The Carolina Panthers signed Rasheed Walker to a one-year deal worth up to $10 million.
The Carolina Panthers signed Rasheed Walker to a one-year deal worth up to $10 million this offseason in free agency and ESPN's Seth Walder is a huge fan of the move.
Walder gave the Panthers an "A" for their Walker signing. Here's why:
"The price of this deal might be the most shocking of free agency thus far. Walker was widely considered the best free agent tackle this year and was expected to receive a large contract. But his market developed very slowly, so he has signed a one-year deal with a maximum value of $10 million -- meaning the base value is below that -- per NFL Network. For context, my free agency contract model projected a deal averaging $21.8 million annually for Walker. Instead, it's a short-term commitment for less than half that. And the Panthers are the beneficiaries."
Walker played in all 17 games for the Green Bay Packers last season.
The 26-year-old Walker should be able to help keep Bryce Young upright next season. 2026 is a big season for Young, who will not receive an extension from the Panthers this offseason.
Young finished the 2025 season with 3,011 passing yards, 23 passing touchdowns, 11 interceptions, 216 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns. He led the Panthers to the playoffs for the first time since the 2017 campaign.
The Panthers lost to the Los Angeles Rams in the wild-card round of the 2026 playoffs. Young played well in his playoff debut. The youngster had 264 passing yards, one passing touchdown and one rushing touchdown.
Young has 8,291 passing yards, 49 passing touchdowns, 30 interceptions, 718 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns in a Carolina uniform.
Let's see how Young plays next season with Walker blocking for him.
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