Former Green Bay Packers offensive tackle Rasheed Walker signed a one-year, prove it deal with the Carolina Panthers on Friday. While the full details have yet to be disclosed, according to published reports, the contract was worth $10 million. That was far below the projected value most experts had for Walker. So, with this deal coming in so low, did the Packers drop the ball by not re-signing Walker?
The original projection for Walker was roughly $20 million for three or four years according to spotrac.com. That would have given the Packers either a third or fourth-round compensatory pick in 2027 depending on the details of the contract. Obviously, that did not happen. Now, the Packers will be more likely to receive a sixth-round pick in exchange for losing Walker in free agency.
Certainly, the Packers are disappointed that Walker only got a similar contract to backup defensive end Kingsley Enagbare who signed a one-year, $10 million contract with the New York Jets. They will also be disappointed about the lower compensatory selection. This may also make GM Brian Gutekunst a little more hesitant to spend additional money in free agency so as to not cancel out potential compensatory picks when the league makes its calculations next offseason.
Walker came a long way since being selected in the seventh round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Entering his final year at Penn State, he was considered a potential early round draft pick, but he had a disappointing final college season and fell all the way to the seventh round.
Walker barely saw the field as a rookie, but when David Bahtiari’s knees prevented him from playing after Week 1 in 2023, Walker stepped in and became the starting left tackle. He did a good job as a pass blocker but was average at best blocking for the run. For two seasons, he did a good job of protecting Jordan Love’s blindside and was considered an above average left tackle.
But last season was contact year for Walker, and he had a disappointing year. He took too many penalties for false starts or lining up offsides. His pass blocking wasn’t as good as it had been, probably partially due to inconsistent play at left guard next to him. His run blocking remained subpar. Overall, it was a performance that ended up costing him a second contract with the Packers and a lot of money on the free agent market. Had Walker played up to the standard he set in the previous two seasons, he would have gotten at least the $20 million AAV deal for three or four years.
But one question now arises: would it have been worth it for the Packers to re-sign Walker to a similar, one-year, $10 million deal. There is no doubt the team didn’t want to pay Walker $20 million per year after he struggled through the 2025 campaign but paying him $10 million on a one-year deal to be the swing tackle would have made a lot of sense.
Right now, the Packers have Zach Tom starting at right tackle and coming off surgery after dealing with multiple injuries in 2025. The favorite to win the left tackle job is Jordan Morgan who has yet to prove he’s ready to start after spending two seasons alternating between tackle and guard and the left side and right side.
Keeping Walker around on a bargain deal would have given the Packers excellent depth at tackle. If Walker beat out Morgan, he would have a chance to raise his market value before either re-signing in Green Bay or hitting the market again. If he didn’t win the starting job, he’d be the first tackle off the bench and again hit the market next year.
Of course, that ship has now sailed as Walker will be in Carolina next season. The Packers will now look to add some depth at offensive tackle before the season begins, most likely on day three of the draft.