Packers may be forced into an in-season adjustment as a starter at a vital position keeps underperforming
Rasheed Walker is in the final year of his rookie deal, but his performance at left tackle has generated more questions than answers for the Packers.
The Green Bay Packers have some inevitable long-term decisions to make across the offensive line, but they should better consider the short term as well. Starting left tackle Rasheed Walker has been by far the weakest link of the group and is in a contract year, which could spark some discussion about what’s next.
Underwhelming performance
Rasheed Walker took over as the team’s starting left tackle in 2023. After David Bakhtiari kept feeling pain in his knee, Walker became the starter in Week 2. He’s never been a top player at his position by any means, but he was a viable starter — Walker allowed 33 pressures in 2023 and 35 in 2024.
This year, though, things started to fall apart. Through six games, Walker has allowed 18 pressures, on pace for 51 in the season. His blocking efficiency has been notably down from 96 percent to 94.8 percent. Walker has allowed at least two pressures in every game, including five against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 4. Versus the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, he gave up another three.
And this was supposed to be a huge season for Walker. A former seventh-round pick, he’s in a contract year, and early projections indicated that he could make at least $14 million a year for his second NFL deal. That seems an unlikely outcome at this point.
Options
Considering that Walker won’t get cheap to a point where it will make sense to bring him back as a depth piece, the Packers will have to look at long-term left tackle options — in addition to right guard alternatives, because Sean Rhyan is also a free agent.
The natural option is Jordan Morgan, a first-round pick in 2024 who’s now starting at right guard. Morgan spent most of his training camp at left tackle, and was pretty solid at that spot in preseason. However, he’s also been an upgrade at guard over Rhyan, even if tackle feels like more of a natural spot for him.
The other option on the roster right now is rookie second-round pick Anthony Belton. Before handling an ankle injury that made him miss the past three games, Belton had 84 snaps at right tackle and four at left tackle. He was up and down, which you would expect from a rookie, but showed the physical ability to be a starter.
You could test these two players at both spots and see how the best formation would shake out. Even moving Zach Tom from right to left tackle and playing one of the young guys at right tackle would be a viable answer.
What about right now
Those are more of long-term discussions, but those things will sort themselves out in training camp in 2026. But for now, though, the Packers already have a problem. With Walker playing poorly, the Packers could consider some offensive line adjustments.
Moving Jordan Morgan now to left tackle, with Sean Rhyan at right guard, would be a reasonable option. Belton is closer to his return and could compete there as well.
The Packers probably don’t want to take risks at the most valuable position on the offensive line in the middle of the season. However, Rasheed Walker has already been a risk, and his level of play over the next few weeks will determine if a mid-season change will be necessary or not.
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