Green Bay Packers linebacker Quay Walker has failed to failed to be a major difference maker during … More
The Green Bay Packers went 11-6 last season, sweeping the NFC West and the AFC South along the way.
Overall, though, no one in the building was happy.
The Packers failed to build on their terrific finish to the 2023 campaign, settled for the No. 7 seed in the NFC playoffs, and lost a Wild Card game to eventual Super Bowl champion Philadelphia.
Afterwards, general manager Brian Gutekunst turned up the heat on everybody in the building.
“We need to continue to ramp up our sense of urgency,” Gutekunst said. “I think it’s time we started competing for championships.”
Those are fair expectations.
The Packers return 20 of 22 starters, and appear to have upgraded the roster via free agency and the draft. With several third and fourth year players trending upward, Green Bay should be poised to make a move.
“I think they’re ready,” Gutekunst said.
Now, it’s time for the Packers to prove their G.M. right.
Green Bay’s first training camp practice is July 23. Between now and then I will count down the ‘30 Most Important Packers’ heading into the 2025 campaign.
At No. 14 is linebacker Quay Walker.
No. 14
Quay Walker, LB
Last season
Walker’s third season in Green Bay was a lot like his first two — OK, but far from special.
Walker has racked up solid tackle numbers during his three years in Green Bay. He’s also been overwhelmed by interior linemen, struggled in coverage and hasn’t come close to playing like a first round draft pick.
In 2024, Walker led the Packers in tackles for a third straight year with 102. He also missed three games with an ankle injury and another with a concussion.
Walker had 2.5 sacks, three quarterback hits, nine tackles for loss and two passes defensed. But his overall grade from Pro Football Focus was just 57.4, which ranked 128th out of 189 linebackers.
Walker’s pass rush grade of 65.5 ranked a respectable 53rd and his run defense grade of 67.7 was 82nd. But his coverage grade was a disappointing 48.8, which ranked 138th among 189 linebackers.
Career to date
Walker’s highest overall grade by PFF came in 2023 when he posted a mediocre 58.5. Walker also hasn’t reached 65.0, or better, in either coverage or run defense since his rookie year.
Walker led the Packers and was No. 2 among NFL rookies with 119 total tackles in 2022, the fifth most by a Green Bay rookie since 1975. He also led the Packers with three forced fumbles that season.
Walker also became the first player in NFL history to be ejected from two games in the same season.
First, Walker was hit with an unsportsmanlike penalty and thrown out of a Week 8 loss at Buffalo after pushing practice squad tight end Zach Davidson on the Bills’ sideline.
Then in Week 18, Walker was disqualified after shoving a Detroit Lions’ trainer, who was trying to attend to injured running back D’Andre Swift.
“That is unacceptable,” Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said after Walker was thrown out of the Detroit game. “I’ve got a much higher standard for our players than to do silly things like that. I mean, we’ve had a guy get ejected twice. I don’t think I’ve ever seen that in my career and we’ve got to be much more mentally tough.”
Walker led the Packers with 118 tackles and had 2.5 sacks in 2023. Walker also missed Weeks 9-10 that year with a groin injury and missed Week 14 due to a shoulder injury. He started both postseason contests, leading the team with 20 tackles (nine solo) and a tackle for a loss.
Outlook
The Packers declined to pick up Walker’s fifth-year option, meaning this could very well be his final season in Green Bay.
Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst has expressed interest in signing Walker to a long-term deal. But Walker certainly hasn’t played well enough to warrant a mega-deal like the NFL’s elite inside linebackers such as San Francisco’s Fred Warner ($21 million), Baltimore’s Roquan Smith ($20M), Chicago’s Tremaine Edmunds ($18M) or Philadelphia’s Zack Baun ($17M).
Walker will continue to be a key cog in the Packers’ defense in 2025. But as Gutekunst makes tough decisions on which players deserve second contracts, Walker could very well be on the outside looking in.
They Said It …
“I think he’s going to be more comfortable just because it’s every time now is the second or third time he’s heard something, and then just playing with confidence, you know, going out there knowing what you’re doing. Now, you’re kind of looking at the offense, kind of seeing, all right, they’re in this formation. All right, I’m expecting this, so I can play a step faster. So confidence and just being comfortable in the scheme.” — Packers linebackers coach Sean Duggan on Walker
“HeeHe wants to be perfect, but he’s got to realize this is an imperfect game, and sometimes you’ve gotta let it go. If you make a mistake, hopefully it’s a learning lesson, and you just move on and go play the next play. But I know he puts a lot on himself, a lot of pressure on himself, but he’s a resilient dude and I’ve got a lot of confidence in him. I don’t think there’s anything in this game he cannot accomplish. I think he’s super talented and this is, he’s still a young player. This is his second system so I would expect he’s going to continue to improve and get better and better and better.” — Packers coach Matt LaFleur on Walker
“Anytime I can play without doing any thinking — not that Hafley’s making me think or whatever the case may be — just be me trying to do everything right instead of just lining up and just playing, anytime I have that mindset, see it, go, I can be a real, real productive player.” — Walker on playing in coordinator Jeff Hafley’s defense
• No. 29 — WR Dontayvion Wicks
