The inside linebacker position has caused the Green Bay Packers headaches for years. The Packers had trouble finding a long-term solution regardless of who they brought in. Speaking in plural terms with solutions at the position was far-fetched.
Quay Walker was supposed to be just that, a solution, when Green Bay took him in Round 1 of the 2022 draft.
Walker’s first two seasons were more than just rocky; they left much to be desired. However, Walker flipped a switch in his first year under Jeff Hafley. Now, Green Bay is prioritizing keeping Walker around for the long run.
Walker’s 2024 season didn’t start with a bang. The former Georgia product still appeared to be the same linebacker with all the athleticism in the world but was slow in diagnosing plays and knowing when to attack.
Something flipped near the middle of the season, and Walker’s light truly appeared to be on. He became less hesitant and more confident, and everyone took notice.
Inconsistencies, two ejections as a rookie, and someone who played as if their mind was racing 1,000 miles per hour summed up Walker early in his career. That changed under Hafley as Walker got comfortable in a new system while wearing the green dot in 2024.
Hafley was cutting Walker loose and sending him as an extra rusher more than Joe Barry ever had. Green Bay had unearthed the aggressiveness and the “less thinking, more playing” style that made Walker so prominent at Georgia.
Things were clicking.
An ankle injury brought all of it to a stop when Walker missed the last three games of the regular season.
From the outside looking in, it appeared Green Bay was in limbo.
Walker finally showed what the Packers had been hoping to see since they drafted him three years ago. He flourished in Hafley’s system once he started to solve the riddle.
The issue is that the sample size of Walker vibing at inside linebacker with Green Bay is still relatively small, and the Packers have a decision to make this offseason on Walker’s fifth-year option.
Brian Gutekunst usually doesn’t show his hand but didn’t mind doing so with Walker. Speaking with the media at the NFL Combine on Tuesday, Gutekunst was direct about Green Bay’s wishes to keep Walker around.
“The linebacker for the fifth-year option is a little wonky because there’s so many edge guys that are part of that, which drives up that number, which probably isn’t great,” Gutekunst said. “But, yeah, we’d like to find a way to keep Quay around here long-term, whether that be an extension or something.”
It aligned with what Gutekunst said about Walker’s season in January.
“Certainly think we would love to have him around here for longer than just a couple more years,” he said. “He’s that kind of guy.”
Gutekunst noted he was “super fired up” about Walker and defensive lineman Devonte Wyatt.
That might catch some by surprise. When taking a pulse of the fanbase, most were still on the fence about Walker. Bring him back? Fine by most. Don’t pick up his option and let it ride out? Also fine.
By speaking in near certainties that the Packers want Walker here as a big part of the defense, Gutekunst is speaking volumes to the consensus inside the building. Walker looked the part for a long stretch of this season. However, consistency is the key, and staying healthy is a big part of that.
Walker missed four games in total in 2024 but still tied a career-high with 2.5 sacks and had a career-high nine tackles for loss.
Hafley’s system has unlocked something in Walker’s play and his mind. Last year, Walker started to tap into the freakish athleticism that was constantly on display when he played carefree at Georgia.
There was never any doubt about Walker’s ability. However, he stopped trusting his instincts in his transition from Georgia to Green Bay. Walker gained that back as the 2024 season carried along. Now the Packers need it to stick.
Gutekunst speaks as someone who believes Walker’s turnaround and his havoc-wrecking on defense are here to stay. If Gutekunst’s intuition is correct, the Packers have one less thing to worry about.
Gutekunst’s belief in Walker’s continued ascension, coupled with Edgerrin Cooper‘s stellar rookie season, has to have the Packers buzzing about their prospects at inside linebacker. Green Bay assumes that they have not one but two long-term answers at inside linebacker. When was the last time the Packers were able to say that?
Getting a deal done with Walker this offseason is on the table. Given Gutekunst’s thoughts on the price tag, the fifth-year option sounds less likely. Inking Walker to an extension has become a priority.
