season game for the Packers despite being on the roster or practice squad for all of 2022 and 2023. After being released, he played in four games for the Chicago Bears in 2024.
Round 7: No. 249 - Rasheed Walker, OT, Penn State
Another late-round starting offensive lineman produced by the Packers. Walker, who has been the biggest lineman for the Packers the last three years (6-6, 324), has become a mainstay at left tackle. He has started 32 of the team’s 34 regular-season games since 2023 and all three playoff games. With the drafting of Morgan and Belton in the last two drafts (both college left tackles) and the likelihood that Tom gets an extension, Walker could be playing for a hefty contract with another team. If he shows he’s a much better long-term prospect than those other two, then Brian Gutekunst will have a decision to make about paying Walker or letting him walk.
Starting Offensive Linemen drafted in Round 5 or later since 1995
Year Player Round Pos School
2022 Rasheed Walker 7 T Penn State
2020 Jon Runyan Jr 6 G Michigan
2014 Corey Linsley 5 C Ohio State
2010 Marshall Newhouse 5 T TCU
2006 Tony Moll 5 G/T Nevada
2005 Will Whittacker 7 G Michigan State
2004 Scott Wells 7 C Tennessee
2000 Mark Tauscher 7 T Wisconsin
1996 Marco Rivera 6 G Penn State
1995 Adam Timmerman 7 G South Dakota State
Round 7: No. 258 - Samori Toure, WR, Nebraska
The last of three WRs taken in 2022, Toure finished his two years in Green Bay with 13 catches for 160 yards and one touchdown, a touchdown catch from Aaron Rodgers. He was released in the final cuts before the start of the 2024 season. He was picked up by the Chicago Bears, spending the entire season on their practice squad.