Set to become a free agent this offseason, Green Bay Packers left tackle Rasheed Walker is projected to make over $20 million per year on his next contract. That’s more than the team should be willing to pay him, anyway, as a mid-tier lineman who hasn’t taken the step beyond tolerable starter to high-quality cog.
While Walker is a massive success story for a former 249th overall pick, he doesn’t have the upside to drag the offense down with basic mistakes. His status among the league’s most penalized linemen is just one more reason that Packers should view him as a hard pass in free agency.
most OL penalties in 2025:
14 – Jermaine Eluemunor (NYG)
14 – JC Latham (TEN)
13 – Cam Robinson (CLE)
13 – Jawaan Taylor (KC)
13 – Josh Conerly Jr. (WAS)
12 – Elijah Wilkinson (ATL)
12 – Darnell Wright (CHI)
11 – John Simpson (NYJ)
11 – KT Leveston (CLE)
11 – Armand Membou (NYJ)…
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) February 21, 2026
Packers have an obvious decision on Walker this winter: let him walk
As evident on the above list, Walker tied for the 17th-most penalties among all linemen last season. He is the only Packer present. Among tackles, only 15 players were whistled more according to Pro Football Focus.
Walker’s 64.6 PFF grade puts him in the bottom half at his position, 52nd out of 89. He is a bit above average in pass protection (70.0, 41st) but abysmal defending the run (55.4, 71st). That might be fine on a 2025 salary of $3.4 million. At $20 million or anything close? No thanks.
Despite a decent score in pass pro, Walker isn’t a lockdown blocker in that area, either. His 34 pressures allowed ranked 67th-best at the position. He ranked 64th with five sacks allowed.
Second-year guard Jordan Morgan could be a candidate to complete a position switch to replace him. By PFF, he graded out 48th/81 among guards. That includes a 64.3 grade in pass protection (31st). Morgan earned a run-blocking grade of 57.8 (49th). Becoming a full-time left tackle could be something of a learning curve (Morgan saw only 199 snaps at both tackle spots), but he has earned the vote of confidence with his solid play elsewhere on the line.
Green Bay Packers offensive tackle Rasheed Walker (63) and running back Chris Brooks (30) are shown during the first quarter of their game against the Carolina Panthers Sunday, November 2, 2025 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Morgan committed five penalties in 748 snaps compared to Walker’s nine in 986.
As a former first-round pick (25th overall in 2024), he has more raw potential than Walker, anyway, and will be entering the third year of his rookie contract. Including the prorated portion of his signing bonus, he will make $3.9 million in 2026. Call it a bargain versus whatever the Packers would pay Walker for a marginal upgrade, if that, as an established tackle. Hopefully he enjoys playing for the Browns, his best-fit landing spot per ESPN.
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