An analyst sees a surprising outcome for Quay Walker's impending free agency. Can the Green Bay Packers keep their star linebacker amidst financial challenges?
Quay Walker has become one of the most dynamic linebackers in the NFL, and he's certainly been a big part of the Green Bay Packers over the past few seasons.
Walker, the former No. 22 overall pick of the 2022 NFL Draft, took some time to develop, but he's come along nicely.
This past season, while playing next to an up-and-coming star in Edgerrin Cooper and undoubtedly benefiting from the gravity of Micah Parsons, Walker led Green Bay in tackles (128) and was second behind Parsons in tackles for loss with eight.
He also tallied 2.5 sacks and eight passes defended.
Walker is an elite athlete who has really seen the game slow down for him.
The bad news for the Packers is that Walker is set to hit free agency at the start of the new league year (March 11), and right now, Green Bay appears to be strapped for cash.
There's absolutely a world in which Walker gets a big deal elsewhere, and the Packers end up having to watch their homegrown talent walk. In fact, many analysts seem to think that Walker will be gone.
Interestingly enough, though, Greg Auman of Fox Sports believes that the Pack will be able to re-sign Walker.
In a recent article ranking the Top 100 free agents of the 2026 class, Auman checked Walker in at No. 21.
He had this to say about the Packers retaining him.
"Walker, 25, does a bit of everything for Green Bay — four straight 100-tackle seasons, including 128 this past year, and he's active in the opposing backfield with nine career sacks and 29 tackles for loss. The Packers declined his fifth-year option, opting not to pay him $14.7 million in 2026, and he'll likely get about $10 million a year. Pro Football Focus doesn't think much of him, ranking him 76th among NFL linebackers, with his pass coverage skills bringing him down."
As mentioned, the Packers are a bit strapped for cash. They can clear up rougly $30.5 million by cutting Rashan Gary and Elgton Jenkins this offseason (and they should do it), but they still have to think about who else, other than Walker, they can re-sign, as well as perhaps going out and actually bringing in a free agent or two. There are also players coming in via the 2026 NFL Draft that will need to be paid.
What this means is that the Packers may have to get creative via extensions and restructures with some of their current players. ACME Packing Company has a great breakdown of that here.
If the end result of those machinations is Walker playing in green and gold for the foreseeable future, though, they will have been well worth it for general manager Brian Gutekunst and vice president/director of football operations Russ Ball.
It would be tough to watch Walker walk out the door after he's developed into the player he has in Green Bay. If the Pack can find a way to pay him what he deserves, they should do so.
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