The Green Bay Packers have a big decision to make about whether they want to re-sign linebacker Quay Walker to an extension. Earlier this year, the team turned down Walker’s $14.5 million fifth-year option,
which is around the per-year price range that he’s expected to receive on the open market in 2026, should he hit unrestricted free agency.
Back in November, Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that Walker’s range is expected to be around $12 million to $15 million, though that low-end number might no longer be an option after how the floor price for a second-contract starting linebacker jumped up dramatically last offseason. Earlier this week, The Ringer dropped their list of the top 40 free agents available in 2026, and they gave Walker a $15 million per year contract projection and ranked him as the 12th overall free agent of the class.
For what it’s worth, left tackle Rasheed Walker (7th) and backup quarterback Malik Willis (25th) were the other Packers included in the list of 40 possible free agents.
Functionally, even after the projected releases of center Elgton Jenkins and defensive end Rashan Gary for cap relief, the Packers are close to having no cap space in 2026. The team will also probably wait to exhaust their line of credit until the 2027 season, too, as the cap hits for their top players increase dramatically over the next two seasons.
For example, quarterback Jordan Love, running back Josh Jacobs, left guard Aaron Banks, right tackle Zach Tom, defensive end Micah Parsons, cornerback Nate Hobbs and safety Xavier McKinney “only” count $91.6 million against the cap in 2025. By 2027, their contracts will cost the team $162.9 million in cap space, an extra $71.3 million just to retain veteran players who are already under contract with the team.
Bringing back Walker would be a tight squeeze, but the league is incentivizing a team in the Packers’ situation to re-sign their own players instead of signing outside free agents, because of the compensatory pick system. Between the two Walkers, Willis and Romeo Doubs, the team is expected to add four picks in at least the fifth round (Rasheed Walker likely being a fourth-round pick) in 2027 if they lose those players in free agency. If the Packers try to backfill those losses by signing outside free agents (by borrowing cap space from future years), they put the team at risk of losing those selections by offsetting those compensatory draft picks. Double whammy.
This is all to say this: If it’s not Walker playing the Mike linebacker spot for Green Bay in 2026, it’s probably just going to be Isaiah McDuffie.
While some fans want to see Ty’Ron Hopper playing in that role, the Packers have given every opportunity to McDuffie to be the replacement Mike whenever Walker has been down for games over the last two seasons. Since Hopper has been drafted, McDuffie has played 1,178 regular-season snaps of defense for Green Bay, while Hopper has played just 77.
In Week 18, with the Packers likely trying to rest as many starters as possible, don’t be surprised if McDuffie starts at the Mike spot with Hopper in the Will spot (usually played by Edgerrin Cooper) and practice squad call-up Jamon Johnson playing the third linebacker role. Next year, Hopper would likely see the field as the third linebacker, should Walker leave.
Losing Walker also creates a numbers problem for Green Bay, too. The Packers, running a 4-3 defense, almost have to carry five linebackers on the 53-man roster at all times. Most 4-3 teams even roster six. The problem is that Green Bay only has three under contract for the 2026 season, which makes depth at the position and underrated need going into a draft where the Packers are already going to be down their first-round pick.
If Green Bay is on the edge of re-signing or letting Walker walk next year, Week 18’s film could actually be a needle mover, as the team continues to evaluate McDuffie in the Mike role and will have to decide whether they want to move forward with Hopper as their third linebacker. If you’re going to pay attention to anything this weekend, in a meaningless game against the Minnesota Vikings, this might be where you want to have your eyes.
Pete Dougherty of the Green Bay Press-Gazette wrote this on Friday, which hints that Walker’s time in Green Bay could be coming to an end:
Walker wouldn’t comment this week on whether his agent was still negotiating with the Packers but strongly suggested not. He acknowledged his suspicion that the Packers’ priorities have changed for their cap room.
“Probably so,” he said. “That’s up to them. I’ll do anything to be here.”
