Quay Walker, Devonte Wyatt excited to 'keep the G on the helmet' together in Green Bay

“We kept the G on the helmet.”

Those are the words of Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst speaking with the media on Thursday night after selecting not one but two Georgia Bulldogs – Quay Walker and Devonte Wyatt – in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft. It comes a year after the organization took Eric Stokes in the first round too giving Green Bay three first round Dawgs in two years. In doing so, the Packers become the first team in the common draft era (since 1967) to use three consecutive first round picks on players from the same school.

“Obviously they’ve had a lot of success down there in Athens,” Gutekunst added. “These guys were two really prototypical fits not only as players but as people that we wanted to bring in the building. We’re really excited about that.”

He’s not the only one excited about the move. Both Walker and Wyatt expressed their excitement on being able to reunite in the NFL. Walker heard the news during his interview with Green Bay media and was at a loss for words.

“Oh man, that’s crazy. It’s a reunion,” Walker said in his immediate reaction. “I can’t really even say anything right now. I’d cry again but I’ve already cried so much I can’t cry anymore. Dang that’s crazy. D Wyatt man. That’s crazy. We’ve got three Georgia boys. I love that.”

“Our relationship is like real deal brothers,” Wyatt added. “Once he saw me got picked, he was the first person to call me. We were both just so excited. We’re just ready to go to Green Bay and help the team and become great players for the Packers.”

Walker and Wyatt’s personal relationship is one that carries over on to the field too. Walker admits that he wouldn’t be the player that he is today without Wyatt opening some things up for him at the line of scrimmage.

“That’s a guy who pretty much protected me, ate up a lot of blocks for me,” Walker said. “He has a high motor. His motor never stops. He’s relentless. You can always count on him. He holds himself accountable for the team and the organization. That’s a guy that I promise you is going to do that.”

Walker and Wyatt both met with the Packers during the pre-draft process, however, when they get there, they’re going to need a little bit of help learning their way around. Wyatt isn’t too concerned about that having a former teammate already established with the Packers.

“Eric, he’s like family. If you play for Georgia, you’re family,” Wyatt said. “I watched Stokes a lot last year. He definitely did a great job. I felt like he had a great season and coming in, he’s definitely going to help me and Quay out. He’s going to teach us the ropes. He’s my brother too.”

Walker and Wyatt weren’t the only Georgia players picked on Thursday night. An NFL Draft record five defensive players were taken from the Bulldogs’ 2021 National Championship winning defense: Travon Walker (No. 1 – Jacksonville Jaguars), Jordan Davis (No. 13 – Philadelphia Eagles), Lewis Cine (No. 32 – Minnesota Vikings). With that, Gutekunst has no concerns about how his two Bulldogs will translate in the NFL.

“Georgia is such an outstanding program. What they’re coming from is about as close to the National Football League,” Gutekunst said. “They do such a good job there training their players, like a lot of the other schools do. Certainly they’ve been on the big stage, they’ve played in really really big games. Both of these guys have played against NFL players their entire careers, not only during games but during practice. That’s always helpful for the transition to the National Football League.”

The NFL Draft continues Friday and Saturday with the second and third rounds beginning at 6:00 p.m. ET on Friday and the fourth through seventh rounds taking place Saturday starting at noon. Several Georgia players remain on the board including Nakobe Dean, George Pickens, Channing Tindall, James Cook, Jamaree Salyer and Zamir White among others.

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