The Green Bay Packers went 11-6 last season, sweeping the NFC West and the AFC South along the way.
Overall, though, no one in the building was happy.
The Packers failed to build on their terrific finish to the 2023 campaign, settled for the No. 7 seed in the NFC playoffs, and lost a Wild Card game to eventual Super Bowl champion Philadelphia.
Afterwards, general manager Brian Gutekunst turned up the heat on everybody in the building.
“We need to continue to ramp up our sense of urgency,” Gutekunst said. “I think it’s time we started competing for championships.”
Those are fair expectations.
The Packers return 20 of 22 starters, and appear to have upgraded the roster via free agency and the draft. With several third and fourth year players trending upward, Green Bay should be poised to make a move.
“I think they’re ready,” Gutekunst said.
Now, it’s time for the Packers to prove their G.M. right.
Green Bay’s first training camp practice is July 23. Between now and then I will count down the ‘30 Most Important Packers’ heading into the 2025 campaign.
At No. 18 is left tackle Rasheed Walker.
No. 18
Rasheed Walker, LT
Last season
Walker started all 17 games and helped the Packers finish second in the NFL in sacks allowed (22), No. 5 in total offense (370.8) and No. 5 in rushing offense (140.8).
Walker played 1,075 snaps (99.2%), more than any other player on Green Bay’s offense. Walker allowed a respectable three sacks, but he had far too many penalties (nine) and allowed too many pressures (35).
Walker had a terrific pass blocking grade of 79.6 by Pro Football Focus, which ranked 21st out of 140 offensive tackles. His run blocking grade of 54.1 ranked just 107th, though, leading to an overall grade of 68.4 than ranked 44th.
Career to date
Walker, a seventh round draft pick in 2022, didn't play a single snap from scrimmage as a rookie in 2022. He made a monumental leap, though, between his first and second seasons and was a serviceable starter in 2023.
Walker and Yosh Nijman shared time at left tackle at the start of 2023 after David Bakhtiari suffered a season-ending injury in Week 1. By the end of the year, though, Walker had outplayed Nijman and won the job.
That season, Walker allowed six sacks and had nine penalties in 851 snaps. But he also grew into the position and didn't allow a sack in either one of Green Bay’s 2023 playoff games.
Outlook
The Packers made it clear this offseason that Walker’s job is on the line.
So he’ll battle 2024 first round draft pick Jordan Morgan in training camp for the job.
While Walker is far from elite, he’s been a respectable starter the last two years and could be tough to unseat. In fact, the bet here is Walker holds onto the left tackle job one more year.
Walker will become a free agent after the 2025 season, though, and the odds of him returning in 2026 appear lukewarm, at best.
They Said It …
“I think Rasheed’s done a lot of really, really good things for us. I don’t think he necessarily needs to show anything. Like anything, you’ve got to continue to play at a high level. We’re going to have a lot of competition there. Not just at his spot, but all across the offensive line. We’ve got guys like Jordan Morgan, who I think is going to really emerge. It will be good to see that competition and we’ll be better for it.” — Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst on Walker
“Rasheed Walker is a left tackle for the Green Bay Packers, yes. In this room, it’s always about competition. You know that. That stems from our head coach, from our offensive coordinator, and Rasheed will tell you that he’s working to win that job. Just like everyone else.” — Packers offensive line Luke Butkus on Walker
“He’s been great. He understands what this league’s about. Every day you’ve got to earn your spot and that’s what I like about the competition that we have in our offense right now is everyone’s going to have to show up and play well in order to keep their spot, because there’s a bunch of good, young players that are hungry.” — Packers offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich on Walker
THE TOP 30
• No. 30 — RB MarShawn Lloyd
• No. 29 — WR Dontayvion Wicks
• No. 28 — S Javon Bullard
• No. 27 — WR Savion Williams
• No. 26 — LB Isaiah McDuffie
• No. 25 — OL Jordan Morgan
• No. 24 — WR Matthew Golden
• No. 23 — CB Carrington Valentine
• No. 22 — WR Romeo Doubs
• No. 21 — QB Malik Willis
N0. 20 — DE Lukas Van Ness
• No. 19 — RG Sean Rhyan