The run of teams declining fifth-year options on off-ball linebackers will continue via a Green Bay decision. The Packers have expressed interest in a Quay Walker second contract, but their Thursday decision will put him on track for free agency sooner.
Green Bay will decline Walker’s 2026 option, ESPN.com’s Rob Demovsky reports. Picking up the option would have meant authorizing a $14.75MM guarantee for next season. Considering the trend teams have set at the position in recent springs, it is unsurprising the Packers will proceed this way with Walker’s rookie contract. This comes a day after the Pack exercised Devonte Wyatt‘s option. Though, Demovsky adds Walker remains in the team’s long-term plans.
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Over the past three offseasons, Patrick Queen, Kenneth Murray, Isaiah Simmons, Jordyn Brooks and Jamin Davis had seen their options declined. The Jaguars passed on Devin Lloyd‘s on Wednesday. While some of these players did not justify a notable Year 5 guarantee, teams are passing on these payments in large part because the option formula groups all linebackers together. Thus, the ILB numbers are being boosted by the edge rusher market.
No team has picked up an off-ball LB’s fifth-year option since the Buccaneers exercised Devin White‘s in 2022. That decision did not end up paying off, and teams have strictly capped first-round ILB contracts at four years since.
Early-career maturity issues aside, Walker has proven a valuable player for the Packers. One of five Georgia defenders chosen in the 2022 first round, Walker arrived via the pick (No. 22) the Packers obtained from the Raiders in the Davante Adams trade. While the Packers have largely kept Wyatt a rotational player, they plugged Walker into the starting lineup early. Walker has started 43 of his 44 career games.
Walker is 3-for-3 in career 100-tackle seasons, and he notched a career-high nine TFLs last year. Like White, Pro Football Focus has never taken to Walker’s game. The advanced metrics website has yet to rank Walker as a top-60 off-ball LB in a season, slotting him 63rd in 2024. The Packers have deployed Walker as a regular throughout his career, and they respectively used him on 91% and 89% of their defensive snaps in 2023 and ’24. Though, lower-cost options being acquired could impact Green Bay’s decision on an extension.
Brian Gutekunst said on multiple occasions this offseason the team was interested in a second contract, but the Packers also used second- and third-round picks on ILBs last year. Second-rounder Edgerrin Cooper impressed as a rookie, becoming the team’s other three-down ‘backer. Third-rounder Ty’Ron Hopper did not see much playing time (18 defensive snaps in 17 games), but he also would profile as a potential option in the event Walker leaves as a 2026 free agent.