Packers' 2024 Make Or Break Player: Devonte Wyatt

Green Bay Packers third-year defensive lineman Devonte Wyatt will be tasked with taking a step forward in 2024. After barely playing as a rookie, an improved, yet still inconsistent version of Wyatt took the field in 2023. The impending campaign qualifies as a make-or-break one for the 2022 first-round pick.

The former No. 28 overall selection was eased into the lineup as a rookie. Despite being healthy, Wyatt played just 224 snaps as a first-year contributor, accounting for a mere 21.68% of all Packers defensive plays according to Pro Football Reference's calculations. Wyatt made a whimper, totaling 15 tackles and 1.5 sacks while playing his best football toward the conclusion of the season.

The Packers significantly increased Wyatt's workload in 2023 after allowing Dean Lowry and Jarran Reed to leave in free agency. The former Georgia standout played 552 snaps over a complete 17-game season. He was involved in 49.68% of all Packers defensive plays and was the third-most snapped defensive lineman on the team behind just Kenny Clark and Tedarrell Slaton.

Wyatt generally took advantage of the uptick in opportunity. He especially flashed as a pass rusher, accumulating 5.5 sacks en route to earning an impressive pass-rush grade of 80.4 from Pro Football Focus. Wyatt was credited with producing 45 quarterback pressures and 34 hurries.

Inconsistencies were present as a run defender, though. The Packers allowed 200 or more rushing yards to their opponents in four separate games this past campaign. Wyatt was a contributor to some of those negative performances, and PFF slapped him with a lackluster run-stopping score of 46.4. Wyatt must shed blocks and control his gap with more consistency this season if he's to develop into an all-around, every-down defender.

Wyatt has been committed to developing under a new defensive coordinator this offseason. After playing under the tutelage of Joe Barry in 2022 and 2023, former Boston College head coach Jeff Hafley was appointed as the new DC by head coach Matt LaFleur earlier this summer. Whether Hafley's presence is a good thing for Wyatt remains to be seen.

Wyatt and Clark should continue dominating snaps in base defense looks this season. There isn’t a ton of depth behind them, with Karl Brooks, T.J. Slaton, and Colby Wooden listed as the rotational defenders that will spell them on occasion. Opportunity won't be an issue for Wyatt.

Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst will be monitoring Wyatt's performances throughout 2024 closely. After the season, Wyatt's third, Gutekunst will be faced with the sizable decision to execute or decline his fifth-year rookie option. The deadline for that will approximately be May 6, 2025. The fifth-year option salary is determined by the salary cap and franchise tag numbers. While to be sorted for 2025, the 2024 number was $11.754 million. A Pro Bowl appearance increased that figure to $18.491 million.

There's a significant amount of money riding on Wyatt this season. In addition to the fifth-year option, the Decatur, Georgia native will also be eligible to sign an extension next offseason, if the Packers prefer that route. The big-bodied defensive lineman showcased development as a sophomore, but there's another level of consistency to unlock. The onus falls on Wyatt to establish himself as a long-term starter and every-down defender.