It’s no secret that the Green Bay Packers have three pressing needs on their roster. They lack reliable starting-caliber and depth options at cornerback. Their defensive line also needs an upgrade after finishing 26th in pass-rush win rate last season. Green Bay’s wide receiver group also regressed last year. With Christian Watson sidelined until December, the Packers must find a way to replace his speed in the offense.
However, off-ball linebacker remains a need for the Packers, but it often gets overlooked due to issues at other positions and Edgerrin Cooper’s impressive rookie season. Still, Brian Gutekunst must evaluate the position carefully to ensure the defense has the necessary depth and versatility.
Cooper is under contract beyond 2025. However, Quay Walker is entering the final year of his rookie deal, while Eric Wilson and Isaiah McDuffie are set to become free agents. Moreover, Ty’Ron Hopper played only 18 defensive snaps in 2024.
Jeff Hafley’s defense frequently employs a 4-2-5 formation. In that personnel grouping, the Packers will have Cooper and Walker as the starting duo for the second year in a row. However, depth remains a concern.
Hafley previously coached McDuffie at Boston College, and McDuffie’s familiarity with Hafley’s system could make him a candidate for retention. That said, McDuffie should not be a starter in 2025. Instead, his role would likely be limited to providing depth and contributing on special teams without assuming a primary starting role.
Gutekunst will probably want to retain Eric Wilson. He’s an impact player on special teams and played 556 snaps on defense. Wilson was also Green Bay’s second-highest-rated linebacker during the regular season.
It will be interesting to see how Quay Walker’s future develops. The Packers have until May 1 to decide whether to pick up his fifth-year option, which would cost them $16 million. Walker was productive in 2024, leading the team with 102 tackles in 13 games. He also added 2.5 sacks, nine tackles for loss, and two pass breakups despite missing four games.
Only Fred Warner, Roquan Smith, and Tremaine Edmunds earn more than $16 million annually among off-ball linebackers. As a result, exercising Walker’s option would place him among the highest-paid at his position despite him not yet performing at that elite level.
According to Over the Cap, Green Bay is projected to have $46,074,742 in effective cap space. With their Super Bowl window open, they need all the capital they can get to upgrade the roster. There are more productive ways to allocate that money than committing $16 million to a player who has yet to live up to the expectations of a former first-round pick.
The Packers were in a tighter cap situation in 2023 and still chose to pick up Darnell Savage‘s fifth-year option. With a more flexible cap situation in 2025, they can pick up Walker’s option while maintaining flexibility. However, passing on the opportunity could be telling about how Walker’s future unfolds.
If Green Bay doesn’t see Walker as a long-term starter, how do they proceed, especially when they could potentially have only one starting linebacker locked in for 2026 and beyond? Lavonte David, Jerome Baker, Bobby Wagner, Cody Barton, and Nick Bolton are unrestricted free agents who could contribute immediately to Green Bay’s defense. There’s also the draft to consider, but I’d expect the Packers would rather give Hooper a chance before adding more young talent to the mix.
Green Bay can address its depth issue by retaining McDuffie and Wilson. Still, they need a starter to play alongside Walker and Cooper in the 4-3 and someone who can pair with Cooper in the 4-2-5 if the Packers decide to let Walker go. In his season-ending press conference, Brian Gutekunst spoke about Green Bay’s urgency to compete, which means addressing positions of need with adequate talent. While often under the radar, the off-ball linebacker corps is one such area that requires attention.
