The Green Bay Packers have spent this offseason enhancing their already strong roster, laying a solid foundation for the future. However, that doesn’t mean every current player is guaranteed to stick around.
On May 1, NFL teams faced the deadline to decide whether to exercise the fifth-year options on their 2022 first-round draft picks. The Packers had two such picks. While they picked up defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt’s option, they declined the fifth-year option for linebacker Quay Walker, per ESPN’s Rob Demovsky.
Demovsky also noted that Packers GM Brian Gutekunst still considers Walker part of the team’s long-term vision and hopes to work out a contract extension, potentially even before the season starts. However, declining the option complicates that path.
Had the Packers picked up the option, Walker would’ve been owed $14.7 million for the 2026 season — a figure that appears too steep for the team based on his current performance.
Despite being the 22nd overall pick in 2022 and starting 43 games, Walker has yet to become a consistently reliable force at linebacker. He’s struggled in pass coverage and has often taken poor angles against the run, leading to missed opportunities.
Pro Football Focus graded Walker’s run defense at 68.8 in 2023 (81st out of 179 linebackers) and his coverage at just 52.6 (130th). In 2024, his grades dipped further: 67.9 in run defense (81st of 189) and 48.8 in coverage (137th).
In his three seasons with the team, Walker has totaled 341 tackles, 21 tackles for loss, and 6.5 sacks, reaching 100+ tackles each year. While he’s shown an ability to get to the football, there are still key areas of his game that need refinement.
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