By Gil Martin,The Packers Post
Copyright yardbarker
The Green Bay Packers are still looking to sign a contract extension with former first round pick Quay Walker. The linebacker out of Georgia enters the fourth and final year of his rookie contract. The Packers declined his fifth-year option, but GM Brian Gutekunst indicated even then that the team wants to keep Walker beyond 2025 and negotiations are ongoing.
Packers Still Looking to Extend Former First Round Pick: His Career So Far
The Packers selected Walker with the 22nd overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. He became an immediate starter for the Packers as a rookie. Walker led the Packers in tackles in each of his first three seasons with the team.
Walker’s best assets are his speed and athleticism. He could stay with receivers in pass coverage, chase down running plays across the field, or be used to blitz the quarterback on occasion. He recorded 2.5 sacks in both 2023 and 2024 and had a pick six in Week 1 of the 2023 season against the Chicago Bears.
The biggest issues Walker had throughout his career were reading plays quickly and shedding blockers. While he made a lot of tackles, they often came downfield after the runner or receiver had already gained substantial yardage.
Walker improved his play late last season. He seemed to be reading plays better and reacting quicker. He has also been calling the signals for the Packers defense in recent years, wearing the green dot on his helmet to communicate with the coaching staff before the snap of the ball.
The Current Situation
The Packers declined to pick up Walker’s fifth-year option over the offseason. Because the designation for linebackers doesn’t distinguish between edge rushers and inside linebackers, the cost of the fifth-year option would have been prohibitive. The Packers would have had to pay Walker a guaranteed one-year deal worth $14.751 million dollars. Gutekunst did pick up the fifth-year option of fellow 2022 first-round pick Devonte Wyatt.
Through the first two games of this season, Walker has played well. He made 17 total tackles which places him second on the team behind fellow linebacker Edgerrin Cooper. He also broke up a pass, made two tackles for loss and one quarterback hit.
Walker has established himself as a solid starting linebacker in the NFL. While he may not have lived up to his status as a first-round draft choice, he has become a player that makes a positive impact on defense.
The addition of Micah Parsons and the emergence of Cooper give the Packers a trio of speedy players in their front seven that can make life difficult for opposing offenses. They give defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley plenty of options while giving opposing offenses fits.
Packers Still Looking to Extend Former First Round Pick: Looking Ahead
According to Easton Butler of Packer Report, the Packers received at least two trade offers for Walker. One came from the Los Angeles Chargers, who offered the Packers a fourth-round pick. The other came from the Cincinnati Bengals who offered a fifth rounder. Gutekunst reportedly rejected both offers and indicated the Packers intended to sign Walker to a new contract before he hits the open market.
“We’ve been bullish on Quay since he got here,” Gutekunst told reporters during the offseason. “He’s played a lot of really, really good football for us and we think his best football is still in front of him. Just a consummate pro, does everything the right way. [He] has a level of toughness and focus that our defense needs.”
The key now will be for the Packers to agree on a fair contract with Walker that will place his salary somewhere below the $14.751 million per year but also give the team some cap flexibility. Walker would benefit from getting a signing bonus which would give him guaranteed money up front.
The question now is more of when rather than if the Pack signs Walker and how they can fit him under the cap after signing Parsons to a record-setting contract a few weeks ago.
