ESPN’s Dan Graziano took a stab at projecting contracts for the top 20 free agents available in 2026, which includes four Green Bay Packers. Yes, the Packers have a lot of expiring contracts. The bad news for Green Bay fans: The Packers will try to protect these comp picks, meaning that they probably won’t be very active in the top end of the free agent market. The good news? Green Bay will receive at least four more draft picks in 2027.
So, how much are these guys, who are projected to leave, going
to get on the open market? Let’s take a look at Graziano’s numbers, along with the corresponding compensatory picks (before playing time and league-wide honors become a factor) that would come with their losses.
Malik Willis, QB
Projection: two years, $44 million ($22 million APY)
Comp pick: 3rd-round pick
One of the bigger debates in the football world right now is whether Malik Willis will get a bridge quarterback contract, like Justin Field’s $20 million APY deal last offseason, or if he’s going to be given a true starting quarterback deal that will entrench him as a multi-year starter for his next team (like Sam Darnold’s $33.5 million APY contract in 2025).
There’s been reporting on both sides that claims he will get between $20 million and $35 million. That’s a huge gulf, and it could be the difference between the Packers claiming a fourth-round compensatory pick (awarded for the 2027 draft) or a third-rounder.
Graziano is much closer to the Fields contract (which, by the way, will probably lead to a Fields release in Year 2 of his two-year deal) than the Darnold contract.
Romeo Doubs, WR
Projection: three years, $49 million ($16.3 million APY)
Comp pick: 4th-round pick
The mid-level starter market is interesting for younger receivers. The way it works in the NFL right now, guys either become number one (or at least number one caliber) receivers or don’t get multi-year promises. No position league-wide sees more roster churn year-to-year than receiver.
The basis that Romeo Doubs’ camp should be working off of is the $13.3 million APY that Khalil Shakir signed for last offseason, as he was one of the few sub-$20 million receivers coming off a rookie contract who actually made good money on his second contract. It makes sense that Doubs would get a little more than Shakir did last offseason, based on how the cap jumped another $20 million plus in 2026.
Rasheed Walker, LT
Projection: four years, $80 million ($20 million APY)
Comp pick: 3rd-round pick
I actually think this number is way too low. There’s going to be real scarcity at the tackle market. There are about seven viable tackles in the top-100, and they all might end up being first-round picks. On top of that, Rasheed Walker is the only starter set to hit the market after his rookie contract. Every other free agent is either significantly older or a part-time starter (at best).
So if a team wants to lock in a multi-year starting tackle without having to commit to spending a first-round pick in April’s draft at the position, it’s Walker or bust.
The NFL’s market, on the positional level, basically sets a floor at the worst deal on the books. If someone gives a bad player a lot of money, everyone gets that money now. One deal can blow up the entire market for everyone else. At tackle, right now, that deal is Dan Moore Jr., who, after leading the NFL in sacks allowed in 2024, signed a $20.5 million APY deal with the Tennessee Titans in 2025. I can’t see Walker getting less than that, considering the tackle scarcity out there right now.
Quay Walker, LB
Projection: three years, $42 million ($14 million APY)
Comp pick: 4th-round pick
This number sounds about right. Speaking of bad contracts, the linebacker deal that sort of set the floor for second-contract starters is Jamien Sherwood’s. The Jets gave Sherwood, who started just one of his four years as a rookie contract player, $15 million APY last offseason. In Year 1 of the deal, Sherwood allowed 480 yards in coverage and four receiving touchdowns for a 125.5 passer rating, per NFL Pro. For perspective, Quay Walker allowed 386 yards, two touchdowns and a passer rating of 105.6.
Agents who represent linebackers think that Sherwood’s contract means every young starting linebacker will be getting $15 million per moving forward. The expectation is that Devin Lloyd, the top linebacker in this class, gets around $20 million per this offseason. For whatever reason, Lloyd was given just a $14 million per projection by Graziano. I’d bet the farm that Lloyd will get more than that.
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Overall, these numbers seem like they’re in the correct ballparks, even if the deals for the Walkers are probably a little under market (despite the cap going up and teams consistently borrowing from future cap space post-Covid). The big debate will continue to be what Willis will end up receiving and what tier of quarterback that teams view him as.
