Quay Walker
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ESPN's Dan Graziano predicted Green Bay Packers linebacker Quay Walker to sign a $42 million deal with the Las Vegas Raiders.
Pundits expect the Green Bay Packers to lose linebacker Quay Walker in 2026 NFL free agency. The Packers didn’t exercise his fifth-year option last year, and the team is not predicted to meet the open market value he will receive next week.
How high that value rises, though, remains to be seen. According to ESPN’s Dan Graziano, it could be quite high.
Graziano predicted Walker to sign with the Las Vegas Raiders on a 3-year, $42 million deal. The NFL insider added in his prediction that the linebacker will receive $20 million guaranteed.
“Opinions seem to vary on Walker, who’s only 25, had 128 tackles in 2025 and seems bound to leave Green Bay for a new team,” Graziano wrote. “Some think he could push for high-end linebacker money, in the high teens on average. Others have him closer to $10 million per year.
“We’ll split the difference and send him to a team that has money to spend and needs help everywhere on the defense.”
Walker struggled in certain areas according to some analysts. But in four seasons with Green Bay, he was a superior tackler.
Last season, he set a new career best with 128 combined tackles, including eight for loss in 14 games. He also had seven quarterback hits, five pass defenses and 2.5 sacks.
Why Raiders Could Pursue LB Quay Walker on Big Free Agency Contract
As Graziano argued, the Raiders are one of the teams that could really use defensive upgrades across the board. That’s especially true with the Raiders trading second-team All-Pro edge rusher Maxx Crosby to the Baltimore Ravens on Friday night.
In Walker, the Raiders could add a thumper linebacker, who has always done well at tackling.
Over four seasons with the Packers, Walker averaged 117 combined tackles per year. He eclipsed the 120-tackle mark twice, including this past season when he averaged 9.1 tackles per game.
Linebacker Devin White led the Raiders with 174 combined tackles during 2025. But like Walker, White is set to be an unrestricted free agent this spring.
Projecting Walker’s 2026 Free Agency Value
In February, SB Nation’s Justis Mosqueda conducted a study of 17 different free agency rankings to create a consensus free agency board. Mosqueda concluded through the study that Walker was “the most polarizing” free agent of this spring.
There are instances where pundits have Walker rated as a top 50 free agent. For instance, NFL.com’s Gregg Rosenthal ranked Walker as his No. 44 player set to be available in March.
But other analysts, such as The Athletic’s Daniel Popper, don’t even have Walker in their top 100 free agents.
Contract projections for Walker widely vary as well. Graziano tried to take that into account. But he still had a projection well above what Spotrac estimated Walker’s market value at — $24.8 million on a 3-year deal.
Rosenthal argued it will “be telling” with Walker whether former Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley tries to pursue him this offseason. Hafley is now the head coach of the Miami Dolphins, who could revamp their defense this offseason.
Besides tackling, Walker often struggled with Green Bay. According to Pro Football Focus, he wasn’t above average in run defense, pass rush or coverage during any of the past three years.
The Packers drafted Walker at No. 22 overall in the 2022 NFL Draft. Over four seasons in Green Bay, he registered nine sacks, 29 tackles for loss, 19 quarterback hits, 17 pass defenses and one interception.