When the Green Bay Packers decided not to exercise Quay Walker’s fifth-year option, the idea was that eventually the two sides would reach a long-term agreement. The option and a potential franchise tag were too expensive because off-ball linebackers and edge defenders listed as outside linebackers are in the same bucket, but general manager Brian Gutekunst wanted to keep Walker beyond 2025.

Well, things might have changed after an underwhelming season for the former first-round pick. Now headed to free agency, Quay could soon be gone, as Tom Silverstein from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported.

“Then there’s Quay Walker. He may be as good as gone. If he gets an offer in the $11-million-or-more (per year) range, the Packers probably won’t try to match it.

The Packers reached out to agents who have linebacker clients about to hit the open market during the combine, according to one source who had business with them in Indianapolis. That indicates either they know they won’t be able to afford Walker and are moving on or are covering their bases.” — Tom Silverstein

Linebacker options on the market

During his press conference at the NFL Scouting Combine, Gutekunst confirmed that he was looking for an inside linebacker. That’s both an indication that Walker might leave, but also (because of the term inside linebacker) that the Packers are going back to a 3-4 base defense under coordinator Jonathan Gannon.

“Certainly in the secondary we’re going to need to add some competition, probably inside linebacker,” Gutekunst said. “You know, throughout the offense.”

So, let’s dissect the free agent market and try to find five potential targets for the Packers.

The top free agent on the market at the position is Jacksonville Jaguars’ Devin Lloyd, who’s projected to make $20.144 million a year. Outside of him, though, all the other off-ball linebackers are under $10 million in projected yearly average salary. The market projections are in average annual value from Spotrac.

Nakobe Dean

• Market projection: $7.9 million
• PFF grade in 2025: 61.7

Dean has some injury history, but other than that he is an ideal target for what the Packers tend to like. He’s only 25, is entering his second NFL contract, and has already played for Gannon on the Philadelphia Eagles. The Packers passed on him to select Quay Walker in 2022, and Dean was drafted just two rounds later. Now, it’s time to correct that mistake.

Quincy Williams

• Market projection: $9.2 million
• PFF grade in 2025: 45.5

Quincy Williams is older at 29 and had a down season for the Jets, especially in pass coverage — he allowed a 136.5 passer rating when targeted in 2025, and coverage was never his calling card anyway. He’s a solid run defender and complementary linebacker, though, and is a cheaper option.

Matt Milano

• Market projection: $4.6 million
• PFF grade in 2025: 43.7

An experienced linebacker, Milano is 31 and has been in the NFL since 2017. He played for Bobby Babich, who’s now the Packers defensive pass game coordinator and secondary coach. Milano generated 10 pressures last season and was fine in coverage, even if his range as a linebacker isn’t as big as some more athletic players.

Leo Chenal

• Market projection: $4.6 million
• PFF grade in 2025: 75.1

Chanel is also entering his second NFL contract, which the Packers like, but he’s more of a role player, being solid against the run and utilized as a blitzer by Steve Spagnuolo — Jeff Hafley would probably love his style of play, but the fit isn’t as natural with Gannon. He’s probably not a full-time defender, so the Packers would have to lean more on Edgerrin Cooper, Isaiah McDuffie, and/or Ty’Ron Hopper.

Devin Bush

• Market projection: $8.9 million
• PFF grade in 2025: 87.6

A top 10 overall pick back in 2019, Bush is short and took some time to reach his peak, but he’s had two excellent seasons with a great defensive line in front of him on the Cleveland Browns. Last year, he allowed a 69.3 passer rating when targeted, which is particularly impressive for an off-ball linebacker. However, Bush is projected to make something closer to $10 million a year.

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