Linebacker Quay Walker provides the Green Bay Packers with one of their most difficult decisions ahead of NFL free agency. Unless the Packers re-sign him, Walker becomes an unrestricted free agent next month. The Packers will have some cap space to work with after GM Brian Gutekunst restructures some deals and likely releases some veterans who are not living up to their cap hits, but will it make sense to retain Walker? Today we examine why the Packers should or should not re-sign Quay Walker this offseason.
Why the Packers Should Re-Sign LB Quay Walker
The Packers selected Walker in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft with the 22nd overall pick. Walker became an immediate starter at linebacker. He led the Packers in tackles in each of his four seasons with the team.
Walker possesses a good combination of size and speed. He plays the run well. As a rookie, Walker struggled with maturity issues. He was ejected from two games for hitting an opposing player who wasn’t even dressed after a play and an opposing team’s trainer in another. However, he matured and eventually wore the green dot on his helmet to communicate with the defensive coaches pre-snap. He evolved into a leader on the defense.
Because of his speed, Walker plays well against the run. He can get sideline to sideline to run down ball carriers. Coaches have also used him as a spy to prevent mobile opposing quarterbacks from running downfield with the football.
Why the Packers Should Not Re-Sign LB Quay Walker
Despite his high tackle totals, Walker has not provided the team with many big plays. Too often, his tackles came far downfield after the opposing player has already gained substantial yardage. In four seasons, he intercepted just one pass and recovered just one fumble. He hasn’t forced a fumble since his rookie year.
The biggest issue on the field with Walker remains his struggles in pass coverage. Opposing quarterbacks completed 78.5 percent of their passes when throwing to receivers covered by Walker last season according to pro-football-reference.com. In 2024, that number was 80.4.
Pro Football Focus never gave Walker good grades. In fact, he ranked in the bottom 10 percent among qualified linebackers this season. His coverage grade was poor while his best marks came from rushing the quarterback.
The Packers may also have a replacement on the roster in Ty’Ron Hopper. Gutekunst selected Hopper in the third round in 2024 but he has yet to see much action on defense. Like Walker, Hopper has the speed to make plays sideline to sideline. If the Packers feel Hopper is ready to assume a starting role, that could make Walker expendable.
The Packers could also add a free agent at linebacker, trade for one, or add one or more players in the 2026 draft who could be added to the roster.
What Quay Walker Would Cost the Packers
Last offseason, Gutekunst declined the fifth-year option on Walker. Part of the reason was that edge rushers were included in the linebacker pool and that jacked up the price of the option. Gutekunst said he wanted to sign Walker to an extension, despite not using the fifth-year option, but that never happened.
Spotrac.com projects Walker’s value at $8.3 million per year on a three-year deal if he hits the free agent market. This wouldn’t break the bank but by comparison, Hopper will carry a 2026 cap hit of $1.548 million.
Looking at the long term at linebacker, Isaiah McDuffie will be a free agent after the 2026 season and Hopper and Edgerrin Cooper after the 2027 campaign. Bringing back Walker would add stability and continuity to the lineup if the cost isn’t judged to be excessive. But the Packers could save valuable cap space if they can find a cheaper alternative who they feel can be as good or better than Walker.
Walker will likely be the toughest decision Gutekunst has to make among his pending unrestricted free agents. He will most likely get more money if he hits the open market, making it more likely he plays elsewhere in 2026.
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