Quay Walker and the Packers are reportedly engaged in talks about a long-term extension that would keep the fourth-year inside linebacker in Green Bay for the foreseeable future. Despite some inconsistent performances on the field, the Packers have thought very highly of Walker for a long time. “We’ve been bullish on Quay since he got here,” general manager Brian Gutekunst said. “He’s played a lot of really, really good football for us, and we think his best football is still in front of him.”
There has been plenty of chatter about a possible Walker extension over the last several months, but nothing concrete until recently. Last week, Jason Wilde of ESPN Wisconsin reported that the Packers have an offer on the table to extend Quay Walker. “Quay Walker is going to get paid next,” said Wilde. “There’s an offer on the table already. I think they’re continuing those negotiations.” When asked if the two sides are close to finalizing the deal, Wilde responded, “Yeah, I think it’s close-ish.”
Those talks got a little louder this week when Easton Butler of Packer Report reported, “The Packers are currently working on a long-term extension for LB Quay Walker.” Apparently, the Packers aren’t the only team interested in Walker. Butler also shared, “Despite the Packers receiving 2 trade offers for the former Georgia product. Green Bay has told teams they plan to extend Quay. The two teams are the Chargers, who offered a 4th, and the Saints, who offered a 5th.”
Walker has been a starter for the Packers’ defense since being drafted in the first round of the 2022 NFL draft. The fourth-year linebacker has played in 46 career games for the Packers. He has recorded over 100 total tackles in each of his first three seasons. He also accumulated 6.5 sacks, 23 tackles for loss, three forced fumbles, an interception, and a fumble recovery. Walker is a team captain and the defensive signal-caller on the field. It’s easy to see why the Packers would covet a player like Walker.
Projecting Walker’s Extension
Four years, $62 million with $35 million guaranteed
San Francisco 49er Fred Warner is the top-paid off-ball linebacker in the NFL at $21 million per season. Baltimore Ravens Roquan Smith is right behind him at $20 million per season. Walker isn’t going to reset the market, but he’ll be closer to the top than the bottom. Walker doesn’t have the individual accolades of some of his peers, but at only 25 years old, Walker’s best football is still ahead of him.
This past May, the Packers declined Walker’s fifth-year option that would have paid him around $14.75 million fully guaranteed. Brian Gutekunst made it clear that, despite declining that option, the Packers wanted to keep Walker around for the future. “My expectations are really, really high,” Gutekunst told Cheesehead TV in June. “The only reason we didn’t do the fifth-year option is that a lot of the outside linebackers are calculated into that number, so it didn’t make a lot of sense. We’re going down that road with him, as well, to see if we can make that happen as well.”
| Name | Age | Total Value | Years | Annual Average Value (AAV) | Fully Guaranteed |
| Nick Bolton | 25 | $45,000,000 | 3 | $15,000,000 | $30,000,000 |
| Jamien Sherwood | 25 | $45,000,000 | 3 | $15,000,000 | $30,000,000 |
| Patrick Queen | 26 | $41,000,000 | 3 | $13,666,666 | $20,510,000 |
| Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah | 26 | $37,500,000 | 3 | $12,500,000 | $20,000,000 |
The table above breaks down four contracts that serve as a decent starting point. Each of the four players signed three-year extensions with annual average values ranging from $12 million to $15 million. The guaranteed money ranges from $20 million to $30 million. The Packers declined to pay Walker the fifth-year option of $14.75 million fully guaranteed, but an extension is likely going to fall in that range anyway.
When structuring contracts, the Packers usually opt for four years rather than just three. Walker is likely going to want a comparable contract to Nick Bolton, which has an annual average value of $15 million per season. With the market continuing to rise, it would be fair to assume Walker may get a slightly higher average than Bolton. He’d also get more money guaranteed, especially if there’s an extra year on the contract.
Here For The Long Haul
Ultimately, Quay Walker is going to be a Packer for the foreseeable future. Where there is smoke, there is usually fire. An extension is coming, and when it does, Walker will have some happy coaches and teammates. He and Edgerrin Cooper form one of the more dynamic and athletic linebacking duos in the entire league. He was voted a team captain by his peers. His coaches trust him wearing the green dot. He’s relied on to make all of the calls and adjustments on the field. And the best part? His best football is ahead of him.
“I think he’s one of the best linebackers in the league. There are a lot of things he can do that a lot of linebackers cannot do,” McKinney shared when speaking with Ari Meirov. “I think he’s going to continue to keep getting better. I think he’s going to continue to grow as a player. In the future, he’s going to be the best linebacker in the league. You can write that down.”
Is Walker a better player than Bolton or Queen? That’s up for debate. It’s less about who is a better player and more about when the player is up for a new contract. For what it’s worth, Walker has played less football than both players and has produced similar production. Walker is also the quarterback of the defense. His teammates and coaches speak glowingly of him on the field and in the locker room. Walker’s value goes beyond the box score. And soon, he will be paid accordingly.
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