After the Green Bay Packers’ Week 1 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, it became clear that their defense is still far from becoming serious Super Bowl contenders. Their inability to stop Saquon Barkley from putting together an impressive debut for the Eagles points to problems that the defensive line must address.
While Matt LaFleur and the coaching staff will be looking to tweak their defense against some of the better NFC teams, the front office wouldn’t find it uncertain to look forward and assess which players they would keep around the team for next year.
One of the players who might find it hard to maintain his status with the team is Quay Walker. The former Georgia Bulldog is yet to make a lasting impact on the defense despite spending multiple seasons learning the team’s defense.
With his rookie contract running down, there are reports that the Packers might do something that will jeopardize his NFL career.
The Green Bay Packers might not activate Quay Walker’s fifth-year option, per report
Pro Football Rumors’ Adam La Rose reports that the Packers are hesitant to activate the 24-year-old linebacker’s fifth-year option.
He reported that while he’s an impressive coverage defender, his poor run defense might have the team looking elsewhere for LB. He also wrote that the team has invested enough in the position to make him expendable:
Edgerrin Cooper(regarded by many as the position’s top prospect in 2024) was selected in the second round, and Ty’Ron Hopperwas taken with one of the team’s two third-round picks. Both were primarily used on special teams during their NFL debuts, but Cooper in particular has the potential to become an impact defender at the second level. For at least the coming season, though, much will still be expected of Walker.
Walker has had a decent career with the Green Bay Packers so far. He’s made 141 solo tackles, 4.0 sacks, three forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, and one interception for 37 yards through 32 games.
If he somehow manages to turn things around within the next 16 games of the 2024 campaign, he may be able to win a long-term deal with the team and a lasting spot in the defense. However, he has to put in the work and show results on the field.
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