A healthy Devonte Wyatt can be the boost the Packers pass rush needs in 2025

Injuries scuttled the former first-round pick's development last year, but clear improvement hints at an arrow still pointing up for Wyatt.

Lukas Van Ness handles all the pressure and criticism for an underperforming Green Bay Packers pass rush, but he’s the wrong former first-round pick to identify as the potential missing piece. Not because he’s a bad player or his potential to upgrade Jeff Hafley’s defense doesn’t exist, but because we’ve already seen a different player show more flashes of being an impact player: Devonte Wyatt.

Last year, Wyatt produced just two fewer pressures than Kenny Clark in 185 fewer pass-rush reps. In true pass sets, Wyatt had more pressures (24) than Clark (22). His 12.9% win rate only trailed Brenton Cox on the Packers, and Cox played even more sparingly than Wyatt.

“We’re super fired-up about both those guys’ seasons this year,” Brian Gutekunst said as part of his end-of-season press conference, referring to Wyatt and his draft mate Quay Walker.

“D-Wy was probably our most consistent pass rusher from the inside this year. … I think both those guys had their best years as pros so far.”