Despite turning down Walker’s fifth-year option, Brian Gutekunst still wants him around for years to come.
Before the 2025 NFL Draft, Green Bay Packers general manager stated that he was open to long-term extensions for both of his team’s 2022 first-round picks, linebacker Quay Walker and defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt. Shortly after the draft, though, Wyatt had his $13.9 million fifth-year option picked up while the team declined Walker’s $14.8 million option.
When asked about Walker’s situation on Wednesday, Gutekunst stated, “We’d like to have Quay around for a number of years,” suggesting that the team is still working toward a long-term extension with the player. For now, though, we’ll have to wait for Walker’s return to the field. Currently, he’s on the physically unable to perform list, which means he was injured on the job in Green Bay this offseason. Per Gutekunst, Walker has an ankle injury that required a “cleanup” surgery, but the expectation is that he’ll return to the field in about a week.
Gutekunst stated that Walker’s lack of participation at the start of training camp will not be due to a contract dispute.
As it stands today, the Packers are already over the 2026 salary cap with the new money they added to their accounting with the extension of right tackle Zach Tom. So if Green Bay wants to commit to Walker for next year and beyond, it will come at a cost — be it by pushing salaries forward to hit cap hits over multiple seasons or by way of a cap casualty. In this context, it makes sense why center Elgton Jenkins fought so hard for a 2026 commitment from the team, as they are currently in a position to save $20 million in cap space by moving on from the offensive lineman next year.
We’ve written about the Walker extension topic in the past. Based on the $15 million per year that Nick Bolton and Jamien Sherwood received this offseason, that’s likely the amount that Walker’s team would be willing to agree to. The Packers turned down that $14.8 million option that they had for Walker, though, so their number very well might be lower.
Suppose it comes down to the franchise tag route. In that case, Walker’s number in 2026 will be an expected $27.7 million, as the NFL doesn’t differentiate between off-ball linebackers and 3-4 outside linebackers, who function as primary pass-rushers.
The league’s current cash spending increase’s biggest winners are these non-Pro Bowl, non-All-Pro starting caliber players coming off of rookie contracts, like Walker. As long as the salary cap continues to grow by about $25 million per year while the free agency market remains below average, this should only continue moving forward.