The Green Bay Packers were set to have a ton of their talent from the 2025 season headed to free agency in 2026. Sure enough, they’ve lost nine players, yet one of their top free agents in offensive tackle Rasheed Walker has yet to find his next team.
Malik Willis was gone to the Miami Dolphins nearly from the moment legal tampering began. Others, like Romeo Doubs, Quay Walker and even the trade of Rashan Gary to the Dallas Cowboys quickly followed.
Walker, however, remains unsigned days after the official free agency period began. ESPN’s Bill Barnwell said that’s likely due to his contract demands.
Rasheed Walker’s Contract Expectations May Be Hurting His Market
Barnwell explained that last season, young left tackles made a killing on the market by signing massive deals. The problem was that many of those contracts didn’t pan out the way teams hoped, which has now created hesitancy around the league.
Instead, teams across the league have chosen to go in different directions rather than commit to the kind of long-term deal Walker is reportedly seeking. That may now force him to pivot his expectations.
“Walker, a three-year starter in Green Bay, was the latest young left tackle to hit the market,” Barnwell wrote. “He is coming from a better offense and hasn’t missed a game since taking over as the starter on Jordan Love’s blind side in 2023. At 26, Walker had every right to expect that he would earn one of the largest deals in free agency. My expectation was that his deal could come in as high as $25 million per season, and ESPN’s Seth Walder projected Walker’s new contract to average $21.8 million per year.”
Barnwell added, “Walker might also be heading for a short-term deal. ESPN’s Adam Schefter spoke with ESPN Milwaukee earlier this week and suggested that Walker might need to settle for a one-year deal before hitting free agency again in 2027. It looks like the significant market that many anticipated for Walker — myself included — never really materialized.”
Lions Emerging as Possible Landing Spot For Rasheed Walker
At this point, Barnwell says he doesn’t rule out a return to Green Bay for Walker. However, he also believes Walker could land elsewhere in the NFC North.
“A reunion with the Packers would make sense for both sides, but if Walker is going to leave for another team, the most obvious opening left on the board is in Detroit,” Barnwell wrote.
The Lions currently have an obvious need at Walker’s position, which could make Detroit a logical landing spot.
“The Lions released Taylor Decker earlier this offseason, leaving a hole at left tackle,” Barnwell added. “Detroit could move star right tackle Penei Sewell to the left side, where he played at Oregon, but there’s something to be said for keeping a superstar in the position where he has excelled.
“Remember that Lane Johnson was a star left tackle in his final year at Oklahoma, but he has stuck on the right side for the Eagles as a pro. A one-year deal with the Lions would give Walker a shot at proving himself in a great offense. Two games against the Packers wouldn’t hurt, either.”
Walker would likely relish the idea of playing against the Packers twice a year, looking to prove he was worth the big contract he initially sought.
Packers’ Rasheed Walker Linked to NFC Rival as Free Agency Market Turns Cold