The Green Bay Packers will face several key free-agent decisions after the 2025 season because every member of their 2022 draft class is set to become an unrestricted free agent.
Among them, both Zach Tom and Rasheed Walker have built strong cases for a second contract. Romeo Doubs has also emerged as Jordan Love’s go-to target over the past two seasons, making him another potential extension candidate. However, Green Bay must monitor how he rebounds from the two concussions he suffered last year before committing to a long-term deal.
As for their two first-round picks, Brian Gutekunst indicated that he wants to sign Quay Walker to a long-term deal. He also noted that Devonte Wyatt was the team’s most consistent interior pass rusher last season.
Wyatt’s future is the most uncertain among the five players mentioned. The 2025 season will be pivotal for the former Georgia Bulldog and could influence how Gutekunst shapes the interior defensive line for the next three to four years.
Wyatt has appeared in 47 games but has started in only five. He has recorded 85 pressures in his career, including 77 in the past two seasons, 10 sacks, and one forced fumble. He had the best year of his career in 2023, finishing with 45 pressures and 5.5 sacks. However, Wyatt couldn’t boost that momentum into 2024, appearing in only seven games and failing to make a start. He recorded 13 fewer pressures and two fewer sacks than the previous year.
“I think he’s done a nice job. He’s been pretty productive,” said Matt LaFleur near the end of the season. “He’s always had the talent, and he’s finally putting it together, I’d say. That’s the expectation. You’ve got to continue to push and get better and better and better.”
As much as the Packers value Wyatt, he equally likes Jeff Hafley’s system.
“I definitely do love the system we’re in,” he said. “I’m a lot more comfortable, and I can move a lot faster. Just being aware of what’s going on in the system. … Definitely playing in this system for this first year, it gives me an advantage for next year and being in this system again.”
The numbers back up Gutekunst’s claim that Wyatt is Green Bay’s most productive interior pass rusher. He led the group in sacks and pass-rush win rate. Wyatt also led the team in pressures and pass-rush win rate on true pass sets. However, that’s not a high bar to meet; the defensive line finished 2024 ranked 26th in pass-rush win rate.
Green Bay must be especially cautious with its finances in 2026. The team has more money tied up with 29 players in 2026 than this year with 70 players – and that’s before the draft. That number also doesn’t account for the team’s 10 pending unrestricted free agents, all current starters or key contributors, and additional potential restricted free agents.
The Packers will face tough choices regarding contract extensions, and Wyatt is likely not a top priority for an extension among the 2022 class. I’d argue that Tom, the Walker brothers, and Doubs may be ahead of him for new deals.
I didn’t even mention Christian Watson. His torn ACL will likely delay contract negotiations, but I’d be surprised if Green Bay re-signed him, given his inability to stay on the field consistently. It’s obviously not his fault. Still, it’s a straightforward decision from a business perspective.
Green Bay has until May 1 to decide whether to pick up Wyatt’s fifth-year option, which would count $13,098,000 against their cap. Given the uncertainty surrounding his development, they should probably let him play out his rookie deal and assess his progress.
According to Pro Football Focus, seven defensive tackles generated 50-plus pressures and seven sacks last season, so it’s reasonable to assume that Wyatt would need to hit that benchmark to command top defensive tackle money.
Jeff Hafley should be counting on Wyatt to make a significant leap in Year 4, especially since Kenny Clark is coming off a one-sack season and will turn 30 in October. Karl Brooks and Colby Wooden also have mostly been rotation pieces. Wyatt needs to step up and become the anchor on the interior this year if the Packers are to have any chance of generating consistent pressure on quarterbacks.
According to Over the Cap, 15 interior defensive linemen make $20-plus million per year. A standout season from Wyatt in 2025 could likely put him in a position to make a case for joining that list. However, he must put together the best season of his career. Throughout his seven-year career, including his time at Georgia and Green Bay, we have yet to see him statistically reach the level of a true interior disruptor.