Packers make a quiet but calculated call on Quay Walker that leaves room for flexibility in future negotiations
The Packers might want to keep Quay Walker around, but it won't be via a fifth-year option. The team declined it for 2026, because the $14.751 million guaranteed money of it was just too high. Walker is still under contract with Green Bay for the 2025 season, the final year of his rookie deal, and […]
The Packers might want to keep Quay Walker around, but it won't be via a fifth-year option. The team declined it for 2026, because the $14.751 million guaranteed money of it was just too high. Walker is still under contract with Green Bay for the 2025 season, the final year of his rookie deal, and is slated to make $2.592 million.
The news, reported by ESPN's Rob Demovsky, came after the Packers had exercised the option on their other 2022 first-round pick, defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt.
"The linebacker for the fifth-year option is a little wonky because there's so many edge guys that are part of that, which drives up that number, which probably isn't great,” general manager Brian Gutekunst told media members at the NFL Combine according to The Athletic. "But yeah, we'd like to find a way to keep Quay around here long-term, whether that be an extension or something."
Last season, his third in the NFL, Walker had 14 pressures and 31 stops. He allowed a 96.6 passer rating when targeted, much better than the 109.8 rating he had allowed in 2023.
Despite not picking up the option, it's clear that the Packers still want Walker around.
"Whatever mechanism we're using, we'd like to keep those guys around for 2026 and beyond," general manager Brian Gutekunst had said before the draft. "So whether that is through the fifth-year option or extending them, one way or the other, we're planning to do that, we'd like to do that."
Even though he hasn't played to the level the Packers expected when they took him in the first round three years ago, the Packers still see a learning curve and trust he can reach a high level.
"Quay continued to take a big leap, another guy that struggled with injuries at the end of the season, but he really was impactful for us this year, continues to be a great leader for us," Gutekunst said after the season. "Certainly think we would love to have him around here for longer than just a couple more years. He's that kind of guy."
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