REPORT: Green Bay Packers Lose Quay Walker to AFC Team

The Green Bay Packers are losing linebacker Quay Walker in free agency as he is signing a three-year, $40.5 million deal with $28 million guaranteed with the Las Vegas Raiders.

The Packers attempted to re-sign Walker, but talks didn't progress, leading them to trade for Zaire Franklin in a deal with the Indianapolis Colts.

Walker now lands with the Raiders, leaving the Packers with Franklin, Edgerrin Cooper, and Isaiah McDuffie at inside linebacker.

Walker was a productive player for Green Bay after being drafted in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft.

In the 2025 season, he finished with 128 total tackles, eight tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, and five pass deflections.

Walker thrived at rallying to the football alongside Cooper, creating a tandem that didn't give up many yards after the catch. They fit well next to each other, but were only able to spend two seasons together.

Green Bay is going a cheaper route by letting Walker leave for the Raiders and bringing in Franklin.

Franklin is a former All-Pro, but is coming off a down season with the Colts. He finished with 125 total tackles, seven tackles for loss, two sacks, five pass deflections, and a forced fumble in 2025. 

On paper, these are solid numbers, but Franklin struggled in pass coverage and was near the top of the league in missed tackles.

The Packers will look to get more out of him in Jonathan Gannon's defensive system, and playing next to a rising star in Cooper.

General manager Brian Gutekunst is shaking things up in Green Bay after falling to the Chicago Bears in the Wild Card Round of the 2026 playoffs.

The Packers have lost Malik Willis, Kingsley Enagbare, and Walker, cut Elgton Jenkins, and will lose Rasheed Walker and Romeo Doubs in free agency.

He is relying on new additions like Franklin and young players to step up and fill the holes left by the departures.

Gutekunst will need to be aggressive with the remaining cap space and through trades and the draft to solidify the roster to be Super Bowl contenders in the 2026 season.

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