Green Bay Packers Pick Up 5th Year Option On Former 1st Round Pick

The Green Bay Packers have been busy this past week. After this weekend’s draft, the team signed former first-round pick Isaiah Simmons, and talks with All-Pro cornerback Jaire Alexander have reportedly taken a positive turn. The team isn’t done making moves as the offseason progresses. On Wednesday, the team picked up the fifth-year option for former first-round pick Devonte Wyatt.

Green Bay Packers Pick Up Option On Devonte Wyatt

Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz reported that the Green Bay Packers are picking up the fifth-year option for 2026 for Devonte Wyatt. The former Georgia Bulldog was the 28th overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. That year, the Packers took Quay Walker in the first round as well with the pick they got from the Raiders in the Davante Adams trade. The option is $12.9 million guaranteed. Wyatt has shown steady improvement in his career, and the hope is that under defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, he can continue to improve.

He has only started five games in his career, being more of a rotational piece on the line. However, last season, he finished second on the team in tackles for loss (nine) and sacks (five). In his three years with the Green Bay Packers, he has racked up 74 total tackles, 15 tackles for loss, 23 quarterback hits, 12 sacks, and one forced fumble. The team now gets an extra year to evaluate the young defensive tackle before dishing out a large contract extension.

Good Move?

This is a low-risk move for the Green Bay Packers. On the one hand, picking up the fifth-year option on a player who has only started five games may seem crazy, but on the other hand, the salary isn’t outrageous. If Wyatt doesn’t improve, the team can move on easily without being on the hook for tons of money.

The hope is he can continue to improve. He showed a ton of improvement last year, being one of the most disruptive forces on the Packers’ defensive line. Can he become the next great defensive lineman for the Packers?