“I became smarter,” he said. “I learned what everybody does around me. Way more smarts on the mental side.
“There’s a whole lot I need to get better at, but nothing I can’t get better at.”
Gutekunst said the Packers started scouting Walker early in the process and saw a player whose career has shown a steady progression.
He tied for third on the team with 67 tackles last year, but led the way with eight tackles in the national title game vs. Alabama. He had 1½ sacks among 5½ tackles for loss, and he was credited with 25 QB pressures in 15 games, including six in the final game against the Crimson Tide.
“For us it was always a race to the ball,” Walker said of Georgia’s loaded defense, which saw two linemen – Travon Walker at No. 1 overall and Jordan Davis at No. 13 – taken in Thursday night’s first round before the Packers made their two picks. Georgia safety Lewis Cine was then chosen by the Vikings with the final selection of the first round.
“With the guys we have, you kind of want to get there in a hurry.”
Now two of them are joining a defense that finished in the top 10 last season in total yards and turned in an impressive playoff performance.
“They have to come in and prove it,” Gutekunst said. “They’re rookies in the NFL and haven’t done anything yet.
“Adding two players of this kind of talent to your front seven to an already really, really good group, we’re fired up about that.”