The Green Bay Packers own two picks in the first round (Nos. 22 and 28) of the 2022 NFL draft. In this “Packers draft profile” series, we will look at several options for Green Bay in the first round and dissect their collegiate careers, highlight reel and how they would fit with the team.
In this edition, we look at Utah linebacker Devin Lloyd.
OVERVIEW
The tenth Ute in program history to earn consensus All-America honors, Lloyd was an intimidating playmaker on the Utah defense the past three seasons. He measured in at the combine at 6-foot-3, 237 pounds, and ranked second among linebackers with 25 repetitions of 225 pounds on the bench press.
Lloyd finished his college career with 256 total tackles, including 43 for a loss, 15.5 sacks and five interceptions in 36 games (he made six stops in three defensive appearances as a freshman in 2018). He also scored three defensive touchdowns, all via interceptions, and gained 100 yards after his takeaways.
In 2021, Lloyd led the Pac-12 with 22 tackles behind the line of scrimmage and was a Butkus Award finalist for the second straight season. He also was a finalist for the Lott IMPACT Trophy and a semifinalist for the Bednarik award. He finished second in the conference with seven sacks and four interceptions. Lloyd led the nation’s linebackers in 2021 with three games producing a 90+ grade via Pro Football Focus.
Lloyd’s strengths include his athleticism and finishing abilities, i.e. his flair for/artistry of creating turnovers and penetrating the opponent’s backfield. His instincts and awareness are elite attributes.
COMBINE RESULTS
40-yard dash: 4.66 seconds
Bench press: 25 reps
Vertical jump: 35 inches
Broad jump: 126 inches
3-cone drill: N/A
20-yard shuttle: N/A
FILM ROOM
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
“Highly productive and highly physical, Lloyd could create interesting discussions in draft rooms as teams work through his process versus production. Lloyd can be a little inconsistent with early diagnosis and fit recognition and unorthodox in how he flows to the football. With that said, he has a stat sheet full of production in every major category, including 43 tackles for loss over the last three seasons. He plays with the willful demeanor of an NFL alpha linebacker and is sneaky talented as a rusher either blitzing or aligning off the edge. Lloyd will make plenty of plays and should become a good starter as an inside or strong-side linebacker, but inconsistent processing could limit his consistency.” – Lance Zierlein
“Devin Lloyd is the epitome of the modern linebacker. A former safety and receiver, he sports a lean, lanky build that functions best in space. Lloyd saw time at both "Mike" and "Will" in the Utah defense but projects mostly as a "Will" in the NFL. He has the sideline-to-sideline range to consistently contain perimeter runs and screens, as well as take advantage of run-throughs as the weak-side chase player. Lloyd's speed and quickness are made better by his reliable eyes and trigger against the run. It is clear that Lloyd takes good inventory of an offense's core concepts out of certain formations.” – Derrik Klassen
“Lloyd is a tone-setting glue player who has made himself into a top-tier playmaker. He might have an up-and-down first season or two in the NFL, adjusting to pro concepts and speed, but has the temperament, athletic profile and will to be a standout in the league. He'd fit into just about any system and can be tasked with complex assignments in time. A future green-dot defender.” – Eric Edholm
HOW HE FITS
Green Bay can silence its draft critics come April 28 by choosing a receiver and off-ball linebacker, in either order, with its pair of first-round picks. The last time the Packers addressed the inside linebacker spot on Day 1 of the draft was 2006 when they made A.J. Hawk the fifth overall pick. The only catch is that Lloyd, rumored to be taken as early as the top 10, might not be available after the first 21 selections. If he falls for whatever reason, Green Bay can acquire a player that can immediately step in as a starter, play in the opponent’s backfield and roam green grass alongside 2021 All-Pro De’Vondre Campbell.
