The window for NFL teams to apply the franchise tag is officially open, and the Green Bay Packers have some fascinating decisions to make between now and the deadline to use the tag on March 3.
While there are several veterans across the roster who would make sense to be tagged, the fact that Green Bay is slated to open this offseason approximately $1.58 million over the cap makes it seem unlikely that general manager Brian Gutekunst and the Packers will deploy either the franchise tag or the transition tag.
However, there is one player who might be an exception and possibly earmarked for a tag.
Would the Packers use the franchise tag on LB Quay Walker?
Oct 19, 2025; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Green Bay Packers linebacker Quay Walker (7) against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
The Franchise tag is set to cost the average of the top-five salaries at a given position, on a one-year contract for the upcoming season.
There is also some strategy involved with using the tag, and while Green Bay finds itself in an unenviable cap situation and unlikely to use the tag, linebacker Quay Walker is an interesting candidate for either the franchise tag ($28.19 million) or the transition tag ($23.6 million).
Even if the Packers aren’t looking to commit at least $23 million to Walker this season, the tag can be used as a placeholder should negotiations on a long-term contract stall out, which would prevent Walker from reaching the open market.
Especially given the uncertainty surrounding Micah Parsons’ availability and early upside after tearing his ACL late last season, keeping Walker in the front-seven could be a top priority for Gutekunst and the Packers, and deploying every available tool to make it happen should be an option on the table.