Former first-rounder leads the group of Packers free agents who could follow Jeff Hafley to the Miami Dolphins
Quay Walker is set to become a free agent.
The Green Bay Packers maintained flexibility to make a decision when they passed up the opportunity to exercise Quay Walker’s fifth-year option. Later, general manager Brian Gutekunst said the team still planned to keep him beyond 2025 — but things change fast in the NFL.
Initially, the Packers declined the option because the number for off-ball linebackers gets skewed with edge rushing outside linebackers. But after how Walker performed in 2025 and based on the Packers’ tight cap situation, it certainly became much more likely that the team will simply move on.
Dolphins are a team to watch
Despite Walker’s questionable performance in 2025 by any metric, former Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley was a clear fan of his game. Now that Hafley went to become the Miami Dolphins’ head coach, it’s reasonable to expect a significant interest in free agency.
“Quay is playing at an elite level right now,” Hafley said in late October. “His communication, the way he’s calling things out, the way he’s studying the game, the way he’s practicing, his leadership on our team, to me, is at a whole different level on the field and off the field.”
Packers’ linebackers by PFF grades in 2025
- Edgerrin Cooper 75.7
- Isaiah McDuffie 69.4
- Kristian Welch 66.1
- Ty’Ron Hopper 57.2
- Jamon Johnson 54.2
- Quay Walker 48.5
Walker is a viable run defender and excellent at blitzing, which fits well with Hafley’s style of defense. He generated 12 pressures in 2025, tied with Cooper for the most among Packers’ off-ball linebackers even playing two fewer games. He had the best tackling grade (83.1)
“You see what he’s able to do in the run game,” Hafley added. “I think he’s taken a step and I believe there’s more room. I love being around the guy right now and I give him a ton of credit. He’s doing an awesome job.”
The big problem for Quay Walker, and 2025 wasn’t an outlier in that regard, is his inability to be efficient in coverage. He had a 44.9 PFF grade and allowed a 120.8 passer rating when targeted — worst among his position group.
The Packers have Edgerrin Cooper and Ty’Ron Hopper still on their rookie deals, while McDuffie re-signed last offseason on a two-year contract. Quay Walker is projected to get something around $10 million a year on a potential free agent deal, and while that’s not prohibitive by any means, his production on the field doesn’t justify that type of investment for the Packers.
More Packers free agent options for the Dolphins
Quay Walker is the most obvious option considering how much Jeff Hafley likes him, but there are other free agents who can follow the head coach to Miami. That includes some defenders, like edge rusher Kingsley Enagbare and safety/special teamer Zayne Anderson, but also backup quarterback Malik Willis — in Miami, he would have a realistic shot at replacing Tua Tagovailoa to become the full-time starter, something the Packers can’t offer.
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