Packers second-year Devonte Wyatt named as breakout candidate

The Green Bay Packers made some changes along their defensive front this past offseason.

A big part of that decision making process was Green Bay's front office having faith in second-year defensive lineman Devonte Wyatt. The team is hopeful that embracing the youth movement will pay off in a big way.

The Athletic named a breakout candidate for each team, and Matt Schneidman made Wyatt his selection for Green Bay.

The reasoning for choosing Wyatt appears below.

"The Packers used their second of two first-round picks in 2022 on the Georgia defensive lineman, who played only 21.7 percent of the defensive snaps as a rookie in part because veterans Dean Lowry and Jarran Reed were ahead of him on the depth chart," Schneidman writes. "With Wyatt getting far more snaps in his second season, he should begin to show why the Packers used a premium pick on him."

The reason for picking Wyatt as Green Bay's breakout candidate is certainly valid. There is going to be more playing time available for the former Georgia Bulldog due to the departures of the above mentioned veterans. This should result in more chances for Wyatt to make plays and be a difference maker for the Packers defense.

When playing the position that Wyatt does it is about opportunities and he did not necessarily get a lot of them as a rookie. Wyatt saw the field for just 224 defensive plays last season and was able to record 15 total tackles (eight solo).

The 25-year-old defensive lineman was also able to accumulate three quarterback hits, 1.5 sacks, one quarterback knockdown, one forced fumble, and one successful pass defense.

For Wyatt, it is going to be about taking advantage of the moment that is in front of him. There is a reason why Green Bay drafted him at the end of the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft, and this season is the time to show it.

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