Linebacker Quay Walker had a nice run with the Green Bay Packers.

Was it perfect? Sadly, and unfortunately, it wasn't. There were certainly some low points for Walker as the No. 22 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft out of Georgia.

This moment stands out as a lowlight:

There was also this, in the very same season:

It's fair to say that Walker needed some time to get used to the level of maturity that playing in the NFL requires. He did ultimately find it, though, and last season, the Packers benefited from both his leadership and his level of play.

Walker led the team in tackles with 128. He also notched eight tackles for loss, seven quarterback hits and five passes defended.

He was everywhere for the Packers on defense and yes, it took him four seasons, but he seemingly reached his potential.

Unfortunately, for Green Bay, Walker finding his peak also coincides with his free agency. The Packers did not pick up his fifth-year option heading into 2025, which means he's now just days away from entering the free agency market.

According to Tom Pelissero, the Packers made multiple attempts to work out a new deal with Walker's side, but nothing stuck. They then swung a trade for a new linebacker, Zaire Franklin from the Indianapolis Colts, sending away defensive lineman Colby Wooden in the process.

By making that trade, the Packers essentially sealed their fate as far as Walker is concerned.

Rather than seeing what the duo of Walker and Edgerrin Cooper can do together with even more time under their belts, the Packers had to pivot to Franklin.

On paper, he brings many of the same things to the table that Walker does. He's a much more veteran linebacker (heading into his ninth season), but he fills up the stat sheet just the same. He's put up 644 tackles, 33 tackles for loss, 19 quarterback hits, 10 forced fumbles and 10 sacks over the last four seasons.

Franklin is not perfect, though. There's a reason Indianapolis traded him. He's apparently a bit of a liability in pass coverage, though Walker was never a savant in that department either.

Ultimately, this is what happens in the NFL with good, young, homegrown players. You can only hold on to so many of them, and the Packers don't have a ton of cap room to play around with.

It's certainly believable that they made Walker's camp an offer. It's also believable that he feels he can get much more on the open market.

What that means is that Walker's time in Green Bay is undoubtedly over. It was a good run, but life in the NFL rolls on.

Thanks for the memories, good and bad, Quay. 

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