Rasheed Walker’s market development reveals an unfortunate reality, but it may still work out well for the Packers
Left tackle is still unsigned.
The offensive tackle market has been a strange place in free agency this offseason. There aren’t top tier names, as usual, but not even a strong mid-level market emerged. Over the past few years, players like Dan Moore, Jaylon Moore, Jonah Williams, Jawann Taylor, and Mike McGlinchey got significant deals hitting the open market, but the same reality hasn’t materialized for Green Bay Packers left tackle Rasheed Walker.
Now, according to ESPN insider Adam Schefter, Walker might opt to sign a one-year contract to rebuild his value and get back to free agency in 2027.
Walker’s free agent process
Based on Spotrac‘s valuation, Rasheed Walker is the second best tackle available in free agency ($20.286 million a year), right behind Taylor Decker ($21.326 million) and well ahead of players like Jawaan Taylor ($14.997 million) and Cam Robinson ($13.133 million).
The top tackles signed so far are Jermaine Eluemunor ($13 million a year from the New York Giants), veteran Braden Smith ($10 million a year from the Houston Texans), and lower-level guys like Braxton Jones, Trey Pipkins, and Vederian Lowe at or right under $5 million.
Walker’s case has a particularity. Back in January, he was arrested at La Guardia Airport in New York after he tried to check in a bag that contained a firearm. According to the New York Post, Walker was charged with two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon and criminal possession of a firearm, and he’s due back in court on March 19. Possibly, interested teams are just waiting to see if anything happens on that front before making a final call.
Repercussions for the Packers
The Packers are not expected to re-sign Rasheed Walker anyway, as the main plan is to move former first-rounder Jordan Morgan to left tackle on a full-time basis. Therefore, the impact for Green Bay is related to a potential compensatory pick in 2027.
At this moment, the Packers are projected by Over the Cap to get a fourth-round pick for losing Malik Willis (which can become a third depending on snapcounts), a fourth for Romeo Doubs, and a fifth for Quay Walker (which can become a fourth). A projected sixth-rounder for Kingsley Enagbare was canceled out by the signing of cornerback Benjamin St-Juste.
Each NFL team can receive up to four compensatory draft picks for losing players in free agency — and not signing players from equivalent value.
If Rasheed Walker makes $23 million or more, a third is likely — $21 million can be a third depending on snaps. But if Walker’s value is affected, the compensatory pick can be much lower for Green Bay.
The good news is that usually one-year deals tend to be more expensive in terms of yearly average — and that’s what counts for the compensatory pick formula, not the total value of a contract. Because the player buys long-term risk, teams are usually willing to pay a little bit more for the flexibility.
For now, the Packers have to wait and see what Walker’s market will look like — and maybe follow his snaps throughout the season.
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