Jan 14, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; Green Bay head coach Matt LaFleur during the second half against the Dallas Cowboys for the 2024 NFC wild card game at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
The Green Bay Packers drastically improved from 2023 to 2024 on defense. Nearly every category improved across the board. Jeff Hafley brought a culture to Green Bay that showed optimism in year one, but would still like to get to that “elite” level.
That being said, they may choose to move on from one of their full-time starters.
“No Thanks” Packers Full-Time Starter See’s Future Get Extremely Clouded
Sep 5, 2019; Chicago, IL, USA; Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur during the second half against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-Imagn Images
This season, the Green Bay Packers failed to make it past the wild card round of the playoffs. Now, the defense must make an importantdecision this off-season:
Quay Walker and Devonte Wyatt have fifth-year options the Packers can exercise. General manager Brian Gutekunst has noted that he wants Walker to stay in Green Bay for longer than just a couple more seasons, but The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman urged the team to decline Walker’s option.
“According to Over the Cap, exercising Quay Walker’s fifth-year option would guarantee his 2026 salary at a touch more than $16 million,” wrote Schneidman. “No thanks. Only three inside linebackers make more than that annually: Roquan Smith, Fred Warner and Tremaine Edmunds. For as much promise as Walker has, he hasn’t been able to string together enough performances worthy of that payday.
Gutekunst said he wants Walker here for the long term, so perhaps they can work out an extension instead of the guaranteed option.”
Walker has 341 tackles and 6.5 sacks in 43 starts with the Packers. He has struggled with coverage and consistency as a tackler. However, playing alongside Edgerrin Cooper has started yielding better results for Walker.
Perhaps the two playing side by side for a full season could change the trajectory of Walker’s career.
Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley (26) runs against the Green Bay Packers during the first half of an NFL football game, Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, at the Neo Quimica Arena in Sao Paulo. (AP Photo/Doug Benc)
Jan 7, 2024; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Green Bay Packers linebacker Quay Walker (7) tackles jChicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields (1) during the first quarter at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
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McQuade Arnold is a Sports Columnist and Co-Owner of Wisconsin Sports Heroics (WSH), Gridiron Heroics (GH), and Hardwood Heroics (HWH). He is originally from Superior, WI, and is a die-hard Green Bay Packers, Wisconsin Badgers, Milwaukee Brewers, and Milwaukee Bucks fan. McQuade's work for WSH has been featured on Yardbarker, Bleacher Report, NewsBreak, and MSN.
