The Green Bay Packers initially selected left tackle Rasheed Walker in the seventh round of the 2022 NFL Draft. At the time, he was not expected to have much of a role on the team. David Bakhtiari, after all, was still hopeful about coming back from a torn ACL and Green Bay believed he would remain in the role for the foreseeable future.
A year later, unfortunately, Bakhtiari suffered another knee injury after just one game and Walker was thrust into the starting role, tasked with protecting the blindside of first-year starting quarterback Jordan Love.
In the two seasons that have followed, Walker has been the starting left tackle, but was never handed the job outright in training camp. What is more, the Packers selected Jordan Morgan in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, indicating that Walker’s days in Green Bay were numbered.
Now, Walker is set to hit free agency, and the expectation is that he is going to get a very substantial contract. But it won’t be from the Packers.
Green Bay Packers left tackle Rasheed Walker is going to get a big pay day
Green Bay Packers offensive tackle Rasheed Walker (63) provides pass protection for quarterback Jordan Love (10) during the first quarter of their game against the Washington Commanders Thursday, September 11, 2025 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Bill Barnwell of ESPN recently released an article in which he ranked every offensive free agent into tiers. When it came to offensive lineman, he placed Walker in Tier Three (capable starter), and explained why he is going to receive a very substantial contract in free agency:
“If there’s a player who isn’t a household name in position to get paid more than the vast majority of fans expect this offseason, it’s Walker. There are at least four teams that should be in the market for a starting left tackle this offseason. Walker is the only one available. He’s 26 years old and hasn’t missed a game in three years while protectingJordan Love‘s blind side in Green Bay.
“And yet, there have to be some flashing red lights here. The Packers don’t seem all that concerned about letting Walker waltz out the door. He has committed 27 penalties over three years as a starter, including seven holding calls.
“At the same time, Walker ranks fifth in pass block win rate over the past three years, and his sack allowed rate (1.2%) and quick pressure allowed rate (2.0%) are both better than league average when we look at left tackles with 1,000 or more pass-blocking snaps over that time. In a league where teams can never have enough at tackle, Walker is going to attract truly high-end offers in a couple of weeks.”
Barnwell projects that Walker could make anywhere between $15-25 million a year. As noted above, no less than four teams are going to need a starting left tackle and the soon-to-be Packers starter is the only true left tackle on the market.
And while there are some good pass blocking stats referenced above, the fact of the matter is that Walker is not a good run blocker, and never has been. Whatever team signs him is almost surely going to overpay for what they will get.
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