Green Bay Packers fans held a love-hate relationship with linebacker Quay Walker throughout his time with the franchise. Coming out of Georgia as a first-round draft pick in 2022, he boasted tantalizing athletic upside. In the NFL, however, a lack of focus and consistency kept him from realizing his potential.
Now that Walker is gone, signed to the Raiders in NFL free agency for three years and $40.5 million, former NFL quarterback Chris Simms believes that's about to change. He said as much on an episode of the Chris Simms Unbuttoned podcast.
"Quay Walker last year took a step in the direction of going, 'Uh oh, Quay Walker's figured out football here.' He's figured out how to play middle linebacker in the NFL because, yeah, he was just a raw athlete before that. … I think the Quay we're going to see from here on out is going to be one of the better linebackers in all of football."
Well, that's certainly a statement. Many Packers fans saw Walker's 2025 season as a major disappointment. Simms clearly saw something different, a demonstration of growth that paves the way for a breakout.
Whether his prediction bears out in reality or not, it should have fans' attention. If Walker goes to Las Vegas and has a career year, it will be difficult to live down accusations that the Packers simply didn't deploy him properly.
Simms' faith in Walker is more than wary Packers fans have left
In the context of discussing linebacker prospects in the upcoming draft, Simms used Walker as an example of the type of raw athlete who challenged his expectations. Initially, he wasn't confident that Walker's athletic traits would translate to a successful NFL player. Four years later, his views have clearly changed, so much so that Simms was surprised Walker did not receive an even bigger payday on the open market.
His evaluation of Walker contradicts what many green-and-gold-clad spectators would tell you. Despite solid overall production, including 128 total tackles, eight TFLs, and 2.5 sacks, Walker remained a problem in pass coverage.
Per Pro Football Focus, he also ranked in the bottom tier of run defenders at the position. His overall score of 48.5 clocked in at 74th among 88 qualified linebackers. At least by PFF grade, he took a step back, not forward.
Maybe that doesn't capture his full development. The Packers relied on Walker more than ever to hold down the second level and supplement the pass rush. Despite missing three games, he played a career-high 900 snaps. In the games he played, Walker took the field for 95 percent of the defensive plays. He had a lot on his plate.
Say what you will about Walker's actual performance, he was important to the middle of the Packers' defense and a team captain. The baseline production is there, as he has never had a season with fewer than 100 tackles or five TFLs. Perhaps he has another level to unlock. Simms, for one, has planted his flag on that hill.
In Walker's introductory press conference for Las Vegas, he hinted at his dissatisfaction over what he saw as his underutilization in Green Bay. In the Raiders' scheme, in a new environment, perhaps he pays off Simms' prediction by reaching new heights. Maybe Walker's new fanbase gets the same infuriating inconsistency. In any case, it's a storyline worth monitoring.