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The Green Bay Packers' signing of Aaron Banks to a four-year, $77m contract on the first day of free agency was a move intended to plug a hole and improve the interior of their offensive line after Josh Myers' departure. What it also did was lead to a lot of questions surrounding the future of left tackle Rasheed Walker.
Whether it is by the Packers or another NFL team, Walker is going to get paid by the time his rookie deal expires at the end of the upcoming season. For context, Dan Moore was just given a contract with an average annual value (AAV) of $20.5 million, and Walker is a considerably better player than Moore.
He is going to make at least $20 million per year, if not more. Are Green Bay going to be the ones to pay him? It is not completely off the table, as they have the flexibility to pay essentially whoever they want, but there are other factors to consider.
Their priority on the offensive line with regard to extensions is going to be Zach Tom, who is also in the final year of his deal. If the Packers paid both Walker and Tom, they would have four offensive linemen taking up a large chunk of their salary cap space, due to the contracts of Banks and Elgton Jenkins.
They can get out of Jenkins' deal in 2026 and save $20 million against the cap, but there is also the Jordan Morgan factor to consider.
Packers GM Brian Gutekunst has made it clear on multiple occasions he believes the former-first round pick is a tackle, and based on how the team operates, they probably would not have taken him in the first round if they didn't.
If they believe Morgan is a long-term left tackle, it would not make much sense to pay Walker and block his pathway to the starting lineup. Having Morgan start in Walker's place from 2026 would save the team a small fortune.
So then the question becomes; are the Packers open to trading Walker? It could make sense, as he would likely have legitimate value, maybe as much as a day-two pick. If Walker leaves in a year, Green Bay would be looking at a third-round compensatory pick in 2027. Maybe they would prefer to have that pick now instead, if a team would offer it.
But there is a reason offensive linemen of the quality and age of Walker rarely get moved. They are just too hard to find and teams hold onto them tightly. The Packers are more likely to keep the 25-year-old and let him see out the final year of his deal, enjoying one more year of depth with both Walker and Morgan as left tackle options.
The Packers are hoping to compete for a championship in 2025, and given his limited playing time as a rookie due to injury, they are unlikely to be sure Morgan is ready to take over at left tackle right now. By keeping Walker, Morgan can compete with him as well as Sean Rhyan for snaps at either left tackle or right guard.
It seems like the Banks signing, coupled with the presence of Morgan, has effectively signaled the end of Walker's time in Green Bay, but that separation will most likely come in 2026, rather than this offseason.
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: What will Green Bay do with Rasheed Walker? Impact of Banks signing
Continue reading...
Whether it is by the Packers or another NFL team, Walker is going to get paid by the time his rookie deal expires at the end of the upcoming season. For context, Dan Moore was just given a contract with an average annual value (AAV) of $20.5 million, and Walker is a considerably better player than Moore.
He is going to make at least $20 million per year, if not more. Are Green Bay going to be the ones to pay him? It is not completely off the table, as they have the flexibility to pay essentially whoever they want, but there are other factors to consider.
Their priority on the offensive line with regard to extensions is going to be Zach Tom, who is also in the final year of his deal. If the Packers paid both Walker and Tom, they would have four offensive linemen taking up a large chunk of their salary cap space, due to the contracts of Banks and Elgton Jenkins.
They can get out of Jenkins' deal in 2026 and save $20 million against the cap, but there is also the Jordan Morgan factor to consider.
Packers GM Brian Gutekunst has made it clear on multiple occasions he believes the former-first round pick is a tackle, and based on how the team operates, they probably would not have taken him in the first round if they didn't.
If they believe Morgan is a long-term left tackle, it would not make much sense to pay Walker and block his pathway to the starting lineup. Having Morgan start in Walker's place from 2026 would save the team a small fortune.
So then the question becomes; are the Packers open to trading Walker? It could make sense, as he would likely have legitimate value, maybe as much as a day-two pick. If Walker leaves in a year, Green Bay would be looking at a third-round compensatory pick in 2027. Maybe they would prefer to have that pick now instead, if a team would offer it.
But there is a reason offensive linemen of the quality and age of Walker rarely get moved. They are just too hard to find and teams hold onto them tightly. The Packers are more likely to keep the 25-year-old and let him see out the final year of his deal, enjoying one more year of depth with both Walker and Morgan as left tackle options.
The Packers are hoping to compete for a championship in 2025, and given his limited playing time as a rookie due to injury, they are unlikely to be sure Morgan is ready to take over at left tackle right now. By keeping Walker, Morgan can compete with him as well as Sean Rhyan for snaps at either left tackle or right guard.
It seems like the Banks signing, coupled with the presence of Morgan, has effectively signaled the end of Walker's time in Green Bay, but that separation will most likely come in 2026, rather than this offseason.
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: What will Green Bay do with Rasheed Walker? Impact of Banks signing
Continue reading...
